ceased talking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ceased talking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has stopped speaking or has become silent. Example: "After a long discussion, she finally ceased talking, leaving everyone in the room to ponder her words."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Gradually, I ceased talking much at all when we were out together".

The New Yorker

Rather, like the best interviewers, she holds her shots for several seconds after someone has ceased talking, knowing that silence, like an empty belly, demands to be filled.

The New York Times

They focus on his "cosmopolitan" phase, after he made the pilgrimage to Mecca and ceased talking about organizing rifle clubs for self-defense.

The New Yorker

In 2000, after he appointed a Presidential advisory panel, which included Duesberg and other denialists, to study the cause of AIDS, he was so brutally repudiated by world leaders and public-health professionals that he essentially ceased talking about the issue.

The New Yorker

While conducting interviews, she became interested in survivors who ceased talking to anyone about the assault for significant periods of time.

American Journal of Community Psychology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Similarly, Cashman would cease talking to the Expos if the Yankees signed Clemens.

The New York Times - Sports

When the hotel elevator doors opened, all 317 pounds of the Jets rookie defensive tackle Dewayne Robertson stepped inside, in full uniform, causing a Japanese family of four to cease talking and back farther into the elevator.

The New York Times - Sports

The teen formerly-known-as-chatty will suddenly cease talking, but replace it with other noises.The chattering and questioning give way to door slamming and heavy sighs, peppered with an occasional grumble and furious tap-tap-tapping of texts (probably all about you).

Huffington Post

As part of this, cease talking about TV shows and characters altogether.

WikiHow

Days before the 2 February deadline for Sainsbury's to decide on whether to make a bid, the two sides are understood to have ceased talks as they struggle to agree a price.

The Guardian - Business

One of the first actions of the Coalition government when it was elected was to cease talks with the Hazelwood power station – the dirtiest in the country – to begin a phased shutdown, saying it would be too expensive.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ceased talking" when you want a slightly more formal or literary tone than "stopped talking". It is suitable for descriptive writing and narratives.

Common error

Avoid using "ceased talking" in very casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound unnatural or pretentious in those contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "stopped talking" or "shut up" depending on the context.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ceased talking" functions as a verb phrase indicating the termination of speech. Ludwig AI confirms its usability, demonstrating its role in conveying a deliberate or gradual end to vocal communication, often in descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ceased talking" is a grammatically sound and usable verb phrase indicating the end of speech. While Ludwig AI identifies its usage as correct, it's less common than alternatives like "stopped speaking" and leans toward a neutral to slightly formal register. It is frequently found in News & Media and Science sources. When using "ceased talking", be mindful of the context to ensure the tone aligns with your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopped speaking

A more common and direct synonym for "ceased talking".

fell silent

Implies a sudden transition into silence, often carrying emotional weight.

remained silent

Emphasizes the continued state of not speaking.

became quiet

Indicates a gradual reduction in speech until silence is reached.

refrained from speaking

Highlights a conscious decision not to talk.

quit talking

A more informal way to say someone stopped talking.

halted conversation

Focuses on the interruption of an ongoing discussion.

ended the discussion

Specifically refers to the termination of a discussion or debate.

lost their voice

Suggests an inability to speak, either literally or metaphorically.

shut up

A very informal and sometimes rude way to say someone stopped talking.

FAQs

What does "ceased talking" mean?

"Ceased talking" means to have stopped speaking or to have become silent.

What can I say instead of "ceased talking"?

You can use alternatives like "stopped speaking", "fell silent", or "became quiet" depending on the context.

Is "ceased talking" formal or informal?

"Ceased talking" is generally considered more formal than phrases like "stopped talking" or "shut up".

How to use "ceased talking" in a sentence?

Example: "After a long argument, he finally "ceased talking", and the room fell silent."