a general ceasefire

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a general ceasefire" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing peace agreements, military conflicts, or negotiations aimed at halting hostilities. Example: "The two nations have agreed to a general ceasefire to facilitate humanitarian aid and peace talks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

But that must await a general ceasefire.

The Economist

"And this agreement is the model for a general ceasefire".

The New Yorker

A lifting of the siege of Sarajevo was negotiated in mid-September, as was a general ceasefire in October.

The New Yorker

Mr Arafat has again called for a "general ceasefire" among his people and on Israel to do the same.

The Economist

Though it has largely observed a general ceasefire called in February, there is a fear that once it has received a mandate in the elections, it will restart the intifada, perhaps transferring it to the West Bank.

The Economist

Ukraine's president, Petro Poroshenko, said: "The main thing which has been achieved is that from Saturday into Sunday there should be declared without any conditions at all a general ceasefire".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

10 January 2011: Eta offers a permanent and general ceasefire.

The Guardian

In a statement released to the media the group said: "Eta has decided to declare a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community.

The Guardian

"Eta has decided to declare a permanent and general ceasefire which will be verifiable by the international community," it said in a video statement read out by one of three masked militants wearing black berets.

The Guardian

There's no conclusion but there is a general understanding on which basis a ceasefire was reached".

The Guardian

Two weeks ago, Kiev declared a ceasefire and set out a general peace plan with pro-Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a general ceasefire" when referring to a broad agreement to halt fighting across multiple fronts or involving numerous parties. Ensure the context clarifies the scope and conditions of the ceasefire.

Common error

Avoid using "a general ceasefire" if the agreement only applies to a limited area or specific factions. Be precise about the agreement's boundaries to prevent misinterpretations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a general ceasefire" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the object of a verb or the subject of a clause. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its role in describing a state of suspended conflict.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

12%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a general ceasefire" is a grammatically sound and relatively common term, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, used to describe a broad agreement to halt hostilities. It's most frequently found in news and media contexts, with a neutral register. While "a general ceasefire" is usable in written English, be mindful of accurately representing the scope of the agreement to avoid misleading implications. Some possible alternatives are "a comprehensive ceasefire" or "a complete cessation of hostilities".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a comprehensive ceasefire

Emphasizes the thoroughness and completeness of the cessation of hostilities.

a complete cessation of hostilities

Highlights the total ending of fighting, focusing on the action rather than an agreement.

a nationwide truce

Specifies the geographical scope of the ceasefire, implying it covers the entire country.

a broad armistice

Armistice suggests a more formal and potentially longer-term agreement than ceasefire.

a universal ceasefire agreement

Focuses on the agreement itself and its application to all parties involved.

a global truce

Indicates a ceasefire on a worldwide scale, useful in scenarios involving multiple international conflicts.

an all-out cessation of conflict

Stresses the intensity and finality of ending the conflict.

a total pacification

Implies not just an end to fighting, but a complete establishment of peace and order.

a widespread cessation of combat

Highlights that the ending of the combat operations involves a lot of parts.

a general suspension of military operations

A formal way to describe ceasefire from a military point of view, suspending combat operations.

FAQs

How is "a general ceasefire" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "a general ceasefire" is often used to describe an agreement to halt fighting across a broad area or among multiple groups. For example, "The UN called for "a general ceasefire" to allow humanitarian aid to reach civilians."

What are some alternatives to "a general ceasefire"?

You could use alternatives such as "a comprehensive ceasefire", "a complete cessation of hostilities", or "a nationwide truce" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "general ceasefire" without the article "a"?

While omitting the article "a" might be understood, it's grammatically preferable to include it (i.e., "a general ceasefire"). The article makes the phrase sound more natural and grammatically correct in most contexts.

What's the difference between "a ceasefire" and ""a general ceasefire""?

While "a ceasefire" refers to any agreement to stop fighting, ""a general ceasefire"" implies a broader scope, encompassing more areas, factions, or types of conflict. A general ceasefire aims for a more comprehensive halt to hostilities.