Get Started vs. Getting Started – Which is Correct?
“Get started” and “getting started” are both correct, but they serve different grammatical purposes. Use “get started” for commands, advice, or statements about initiating an action. Use “getting started” as a noun-like activity or after verbs and prepositions. The surrounding sentence determines which form sounds natural and precise in context.
Get Started or Getting Started – Which is Correct?
“Get started” and “getting started” are both correct expressions. The difference is grammatical rather than a matter of spelling or regional preference.
Get started is the base form of the phrase. It commonly appears in commands, instructions, recommendations, and sentences with helping verbs such as can, should, or will. For example, “Get started on your assignment” tells someone to begin.
Getting started is the -ing form. It can function as a noun-like phrase, appear after a preposition, or describe the process of beginning. For example, “Getting started was difficult” treats the beginning process as the subject of the sentence.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the command test: if you are telling someone to begin, choose get started. If you can replace the phrase with “the process of beginning,” choose getting started.
Compare these sentences:
- Get started with the first question. This is an instruction.
- Getting started with the first question took several minutes. This names the process of beginning.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Get started | Verb phrase | Begin an activity or process | Get started before the meeting begins. |
| Getting started | Gerund or present participle phrase | The act or process of beginning | Getting started is often the hardest part. |
How to Use Get Started
Get started is a flexible verb phrase meaning “begin” or “start doing something.” It is especially common in conversational, instructional, marketing, educational, and workplace language. The expression has a friendly and encouraging tone, although it can also appear in formal instructions.
As an imperative, get started gives a direct instruction. It can be followed by with and a noun or noun phrase, or by on and a task. It can also appear after modal verbs and in questions about beginning an activity.
Example 1: Get started with the introduction while I prepare the presentation.
Example 2: You should get started on the report before the deadline approaches.
Example 3: Once everyone arrives, we can get started.
Etymology of the phrase get started
The phrase combines the common verb get with started, the past participle of start. In this expression, get means to enter a new state or condition, while started describes the condition of having begun. Start comes from Middle English and is related to the idea of moving suddenly or beginning an action.
How to Use Getting Started
Getting started is the -ing form of the phrase. It often refers to the process of beginning an activity rather than issuing a command. It can serve as the subject of a sentence, follow a preposition, or appear after verbs that are commonly followed by gerunds.
This form is particularly useful when discussing difficulties, advice, instructions, or initial steps. It is also common in headings and titles, such as “Getting Started with the Software,” where it introduces an orientation or beginner’s guide.
Example 1: Getting started on a large project can feel overwhelming.
Example 2: She had trouble getting started with the application.
Example 3: This guide explains the basics of getting started with online investing.
Etymology of the phrase getting started
Getting started consists of the present participle getting and the participle started. The -ing ending gives the phrase a progressive or gerund function, allowing it to describe an ongoing process or act as a noun-like expression. Its meaning developed naturally from the older uses of get to indicate entering a state and start to indicate beginning.
Related Concepts
Understanding verb forms and sentence functions makes it easier to choose between get started and getting started.
- Imperative verbs: An imperative gives a command or instruction. “Get started now” uses the base verb to tell someone what to do.
- Gerunds: A gerund is an -ing form that functions like a noun. In “Getting started takes courage,” the phrase is the subject.
- Infinitives and base verbs: After modal verbs such as can, should, and will, English generally uses the base form: “You can get started.”
- Prepositions followed by gerunds: After a preposition such as by, without, or after, the -ing form is usually appropriate: “Begin by getting started with the easiest task.”
Examples from Media and Literature
Both expressions appear frequently in books, films, news writing, software documentation, and public communication. Their grammatical roles remain consistent across different contexts.
- Instruction manuals: Software guides commonly use headings such as “Getting Started,” introducing setup instructions for new users.
- Educational writing: A teacher may write, “Get started by reading the first chapter,” using the phrase as a direct instruction.
- Business communication: Workplace emails often say, “We can get started after everyone joins the call,” referring to the beginning of a meeting.
- Self-help books: Advice-oriented writing frequently discusses why getting started is difficult and recommends taking one small step.
- Film and television dialogue: A character organizing a group may say, “Let’s get started,” while a narrator may describe the process of getting started on a new plan.
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase to complete each sentence.
- _____ with the registration form before choosing your course.
- _____ on a new routine is often harder than maintaining it.
- We should _____ before the room becomes too crowded.
- He struggled with _____ after receiving the assignment.
- Once the equipment is ready, the team can _____.
Answer Key
- Get started — This is an instruction.
- Getting started — The phrase functions as the subject.
- get started — The base form follows the modal verb should.
- getting started — The gerund form follows the preposition with.
- get started — The base form follows the modal verb can.
Get Started Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Begin | To start an activity or process |
| Start | To cause or allow something to commence |
| Commence | To begin; more formal in tone |
| Set to work | To begin working seriously on a task |
| Launch | To begin or introduce a project, product, or campaign |
Getting Started Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| Beginning | The point or process at which something starts |
| Starting | Beginning an activity or process |
| Initiating | Taking the first action in a process; relatively formal |
| Embarking | Beginning a significant activity, journey, or undertaking |
| Making a start | Beginning, often with the implication of taking initial progress |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “get started” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Get started” is a correct verb phrase used to mean “begin.” It commonly appears in commands, recommendations, questions, and sentences with modal verbs.
Question 2: Is “getting started” grammatically correct?
Yes. “Getting started” is the -ing form of the phrase. It usually describes the process of beginning and can function as a noun-like phrase, as in “Getting started takes patience.”
Question 3: Should I write “get started” or “getting started” in a heading?
Use Getting Started when the heading introduces instructions or beginner information, such as “Getting Started with the New Platform.” Use Get Started when the heading is a direct call to action, such as “Get Started Today.”
Conclusion
Get started and getting started are both correct, but they are not interchangeable in every sentence. Choose get started for commands and base-verb constructions; choose getting started when naming or describing the process of beginning. Pro Tip: Using the form that matches your sentence’s grammar creates clearer, more polished writing and strengthens your professional reputation.
