cancel

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cancel" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of nullifying or terminating something, such as an event, subscription, or order. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel the meeting scheduled for tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

6. GNM reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee of 50% of the quoted Fees should the Client cancel their purchase following acceptance of GNM's quotation 7.

The Guardian

You may cancel a Guardian Masterclass if your notification is received by GNM a minimum of 14 days prior to the start of the Guardian Masterclass.

The Guardian

Logistical and financial issues forced the city council to cancel the plans and come up with something far more modest.

The Guardian - Travel

Narodnaya Volya, or "People's Will", was forced to close after two state distributors and a publishing house decided to cancel their contracts, citing different reasons.

The Guardian

The company said the work near King's Cross was part of a £200m Christmas investment programme and described the move to cancel all services as "regrettable and unfortunate".

The Guardian - Business

The company has also come under fire from those who have unwittingly signed up for Prime, or forgotten to cancel their free trial after 30 days, only to be hit with a £79 charge.

The Guardian - Money

Germans, in particular, are inclined to cancel their reservation if they know there will be Chinese in the hotel, a hotel spokesman claimed.

The Guardian

The inability of Ebola-affected countries to single-handedly absorb the economic costs has led to high-level requests to the International Monetary Fund to cancel their debt.

The Guardian

That same evening, Andrew's reception at the World Economic Forum was attended by all manner of players, and sponsored by two major British firms who saw no reason to cancel.

The Guardian - Opinion

GNMA may cancel any Guardian Masterclass at any time prior to its commencement.

The Guardian

The big news over at Fox wasn't any of the shows that would be debuting but that it was finally going to put sputtering karaoke juggernaut American Idol out of its misery and cancel it after the season that airs next year.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about cancelling appointments or events, clearly state the reason for the cancellation to maintain transparency and avoid misunderstandings.

Common error

In casual conversations, avoid using "cancel" too frequently when simpler words like "skip" or "postpone" could suffice. Overuse can sound overly formal or negative.

Linguistic Context

The verb "cancel" primarily functions to indicate the act of stopping or invalidating something that has been arranged or planned. Ludwig provides numerous examples where "cancel" is used in contexts such as appointments, subscriptions, and events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "cancel" is a versatile term used to indicate the act of stopping or invalidating something. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business domains. The term carries a neutral formality level, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. Several alternatives, such as "call off", "revoke", and "rescind", can be used depending on the specific nuance required. Understanding the appropriate context and alternatives can enhance clarity and precision in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call off

Implies stopping an event or arrangement before it happens.

revoke

Suggests formally retracting or rescinding something, like a permit or law.

rescind

Similar to revoke, but often used for orders or contracts.

nullify

Means to make something legally void or ineffective.

invalidate

To make something not valid, often used in legal or formal contexts.

terminate

Indicates bringing something to an end, often used for contracts or employment.

abort

Means to stop a process or mission prematurely.

scrap

To get rid of something because it is no longer practical or useful.

withdraw

To take back or remove something, like an offer or statement.

delete

Means to remove something, typically in a digital context.

FAQs

How can I use "cancel" in a sentence?

You can use "cancel" to indicate the act of stopping or invalidating something, such as "I need to "cancel" my subscription" or "They had to "cancel" the event due to bad weather".

What's the difference between "cancel" and "call off"?

"Cancel" generally means to stop something that is already planned or in progress, while "call off" usually refers to stopping an event before it starts. For instance, you "cancel" a meeting that's already scheduled, but you call off a game due to rain.

Which is correct, "cancel on" or "cancel"?

While "cancel on" is sometimes used informally to mean cancelling an appointment or plan with someone, it's generally more formal and clearer to simply use ""cancel"". For example, "I had to "cancel" our date" is preferred over "I had to "cancel on" you".

What are some alternatives to the word "cancel"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "postpone", "reschedule", "call off", or "terminate". The best choice depends on the specific situation and what you want to convey.