cease to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"cease to work" is a grammatically correct phrase that can be used in written English.
It means to stop working or functioning. Here are a few examples of how it could be used in a sentence: 1. After years of use, the old machine finally ceased to work. 2. The company announced that it will cease to work on weekends, allowing its employees to have more time with their families. 3. The medicine should not be taken after its expiration date, as it may cease to work effectively. 4. Her laptop suddenly ceased to work, leaving her unable to complete her project on time. 5. As the storm grew more intense, the power grid began to fail and eventually ceased to work altogether.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

A few devices running server based services to the internet will cease to work.

Cornell University

"His gags cease to work once he becomes well known," says Neil Hamilton.

The Guardian

Research shows that were everybody to use the Black-Scholes model, it would cease to work.

The Guardian - Opinion

Doctors envisage a time, when, if nothing is done, the drugs will cease to work at all.

The Guardian

Both cease to work when you stop using them, so you are committing a lot of money.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Around Indonesia there are quite a few water plants that cease to work because they can't collect the revenue and get enough money to repair the systems.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Streetlights have long ceased to work.

The Economist

When it ceases to work, we change or abandon it.

The Guardian - Opinion

"This is a country that has ceased to work," he says.

The New York Times - Arts

This is one way, a middle way, of continuing a modern-dance company after its creator has ceased to work.

The New Yorker

White House logs showed that she had visited the White House 37 times after she had ceased to work there.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about systems or processes, use "cease to work" to indicate a complete halt in operation, especially when the system was designed to be ongoing. For example, "The negotiations will cease to work if both parties are unwilling to compromise."

Common error

Avoid using "cease to work" in contexts that would benefit from more direct or active language. Instead of saying "The employee ceased to work here", consider using "The employee quit" or "The employee was terminated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease to work" functions as a verb phrase indicating the termination of an action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cease to work" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that describes the termination of function or operation. Ludwig AI analysis shows it spans a variety of contexts from news and media to scientific and academic writing. While primarily neutral in tone, it leans toward formality. When writing, consider the context and choose more direct alternatives like "stop functioning" in informal settings. Keep in mind that while generally correct, overuse in overly formal contexts should be avoided for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop functioning

Focuses on the mechanical aspect of stopping operation.

no longer function

Directly states the absence of functionality.

become inoperative

Highlights the state of being not working.

fail to operate

Emphasizes the inability to perform a specific function.

break down

Suggests a sudden or unexpected failure.

malfunction

Implies an issue with the original functionality.

shut down

Implies a controlled or abrupt cessation of activity.

go out of service

Focuses on the cessation of active use or operation.

become defunct

Highlights the obsolescence or irrelevance leading to cessation.

quit working

Informal way to express the cessation of activity.

FAQs

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

You can use "cease to work" to describe when something stops functioning or being effective. For instance, "The old computer will "cease to work" soon" or "The medication will "cease to work" if not stored properly".

What are some alternatives to "cease to work"?

Alternatives include "stop functioning", "become inoperative", or "fail to operate". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "cease to work" or "stop working"?

"Cease to work" is more formal than "stop working". In most everyday conversations, "stop working" is perfectly acceptable. "Cease to work" might be preferred in technical or legal writing where precision is important.

What does it mean when something "ceases to work"?

When something "ceases to work", it means it has stopped functioning or operating effectively. It indicates that the thing in question is no longer performing its intended task or purpose. You might say a machine has "ceased to work", or a strategy has "ceased to work".