be discontinued

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be discontinued" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a product, service, or practice will no longer be available or in use. Example: "Due to low sales, the product will be discontinued at the end of the month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

This policy should be discontinued.

The Guardian - Opinion

The investigative fund brand will be discontinued.

The New York Times

Does this imply that developmental interventions should be discontinued?

World Development

The committee calls for the practice to be discontinued.

The Guardian

Buick's largest car, the Lucerne, will be discontinued.

The New York Times

The director decided the al-Yamamah investigation should be discontinued.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

They have been discontinued.

The New York Times

The bus was discontinued.

The New Yorker

Classes were discontinued.

The Guardian

Inevitably, that was discontinued.

The Guardian

The project was discontinued.

Princeton University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be discontinued", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being stopped or terminated. For instance, specify the product, service, or practice that will "be discontinued".

Common error

Avoid using "be discontinued" with animate subjects. It is typically used for products, services, or practices, not people or animals. For example, instead of saying "The employee will be discontinued", use "The employee's contract will be terminated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be discontinued" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that a subject (product, service, or action) will have its operation, production, or availability terminated. It expresses a state of being ended by an external agent or decision, according to Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be discontinued" is a frequently used passive verb phrase that indicates the termination of a product, service, or practice. As noted by Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely employed across various contexts, including news, science, and wiki sources. While its usage spans diverse areas, it tends to lean towards a neutral to professional tone. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding what is being terminated. While common, consider alternative expressions like "be terminated" or "be phased out" for nuanced communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be terminated

Focuses on the formal ending of something, often a contract or agreement.

be stopped

A more direct and simple way of expressing the end of something.

be ended

Highlights the completion or finality of something.

be ceased

Emphasizes the act of stopping or halting.

be canceled

Indicates that something will not happen or continue as planned.

be phased out

Suggests a gradual process of ending something.

be halted

Conveys an abrupt stop or pause.

be suspended

Suggests a temporary interruption.

be abandoned

Implies that something is left or deserted.

be shut down

Implies a complete and often forceful closure.

FAQs

How can I use "be discontinued" in a sentence?

You can use "be discontinued" to indicate that something will no longer be produced, offered, or available. For example, "This product will "be discontinued" at the end of the year".

What is a more formal alternative to "be discontinued"?

A more formal alternative is "be terminated", which is often used in legal or business contexts to indicate the ending of a contract or agreement.

Is it correct to say "become discontinued"?

While understandable, "become discontinued" is less common and idiomatic than /s/be+discontinued. It's generally better to use the passive form "be discontinued".

What's the difference between "be discontinued" and "be suspended"?

"Be discontinued" implies a permanent end, while "be suspended" suggests a temporary cessation with the possibility of resumption in the future.