cancel exams

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cancel exams" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to the act of calling off scheduled examinations, often due to unforeseen circumstances. Example: "Due to the severe weather conditions, the school has decided to cancel exams for this week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

While other schools in the state had to postpone or cancel exams, it was reported that some schools held examinations under police protection.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

A number of shrines were destroyed and many schools were adversely affected, cancelled exams or closed entirely.

Wikipedia

Cancelling exams robs children of a year of hard work at school, creating fear and uncertainty about the future.

Unicef

Among the options: delay the test until the lights return; postpone it until a Saturday; grade the incomplete test; or cancel the exam altogether.

The New York Times

If we cancel the exam, they win; if we go through with it, they lose.

Independent

But Jeff Good, a graduate student who teaches Introduction to Syntax and Semantics, said he would probably cancel the exam because the final counts for only 20percentt of the grade.

The New York Times

As a result of the release of the test, city education officials canceled makeup exams and said students would have to wait until a new version of the test was ready.

The New York Times

On Thursday, the university called off the rest of this school year — canceling final exams and the last week of classes, and postponing graduation until August.

The New York Times

And in Georgia this spring, officials canceled statewide exams for more than 600,000 fifth graders when the third error in three years was discovered in the tests.

The New York Times

Education authorities in southern Karnataka state last week cancelled the exam just hours before it was due to start after a student tipped them off about the leak.

The Guardian

law students wanted their final exams canceled.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When deciding to "cancel exams", communicate the reason clearly and promptly to minimize student anxiety and disruption. Provide alternative assessment plans if possible.

Common error

Ensure you use "cancel exams" only when the exams will not be held at all. If the exams are merely being delayed to a later date, use "postpone exams" instead to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cancel exams" functions primarily as a verb phrase, where "cancel" acts as the verb and "exams" as the direct object. It signifies the action of nullifying or calling off scheduled examinations. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correctness in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cancel exams" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate that scheduled examinations have been called off. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and its usage spans across various contexts, particularly in news and media, formal business communication, and on wikis. While alternatives like "postpone exams" or "call off exams" exist, the specific choice depends on the intended nuance. When using the phrase, clarity in communication is crucial to avoid confusion. Ensuring the phrase accurately reflects the situation—whether the exams are truly cancelled or simply delayed—is essential for effective communication. Overall, it’s a useful, versatile phrase in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call off exams

Replaces "cancel" with "call off", maintaining the same meaning.

postpone exams

Indicates a delay rather than a complete cancellation, altering the action's nature.

suspend exams

Suggests a temporary halt, differing from a permanent cancellation.

rescind exams

More formal and less common, but it also means to revoke or cancel.

halt exams

Indicates a stop to exams.

abolish exams

Implies a permanent removal of exams as a practice, a broader action than cancelling individual instances.

terminate exams

Formal and indicates ending exams before the expected conclusion.

scrap exams

More informal, suggesting to eliminate or discard exams.

discontinue exams

Suggests stopping the practice of exams.

invalidate exams

Suggests exams are deemed void, often due to irregularities, shifting the focus from the act of cancelling to the result.

FAQs

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "cancel exams"?

Use "cancel exams" when the decision has been made not to administer the exams at all, often due to unforeseen circumstances like severe weather or security concerns. If there is an intention to hold the exams later, use "postpone exams" instead.

What are some reasons why a school might "cancel exams"?

Schools might "cancel exams" due to various reasons, including severe weather conditions, public health emergencies, security threats, or significant disruptions like strikes or natural disasters.

How does "cancel exams" differ from "reschedule exams"?

"Cancel exams" means the exams will not take place at all. "Reschedule exams", on the other hand, means the exams will be moved to a later date or time.

What are some alternative phrases for "cancel exams"?

Alternatives include "call off exams", "suspend exams" (if temporary), or, in more extreme cases, "abolish exams" (if the decision is to eliminate exams altogether).