cancel off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cancel off" is not standard in written English and is generally considered incorrect.
It is often mistakenly used in place of "cancel" or "cancel out," but it does not have a clear, accepted usage in formal writing. Example: "We need to cancel off the previous entries to avoid confusion."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By the way the returns from my book have been rather a shock: the royalties just about cancel off the cost for revisions.

The New Yorker

Cancel off where appropriate.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The autophagy inhibitor 3-MA and lysosomal inhibitor bafilomycin A1 cancelled off whereas autophagy inducer rapamycin mimicked the Alda-1-offered protection against high glucose.

Toxicology Letters

The quality changed a little with noise cancelling off, making the music sound a little more energetic.

The Guardian - Tech

The welding torque exerted on the workpiece by the reversely rotating shoulder also cancels off a part of the welding torque exerted by the rotating tool pin, thus the clamping requirement for the workpiece is also reduced.

Materials & Design

Therefore, mechanical differences existed between genders but were "cancelled off" by diabetic state.

Cardiovascular Diabetology

The United States military canceled off-post leaves today for American servicemen in the Philippines after a Marine was shot and killed outside the Subic Bay naval base.

The New York Times

But its non-committal brand of democracy has finally proved useful after a student managed to get a Dapper Laughs appearance at her university cancelled off the back of a 700-signature campaign.

Vice

Bosses sometimes ask subordinates to cancel days off to meet deadlines.

The New York Times

So cancel that off-site.

Harvard Business Review

We have to cancel our off-piste guide and we're told not even to cut in between the pistes.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "cancel off" in formal writing. Instead, use the single word "cancel" or a more precise alternative like "call off", "eliminate", or "nullify" depending on the specific context.

Common error

Writers sometimes incorrectly combine "cancel" with "off", possibly influenced by similar phrasal verbs. Remember that "cancel" alone often suffices and is grammatically correct.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cancel off" is often intended to function as a verb phrase, indicating the act of annulling or stopping something. However, Ludwig AI marks this as grammatically questionable. Correct usage would typically involve using "cancel" alone.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while you might encounter the phrase "cancel off", it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, the proper term is usually just "cancel". To avoid errors, stick to using "cancel" alone or consider alternatives such as "call off", "eliminate", or "nullify" for more specific meanings. While it appears in various contexts, the phrase is not common and should be avoided in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call off

This implies stopping or abandoning an event or activity.

eliminate

This signifies removing something completely.

wipe out

This suggests complete removal or obliteration.

nullify

This indicates making something legally void or ineffective.

void

This means declaring something invalid or null.

invalidate

This suggests making something without legal value.

rescind

This means revoking or canceling a law, order, or agreement.

counteract

This signifies acting against something to reduce its effect.

neutralize

This implies making something ineffective or harmless.

offset

This suggests balancing or compensating for something.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "cancel" in a sentence?

The word "cancel" can be used alone to indicate that something is annulled or called off. For example, "The meeting was canceled" is correct, while "The meeting was cancel off" is not.

What can I say instead of "cancel off"?

Instead of "cancel off", you can use alternatives like "call off", "eliminate", or simply "cancel", depending on the context.

Is "cancel off" grammatically correct?

No, "cancel off" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct term is usually just "cancel".

When should I use "cancel" versus other similar words?

"Cancel" is a general term for stopping something planned. Use more specific words like "call off" for events, "eliminate" for removing items, or "nullify" for invalidating agreements.