cancelled to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cancelled to" is not correct and usable in written English.
It seems to be a misunderstanding or misphrasing, as "cancelled" typically does not pair with "to" in standard usage. Example: "The event was cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

An exercise involving 14 warships is supposed to have been cancelled to save money.

The Economist

We were being told that the march wasn't cancelled to save on paperwork".

Independent

Mr Haider's passport had recently been cancelled to prevent him joining them, Mr Lay confirmed.

Independent

Or being a policemen whose leave is cancelled to squelch urban riots.

The Economist

Bans quickly spread to France, Luxembourg and the Netherlands with exports cancelled to countries including Spain.

The Guardian - Business

Fans were told the concert, due to be performed tonight, would have to be cancelled to avoid further commotion.

The Guardian - Music

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Reply "cancel" to stop messages.

The New Yorker

Reply YES for more info, cancel to stop messages!

The New Yorker

No reservations were canceled to accommodate the president.

The New York Times

Still other philatelists specialize in mint (unused) stamps or canceled (used) ones, including "CTOs," or stamps "canceled to order".

Encyclopedia of Insects

When a semi-urgent patient arrives, an elective patient is canceled to accommodate this (prioritized) patient.

Health Care Management Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey purpose after cancellation, replace "cancelled to" with phrases like "cancelled in order to", "cancelled so as to", or "cancelled for the purpose of" for enhanced clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "cancelled to" in formal writing. It's grammatically unconventional. Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "cancelled because of" or "cancelled due to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cancelled to" appears to function as a verb followed by a preposition indicating purpose or result. However, based on Ludwig AI's assessment and standard English grammar, this construction is generally considered incorrect.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

28%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "cancelled to" is relatively common, as indicated by Ludwig, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Its intended purpose is to explain the reason or intention behind a cancellation, but this is not achieved through standard English usage. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts. For improved clarity and grammatical accuracy, especially in formal writing, it's best to use alternatives like "cancelled because of", "cancelled due to", or "cancelled in order to". As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is not correct in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cancelled in order to

Adds clarity by explicitly stating the purpose of the cancellation.

cancelled so as to

Similar to "in order to", it emphasizes the intention behind the cancellation.

called off to

Replaces "cancelled" with a synonym, while maintaining the preposition "to" indicating purpose or result.

cancelled for the purpose of

A more verbose but clear way of indicating the reason for the cancellation.

cancelled with the aim of

Highlights the intended outcome of the cancellation.

postponed to

Indicates a delay rather than a complete cancellation, altering the action but retaining the preposition.

abandoned to

Suggests a more forceful or complete cessation of the activity, maintaining the preposition indicating consequence.

discontinued to

Implies a permanent end to something, preserving the prepositional link.

terminated to

A more formal way of saying something has ended, still with "to" indicating a resulting action.

nullified to

Indicates invalidation, altering the verb but preserving the prepositional link.

FAQs

How can I correctly express the reason for a cancellation?

Instead of using the grammatically questionable phrase "cancelled to", use alternatives like "cancelled because of", "cancelled due to", or "cancelled in order to" for better clarity and adherence to standard English.

What are some alternatives to "cancelled to" that maintain a similar meaning?

While "cancelled to" is generally not recommended, you can use phrases like "called off to", "cancelled in order to", or "abandoned to", depending on the intended nuance.

Is it ever appropriate to use the phrase "cancelled to"?

While some sources might use "cancelled to", it is generally advisable to avoid it in formal writing. Opt for more grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Which is more grammatically correct: "cancelled to" or "cancelled due to"?

"Cancelled due to" is grammatically correct and widely accepted. "Cancelled to" is generally considered incorrect. Always prefer "cancelled due to" or "cancelled because of" for accurate and clear communication.