cease trying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cease trying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to instruct someone to stop making an effort or attempting to do something. Example: "After several failed attempts to fix the car, I decided it was time to cease trying and call a mechanic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

"We should never cease trying to make changes in the social welfare area fairer.

The Guardian

Ah, we should always, we should never cease trying to make changes in the social welfare area fairer.

The Guardian

That's partly because we still have one forum which cannot so easily be dismissed as peddling a partisan agenda, though its critics, right and left, never cease trying.

The Guardian - Opinion

As part of a settlement allowing them to merge, Borland and Ashton-Tate were required to cease trying to enforce copyright of the look and feel of their programs.

The Economist

He demonstrates how much we can understand about human behaviour when we cease trying to analyse the behaviour of individuals and instead look to the impact of hundreds, thousands or millions of individual human decisions.

The Guardian

Sallie Mae suggests in its letter that the buying group cannot have it both ways: the buyers either need to complete the deal or cease trying to enforce aspects of the contract.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

If the tormenting doesn't cease, try talking to a guidance counselor or trusted adult.

WikiHow

Gandhi never ceased trying to overturn these prejudices of Western modernity.

The New Yorker

The effort has faltered, and the group appears to have ceased trying.

The New York Times

(Many theologians ceased trying to locate "the historical Jesus" years ago).

The New Yorker

In fact I ceased trying to understand my people long ago.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the tone when using "cease trying"; it can sound somewhat formal or authoritative. In casual contexts, phrases like "stop trying" or "give up" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "cease trying" in very informal conversations. It can sound overly formal or even condescending. Simpler alternatives like "stop" or "quit" are often better choices.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease trying" functions primarily as a verb phrase used to express the cessation of an action. Ludwig's examples show its usage in various contexts, from social welfare reforms to personal relationships, indicating a broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cease trying" is a grammatically correct verb phrase that means to stop making an effort. Ludwig AI identifies it as common, with a tendency towards neutral to formal contexts. Primarily found in News & Media sources, it functions to instruct, advise, or inform someone to stop an action, especially when unproductive. Ludwig also provides alternatives such as "stop trying" or "give up on", helping writers select the most appropriate expression for their specific need. While grammatically sound, be mindful of its formality and replace it with a simpler phrase in informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop attempting

This alternative directly replaces "trying" with "attempting", maintaining the core meaning of discontinuing an effort.

quit attempting

Using "quit" adds a slightly more informal tone while still conveying the cessation of effort.

give up on

"Give up on" implies a sense of resignation or acceptance of failure, which "cease trying" may also suggest.

discontinue efforts

This phrase is more formal and emphasizes the termination of ongoing efforts.

abandon attempts

"Abandon attempts" suggests a more decisive and complete rejection of further effort.

refrain from trying

Focuses on abstaining from making an effort, rather than stopping one already in progress.

desist from attempting

A more formal and legalistic alternative, emphasizing a deliberate cessation.

halt efforts

"Halt efforts" implies a sudden and immediate stop to any ongoing attempts.

terminate the endeavor

This phrase is highly formal and suggests ending a significant undertaking.

stop endeavoring

Replaces both words with synonyms, still maintaining original meaning.

FAQs

What does "cease trying" mean?

"Cease trying" means to stop making an effort or attempting to do something. It is a direct way of instructing someone to discontinue their attempts.

When is it appropriate to use "cease trying"?

It's appropriate to use "cease trying" when you want to clearly and directly instruct someone to stop making an effort, particularly if the effort is not yielding positive results. It's often used in more formal contexts. In more informal situations "stop trying" might be better.

What are some alternatives to "cease trying"?

Some alternatives include "stop trying", "quit attempting", "give up", or "discontinue efforts". The best choice depends on the context and the desired level of formality.

Is "cease trying" grammatically correct?

Yes, "cease trying" is grammatically correct and follows standard English sentence structure, according to Ludwig.