be able to refrain from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be able to refrain from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the ability to avoid or abstain from a particular action or behavior. Example: "She was proud to be able to refrain from eating sweets during her diet."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

She is expected to face questions about whether, as a Justice, she would be able to refrain from simply rubber stamping Obama's policies.

The Guardian

From a Japanese standpoint, the South Koreans are far more cut-throat global competitors than American firms.As for the future, some sceptics doubt that the meddlesome Bank of Korea (BoK) will be able to refrain from cheapening the won.

The Economist

As the problems with Brexit mount, I also wonder whether English nationalists will be able to refrain from casting their opponents as enemies of the people and servants of the cosmopolitan EU.

The Guardian - Opinion

Hopefully, she'll be able to refrain from Instagramming until the Facebook-owned app makes its way to BlackBerry.

TechCrunch

Too many human beings -- especially those who are in direct competition with one another -- are not going to be able to refrain from acting on those instincts.

Huffington Post

I doubt he will be able to refrain from starting the trade war he has threatened against China, which he complains is not playing fair against the United States in bilateral commerce.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

Second, a free will is able to refrain from acting on what reason presents to it as best to do.

SEP

One can only hope that our elected officials are able to refrain from further political opportunism and grandstanding to focus on the tragedy of Alex's short life.

Huffington Post

"I don't think that somebody with that mentality — and not being able to refrain themselves from the things that they express about — should be. . . in a school environment," she told the station.

The Washington Post

Note, however, the correlation in PGs between impulsivity and number of perseverative errors in extinction: particularly impulsive gamblers seem less able to refrain from any reaction, even when it becomes apparent that each response is punished.

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research

There are very few songs that you won't be able to sing the refrains from after a listen or two, should you so wish.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be able to refrain from" to express a capacity to consciously avoid or abstain from a specific action, especially when it requires self-control or effort. For example, "She needs to be able to refrain from impulsive spending to save money."

Common error

Avoid using "be able to refrain from" when a simpler active construction is more direct. Instead of "He needs to be able to refrain from yelling", consider "He needs to control his yelling" which is more concise.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be able to refrain from" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing the ability to abstain or avoid a particular action or behavior. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment that the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its use in various contexts where conscious avoidance is required.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be able to refrain from" is a grammatically sound and useful expression for indicating the capacity to avoid or abstain from something, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. It leans towards a neutral to formal register and is found across various contexts, including news, science, and general reference materials. While "be able to refrain from" isn't the most frequent phrase, its precise meaning—highlighting self-control and conscious effort—makes it a valuable addition to one's vocabulary. Understanding its nuances helps in choosing the right words to express the ability to resist impulses or temptations effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

manage to abstain from

Focuses on the successful management of avoiding something, implying effort and control.

succeed in resisting

Highlights the success in opposing an urge or temptation.

find it in oneself to avoid

Emphasizes the internal capacity to evade or keep away from something.

have the strength to resist

Stresses the power and fortitude required to oppose something.

prove capable of avoiding

Highlights the demonstrated ability to prevent something from happening or to stay away from something.

be in a position to abstain

Emphasizes the situation or circumstances allowing one to refrain.

be strong enough to resist

Underscores the necessary strength to withstand or fight against an impulse.

be disciplined enough to avoid

Highlights the self-control required to evade something.

be sufficiently self-controlled to abstain

Emphasizes the level of self-control necessary to refrain.

have what it takes to resist

Focuses on possessing the essential qualities to withstand something.

FAQs

How can I use "be able to refrain from" in a sentence?

This phrase indicates someone has the capacity to avoid doing something. For example, "She needs to "be able to refrain from" eating sweets to maintain her diet."

What does it mean to "be able to refrain from" something?

It means having the ability and self-control to avoid a particular action or behavior. The ability to "be able to refrain from" something often implies a conscious effort to resist an impulse or temptation.

What can I say instead of "be able to refrain from"?

You can use alternatives like "manage to abstain from", "succeed in resisting", or "have the strength to resist" depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "be able to refrain from" compared to "avoid"?

Yes, ""be able to refrain from"" is generally more formal than simply saying "avoid". "Avoid" is more common in everyday conversation, while ""be able to refrain from"" is better suited for professional or academic writing.