cease to keep

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cease to keep" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating the act of stopping or discontinuing the act of maintaining or holding onto something. Example: "After much consideration, I have decided to cease to keep unnecessary items in my home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

To requite his policy passions without expanding government, Mr Gore will propose tax incentives for an endless list of worthwhile pursuits, with the result that even accountants cease to keep track of the new loopholes in the system.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

At some point that ceased to keep him on track.

BBC

Although Protestants ceased to be kept in the Bastille, the political uncertainties and plots of the period kept the prison busy and 1,459 were imprisoned there under the Regency, an average of around 182 a year.

Wikipedia

Long after she left home and had ceased to need to keep potential partners at a distance, she was still holding onto that old desire.

Huffington Post

The study's analysis shows that, as time passes, the potential costs of a dual-class structure tend to increase while the potential benefits tend to erode, and that the risk that the dual-class structure would cease to be efficient tends to keep increasing as time passes.

Harvard University

The bad old days of bloodily unbridled nationalism could return all too quickly if Bosnia ceased to be kept under close supervision; the ramshackle republic's internal equilibrium is still vulnerable to mischief stirred up from within or without.

The Economist

The places we go to shut out the constant influx of bad news the dark, smoky rooms where rules, regulations and Donald Trump cease to exist need to be kept safe.

Vice

Achebe lived through these times – a tragic civil war in his country – as an activist in extreme personal danger, finally exile, fulfilling Albert Camus' statement of what it means to be a writer: "The day when I am no more than a writer I shall cease to be a writer". He kept faith with this commitment.

The Guardian - Books

With the help of will.i.am and his colleagues, our hope is that FIRST will finally cease to be America's best kept secret and instead be a part of our culture.

Huffington Post

The knowledge that the Egyptian military would cease to exist after a war with Israel kept the peace.

Huffington Post

That hasn't kept the team from swanking around as though San Diego might cease to exist without it.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cease to keep", ensure the context clearly indicates what is no longer being maintained or held. Specificity enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "cease to keep" when a simpler verb like "abandon" or "stop" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease to keep" functions as an infinitive phrase within a sentence, often acting as a verb complement. It indicates the termination of an action related to maintaining or preserving something, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cease to keep" is a grammatically sound but relatively uncommon way to express the termination of maintaining or preserving something. Ludwig AI indicates that it's usable in written English, although direct alternatives might be more suitable for specific contexts. It's found across various domains, including News & Media and Academia, with a slightly formal tone. When using this phrase, ensure clarity and avoid overusing it where simpler alternatives like "stop maintaining" are appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop maintaining

This alternative uses a more direct verb ("stop") instead of "cease", and replaces "keep" with "maintaining".

discontinue holding

Replaces "cease" with "discontinue" and "keep" with "holding", offering a slightly more formal tone.

no longer maintain

A simpler way of expressing the idea of stopping maintenance.

stop preserving

Substitutes "keep" with "preserving", emphasizing the act of maintaining something in its original condition.

end the maintenance of

This is a more formal way of saying "cease to keep", using a noun phrase ("maintenance of") instead of a verb.

halt the preservation of

Similar to "end the maintenance of", but uses "halt" and "preservation" for a slightly different nuance.

relinquish control over

Focuses on giving up control, which is one aspect of ceasing to keep something.

abandon maintaining

Uses "abandon" to convey a more decisive and complete cessation.

quit maintaining

Replaces "cease" with "quit", providing a more informal alternative.

give up custody of

Emphasizes the relinquishing of possession or guardianship.

FAQs

How can I use "cease to keep" in a sentence?

You can use "cease to keep" to describe the action of discontinuing the act of maintaining or holding onto something. For example, "After careful consideration, I have decided to cease to keep unnecessary items in my home."

What are some alternatives to "cease to keep"?

Some alternatives to "cease to keep" include "stop maintaining", "discontinue holding", or "no longer maintain", depending on the context.

Is it more formal to say "cease to keep" or "stop keeping"?

"Cease to keep" is generally considered more formal than "stop keeping". "Stop keeping" is a more direct and commonly used expression.

Which is the correct phrase, "cease to keep" or "seize to keep"?

The correct phrase is "cease to keep", meaning to stop maintaining something. "Seize to keep" is not a standard English phrase. Remember that the verb "cease" means 'to stop'.