commencer in literary & formal French
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Formal French has richer verbs for beginning.
Commencer in formal register
Formal writing prefers débuter, entamer or amorcer. Débuter is neutral, entamer suggests breaking into something (« entamer des négociations »), and amorcer suggests priming a process (« amorcer un virage »).
The noun le commencement is more literary than le début, and survives chiefly in the biblical « au commencement ». In ordinary formal French, use le début.
💡 Focus at this level: Literary & formal
👨🏫 How to use « commencer » at this level
1. « Entamer » = to break into. Negotiations, a discussion, a cake.
2. « Le début » in modern prose, not le commencement.
3. Recognise « il commença ». Past historic.
Ils ont entamé des négociations.They opened negotiations.
Le processus est amorcé.The process has been set in motion.
Au commencement était le Verbe.In the beginning was the Word.
Il commença son discours.He began his speech.
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