cease the

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence 'cease the' is not correct and cannot be used in written English.
In order for 'cease' to be usable as part of a sentence, it must be followed by a verb. For example, "We must cease the fighting immediately".

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"All suffering will cease," the Messiah answered.

The New Yorker

It must cease the persecution of its civilian population.

The Guardian

They said they would cease the protests on Friday.

The New York Times

Will Henrik Lundqvist ever cease the practice of deflecting slap shots with his head?

The New York Times

When the postcards cease, the protagonist goes to Belgrade to look for him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Fisheries minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said last year Japan would never cease the "long tradition and culture".

The Guardian

I trusted that I had it coming to me, without cease, the firework of language.

The New Yorker

Hence there is no compromise to cease the battle against this fitna halfway.

The New York Times - Arts

"We must act to cease the return to a culture of 'victim blaming'.

The Guardian

"Inflammatory rhetoric and targeted violence must cease," the US president said.

The Guardian

The N.F.L. contacted the Bears last month and told them to cease the practice.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to use "cease", ensure that it is followed by a verb to form a grammatically correct sentence. For example, "Cease fighting".

Common error

Avoid using "cease the" without a direct object that is a verb. It's grammatically incomplete and sounds awkward. Instead, make sure the sentence specifies an action to be ceased, like "cease the fighting".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease the" functions as an introductory part of a verb phrase, where "cease" is intended as a transitive verb. However, according to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically incorrect as it requires a direct object that is a verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

31%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "cease the" appears frequently across various sources, Ludwig AI indicates it is grammatically incorrect. The intended meaning is to stop an action, but "cease" requires to be followed by a verb, such as "cease fighting". Correct alternatives include "end the", "halt the", or "discontinue the", which maintains grammatical accuracy and clarity. Using "cease the" can be perceived as awkward or incorrect, especially in formal writing. Pay attention to the usage context and choose a more precise phrasing to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discontinue the

Replaces "cease" with a more formal synonym, "discontinue", implying a deliberate ending.

end the

Uses the simpler verb "end" for a more direct and common way to express termination.

stop the

A basic and widely understood substitute, replacing "cease" with "stop".

halt the

Substitutes "cease" with "halt", suggesting an abrupt stop to something.

discontinue using

Specifically addresses stopping the usage of something, adding clarity.

abandon the

Replaces "cease" with "abandon", indicating a complete forsaking or giving up of something.

terminate the

Employs "terminate" for a more formal and decisive cessation.

desist from

Uses "desist from" to mean to abstain or refrain from, offering a more formal tone.

refrain from

Similar to "desist from", "refrain from" implies a conscious effort to avoid doing something.

suspend the

Suggests a temporary cessation, implying that the activity may resume later.

FAQs

How to use "cease" correctly in a sentence?

The verb "cease" should be followed by a verb. For example, "Please cease arguing". A common mistake is to use "cease the" without a verb, as in "cease the noise", which is grammatically incorrect. Instead, try "cease making noise".

What can I say instead of "cease the"?

Instead of the ungrammatical "cease the", try alternatives such as "end the", "halt the", or "discontinue the", depending on the specific context.

Is "cease the" grammatically correct?

No, "cease the" is not grammatically correct. "Cease" is a verb that requires a direct object that is also a verb (gerund). The phrase should be followed by an action, such as "cease the fighting" or "cease the noise pollution" (if you rephrase "noise" into "noise pollution").

What's the difference between "cease" and "stop"?

"Cease" and "stop" are similar in meaning, but "cease" is generally considered more formal. Both require a verb, and neither should be used as "cease the" or "stop the" without adding a verb. For example, you can "stop doing something" or "cease doing something", but not "stop the" without specifying the action.