cease working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cease working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when instructing someone to stop their current tasks or activities. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we must ask all employees to cease working immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

Tattoos disappear and showers cease working -- there can be no more of either in New York after Auschwitz.

The New York Times - Books

"When I finally cease working, then you can make a judgment on what PiL is or isn't," he says tartly.

The Guardian - Music

Society could set a basic income that rises with economy-wide productivity, and as workers' potential earnings fall below that reservation level they cease working.

The Economist

While in this nearly frozen state, the frog's heart stops beating completely, its lungs cease working, and its brain activity is almost unmeasurable.

The New York Times

While some of us dearly wish that Sheeran would cease working so hard with instant effect, there's no denying his immense productivity.

The Guardian - Opinion

According to C. Eugene Steuerle of the Urban Institute, creation of early retirement for Social Security had the unfortunate effect of changing workers' expectations about the appropriate age at which to cease working.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"The low cost carriers have ceased working their magic.

The New York Times

In 1970, Meir Benayahu ceased working as director of the institute for reasons that are unclear.

The New York Times - Magazine

Soon after 1900 her eyesight began to fail, and by 1914 she had ceased working.

Encyclopedia Britannica

In 1964, Holst ceased working for Britten in order to concentrate on her father's legacy.

The Guardian - Music

When he was 5, one of his kidneys ceased working and had to be removed.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing multiple individuals or groups, consider pairing "cease working" with a specified timeline to avoid confusion (e.g., "All employees must cease working on Project Phoenix by 5 PM tomorrow.").

Common error

Avoid using "cease working" in informal conversations or casual writing. It can sound overly formal or even robotic. Use more natural alternatives like "stop working" or "take a break" in those contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cease working" functions as a verb phrase used to instruct or describe the termination of work activities. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cease working" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase that instructs or describes the termination of work activities. As Ludwig confirms, it's best suited for neutral to formal contexts, conveying a sense of authority. While alternatives like "stop working" exist for more informal use, "cease working" is appropriate for official announcements and directives, as shown in numerous examples from News & Media and Wiki sources. When using "cease working", ensure clarity in the timeframe for cessation to avoid confusion.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop work

This alternative is more direct and implies an immediate halt to current work activities.

halt operations

This refers to stopping a business or organizational activity.

discontinue employment

This phrase specifically refers to ending a formal employment relationship.

terminate employment

Similar to 'discontinue employment', but often used when the employer ends the job.

retire from job

This implies stopping work permanently, typically due to age or health reasons.

leave employment

A more general term for ending an employment position.

suspend activity

This indicates a temporary interruption of work.

give up work

Implies relinquishing or abandoning one's job or career.

down tools

Refers to stopping work, sometimes in protest or disagreement.

knock off

Informal way of saying that someone has finished work, particularly for the day.

FAQs

How to use "cease working" in a sentence?

"Cease working" is often used in formal instructions or official announcements. For example, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, all employees must "cease working" immediately."

What can I say instead of "cease working"?

You can use alternatives like "stop working", "halt operations", or "discontinue working" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "cease working" or "stop working"?

Both "cease working" and "stop working" are grammatically correct. "Cease working" is generally more formal and conveys a stronger sense of finality, while "stop working" is more common in everyday language.

What's the difference between "cease working" and "retire"?

"Cease working" implies a temporary or permanent stop to a specific task or employment, while "retire" generally refers to permanently leaving the workforce, usually due to age or health reasons.