ceased to work

USAGE SUMMARY

"ceased to work" is correct and usable in written English.
It generally means to stop functioning as expected. Example: The electrical appliance ceased to work after two weeks of use.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Streetlights have long ceased to work.

The Economist

"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

Companies, families and neighbors ceased to work together, and the word kozoku was coined to describe our country: ko meaning "isolated" or "orphaned," zoku meaning "family" or "tribe".

The New York Times

He never ceased to work behind the scenes for his tantalizing vision — some would say mirage — of a "New Middle East".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

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

The Guardian - Opinion

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

Cornell University

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

The Guardian - Opinion

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

The Guardian

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

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the failure of a process or system, consider using "ceased to work" to indicate a complete halt in functionality. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid constructing sentences that obscure the reason why something "ceased to work". Specify the cause of the failure to provide a clearer and more informative statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ceased to work" functions as a verb phrase, typically used as a predicate in a sentence. It indicates that something has stopped functioning or operating as intended. Ludwig AI highlights numerous examples across various contexts, demonstrating its wide applicability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

22%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ceased to work" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate that something has stopped functioning. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and appropriate for various contexts. Its neutral register makes it suitable for news, science, and general discussions. While there may be slightly more formal alternatives like "became inoperative", "ceased to work" provides a clear and straightforward way to convey the termination of an action or the failure of an object. Remember to be specific about the cause of the failure when using the phrase to improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stopped functioning

Focuses on the functionality aspect, implying an abrupt halt.

became inoperative

More formal and technical, suggesting a system or device is no longer working.

failed to operate

Emphasizes the inability to perform a specific action or task.

broke down

Informal, often used for machinery or systems that malfunction.

went out of service

Suggests a planned or official removal from operation.

shut down

Implies a deliberate or automatic stopping of operation.

became defunct

Indicates a complete cessation of operation, often permanently.

ground to a halt

Describes a gradual cessation, often due to internal problems.

stopped running

Specifically indicates that whatever stopped was in motion or in progress.

gave out

Informal, suggests something has reached the end of its lifespan or capacity.

FAQs

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

You can use "ceased to work" to describe when something has stopped functioning. For example, "The computer "ceased to work" after the power outage".

What is a formal alternative to "ceased to work"?

A more formal alternative to "ceased to work" is "became inoperative", which is typically used in technical or official contexts.

What's the difference between "ceased to work" and "stopped working"?

"Ceased to work" and "stopped working" are very similar. "Ceased to work" can sound slightly more formal, but they are generally interchangeable.

Is it correct to say "ceased working" instead of "ceased to work"?

While "ceased working" might be understood, "ceased to work" is the more standard and grammatically conventional phrasing. You can also consider replacing "ceased to work" with phrases like "stopped functioning".