cease the course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cease the course" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in contexts where one is instructing to stop or discontinue a particular path or action, though it may not be the most natural choice of words. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we must cease the course of action we had planned."

Science

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Of course the question arises at what point of specificity to stop to avoid overfitting of the models and to cease the otherwise neverending task of subjective tests.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

Even with the Green surge having ceased, the party is on course to win 5percentt of the vote 4percentt more than in 2010.

Vice

A patient's participation in the study will also cease if, during the course of the study, they complete PD therapy (eg renal transplantation or conversion to haemodialysis).

BMC Nephrology

Especially during the dosage up-titration period, adverse drug reactions (mainly gastrointestinal) occur that usually cease later in the course [ 38].

BMC Health Services Research

But ceasing the purchase of Bangladeshi-manufactured goods, as some have suggested, would not be the compassionate course of action.

The New York Times

I said, 'I don't know.' " In any shutdown, the government does not completely cease functioning, of course.

The New York Times

Once the resistance has ceased, the force must cease".

The New York Times

After agreeing to several short-term cease-fires over the course of the conflict, Israeli and Palestinian leaders reached an open-ended cease-fire in late August.

Encyclopedia Britannica

This time effect (T0h-T1h; p < 0.0001) within the study groups ceased during course.

BMC Anesthesiology

In order to meet the needs of students who originated from the health services, the course ceased to be offered on a full time basis from 2001.

Human Resources for Health

Reflecting its new primary role, it was renamed No. 2 (Fighter) Operational Conversion Unit (No. 2 OCU) in September 1958, and ceased Vampire courses the same month.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to stop a particular action, consider using more common alternatives like "stop the course" or "halt the course" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "cease the course" in informal contexts. Opt for simpler and more direct alternatives like "stop" or "end" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease the course" functions as a verb phrase, with "cease" acting as the main verb, "the" as a determiner, and "course" as the direct object. Its primary grammatical function is to instruct or indicate the termination of a process or action. Ludwig AI indicates that while grammatically sound, it's not the most common phrasing.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cease the course" is grammatically acceptable but not a particularly common way to express the idea of stopping a process or action. Ludwig AI notes that it may sound somewhat awkward, and simpler alternatives are often preferred for clarity. Its register is formal and professional, making it more suited to official communications than casual conversation. When writing, consider whether a more direct alternative like "stop the course" or "end the course" would be more appropriate. While examples are limited, sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian suggest its presence in formal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop the course

Replaces "cease" with the more common synonym "stop".

halt the course

Uses "halt" as a slightly more formal alternative to "cease".

discontinue the course

Emphasizes the termination of the course of action.

end the course

Offers a more direct and simpler way to express the termination.

terminate the course

Provides a more formal and definitive way to indicate ending the course.

suspend the course

Implies a temporary cessation rather than a permanent one.

interrupt the course

Suggests a temporary break or disruption in the course.

abandon the course

Indicates a complete relinquishment of the course of action.

break off the course

Suggests an abrupt termination of the course.

give up the course

Indicates a decision to quit or surrender the course of action.

FAQs

What does "cease the course" mean?

The phrase "cease the course" means to stop or discontinue a particular action, plan, or series of events. It's a somewhat formal way of saying to bring something to an end.

What can I say instead of "cease the course"?

You can use alternatives like "stop the course", "halt the course", or "end the course" depending on the context.

Is "cease the course" grammatically correct?

Yes, "cease the course" is grammatically correct, but it may sound somewhat formal or uncommon compared to simpler alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "cease the course"?

It is appropriate to use "cease the course" in formal or official contexts where a more authoritative tone is desired. However, in everyday conversation, simpler alternatives may be more suitable.