cease being so

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cease being so" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to instruct someone to stop behaving in a certain way or to stop exhibiting a particular quality. Example: "If you want to improve your relationships, you need to cease being so critical of others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The heartening news is that banks are facing increasing pressure to cease being so solicitous to corrupt leaders.

The New York Times

Standard & Poor's, a credit-rating agency, points out that projects which once looked viable may cease being so as growth slows.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Perhaps it has never ceased being so; we simply expect chapters to be there, breaking up our reading, giving us the permission to pause or stop.

The New Yorker

For this, it was penalised by the British government; the capital of British India since 1772, it ceased being so in 1911, when the seat of power was transferred to Delhi.

The Guardian - Books

In subsequent years, when O'Reilly fans would stop me, almost always in nonpartisan tourist spaces (Times Square, airport lounges), I ceased being surprised: O'Reilly viewers were so fanatical that they could identify even his random, infrequent guests.

The New Yorker

The decision also threw out Washington's blanket primaries, even though voters loved them.Mr Reed then had the idea of changing the primaries so that they ceased being a "nominating process" and became instead a simple mechanism to find the top two vote-getters.

The Economist

But they cease to be so, if other countries renege.

The Economist

But when they cease to be so dependent and aren't looking at us anymore?

The Guardian

("Ask yourself whether you are happy," observed John Stuart Mill, "and you cease to be so").

The Guardian - Opinion

The British economy will enter a recession and cease to be so attractive to immigrants.

The Guardian

Don't treat your child as difficult, or so the thinking would seem, and he will cease to be so.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cease being so", ensure the context is formal and the subject is clearly defined. For example, "The company must "cease being so" secretive about its financial practices."

Common error

Avoid using "cease being so" in casual conversation; opt for simpler phrases like "stop being so" or "quit being so" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease being so" functions as a directive, urging the termination of a particular state or behavior. As indicated by Ludwig, it conveys a more formal and forceful instruction to discontinue a specific action or attribute.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

11%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cease being so" is a grammatically correct directive used to instruct the termination of a specific behavior or state. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, while suggesting that it is best suited for formal contexts. Given its infrequent appearance, it's more appropriate to use synonyms like "stop being so" or "quit acting that way" in casual settings. This phrase serves a persuasive or instructional purpose, urging the end of an undesirable action or characteristic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease this way of acting

This option directly replaces "being so" with "this way of acting" for emphasis.

stop this conduct

This is a more straightforward way to say "cease this way of acting".

discontinue being that way

A more direct synonym replacement emphasizing a change in demeanor or personality.

stop being like that

This alternative is a more direct and informal way to express the same sentiment.

quit acting that way

This suggests an action or behavior that should be discontinued.

discontinue that practice

This focuses on stopping a habitual or repeated action.

refrain from such behavior

This is a more formal way of asking someone to avoid a particular action.

halt such conduct

This implies an immediate stop to a specific behavior.

desist from that manner

This alternative is highly formal and emphasizes a particular style or manner.

no longer continue in that vein

This suggests stopping a specific course of action or train of thought.

FAQs

What does "cease being so" mean?

The phrase "cease being so" means to stop acting or behaving in a particular way. It's a formal way to ask someone to discontinue a specific behavior or characteristic.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "cease being so"?

It's appropriate to use "cease being so" in formal writing or speech when addressing a serious or important issue. In casual contexts, alternatives like "stop being so" or "quit being so" are more suitable.

Are there synonyms for "cease being so" that are less formal?

Yes, less formal synonyms include "stop being like that", "quit acting that way", or simply "stop it", depending on the context.

How can I use "cease being so" in a sentence?

You can use it as follows: "If you want to improve your relationships, you need to "cease being so" critical of others." Alternatively, you could say, "The organization must "cease being so" resistant to change."