Start, Begin or Commence?

All these words have the same meaning. ‘Commence’ is only used in formal English and, when followed by a verb, it is always an ‘–ing’ form and not an infinitive.

Australia Network commenced broadcasting in 2002. (not commenced to broadcast)

‘Start’ is always used instead of ‘begin’ for getting a machine to go.

The car won’t start. 

or for an argument

She started the argument.

or for founding a business

I’m going to start my own production company.

‘Begin’ is used in the expression ‘doesn’t begin to’.

He doesn’t even begin to know how much trouble he is in.

And ‘to begin with’, which means at first.

English is hard to begin with, but you get used to it.