The phrase "an ability to refrain" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing someone's capacity to hold back or abstain from certain actions or behaviors.
Example: "Having an ability to refrain from impulsive decisions is crucial in making sound judgments."
Alternatives: "the capacity to abstain" or "the skill to hold back".
Shin-ae, after all, has no idea what horrors await her in Miryang, and Mr. Lee has a remarkable ability to refrain from foreshadowing.
Prior to departure, he takes a window seat, in order to insulate himself from his fellow-travellers as they step onto the plane and glance at him with tight smiles that seem to indicate pride not only in their sudden proximity to an ex-President but also in their ability to refrain from making a fuss.
In a statement, Cerberus said: "The decision validates the Cerberus affiliates' specifically negotiated ability to refrain from proceeding with the proposed transaction.
The A Word (BBC1) | iPlayer Employable Me (BBC2) | iPlayer Line of Duty (BBC2) | iPlayer Blue Eyes (More 4) | All 4 Halfway through The A Word, last week's finest drama, I was entertaining doubts about my ability to refrain from leaping to my feet and speeding up to the Lake District, such was my blithering dislike for mum Alison.
A history of smoking fewer than 10 cigarettes per day and the ability to refrain from smoking during the in-patient portion of the trial were required for participation in the study.
Tonight, the administration was extremely concerned about the Israeli government's ability to refrain from retaliation.
Some have credited Manager José Mourinho's newfound ability to refrain from generating excess drama, although it remains to be seen if Mourinho's good behavior merely stems from time away from coaching against Barcelona.
It has six items assessing amount of smoking, the time of the first cigarette after waking, smoking or not smoking in case of illness, ability to refrain from smoking in non-smoking place, reporting or not reporting the first cigarette of the day as the most difficult to give up, and smoking or not smoking more heavily in the morning.
Reminiscent of gothic art with a tinge of romanticism, her interest in medieval paintings and self portraits mixes perfectly with her ability to refrain from taking herself too seriously.
