decline to proceed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "decline to proceed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a refusal or decision not to move forward with a particular action or process. Example: "After careful consideration, we have decided to decline to proceed with the proposed project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

That is, immigration officials would simply decline to proceed with a deportation case.

The New York Times

The model is depicted in Figure 2. Experimental data of cytoplasmic Cl− concentrations in the absence of Cl−/HCO3− exchange inhibition suggest the decline to proceed with the relative rate different from constant.

BioMed Research International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"The House has declined to proceed on the implementation of the very budget it adopted just three months ago," he wrote.

The New York Times

The navy declined to proceed with the project, however, and the participants did not immediately pursue a patent.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The bar to such a prosecution is high, however, and the Justice Department has declined to proceed in other controversial cases.

The Guardian

A moment later Frank threw up his hands and declined to proceed, saying that the questioning had become too dumb to take seriously.

The New York Times - Magazine

And though he got to his feet quickly, Geale shook his head with resignation and declined to proceed with the fight.

The Guardian - Sport

In 1964 the then home secretary, Henry Brooke, declined to "proceed with legislation … at the moment" because of the challenge in winning agreement with other realms.

The Guardian

By a 2-to-1 vote, however, the canvassing board declined to proceed to either a manual recount of all 10,750 undervotes or a manual recount of all 653,000 Miami-Dade ballots.

The New York Times

Mr. Butterworth had given the counties an advisory opinion of his own, but under Florida election law it was not binding, and at least one county, Palm Beach, declined to proceed with a full recount until the Supreme Court authorized such counts to continue on Thursday.

The New York Times

"If the group declines to proceed with your company, they haven't rejected you forever!

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "decline to proceed", ensure that the context clearly indicates what action or process is being declined. This avoids ambiguity and ensures clear communication.

Common error

Avoid using "decline to proceed" when the decision only affects a minor part of a larger process. Instead, use it when the entire course of action is being halted or rejected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "decline to proceed" functions as a verb phrase indicating a decision to not continue with a specific action or process. It reflects a conscious choice to halt progress, as seen in examples on Ludwig where authorities "declined to proceed" with certain legal actions. It aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment as a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

7%

Academia

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "decline to proceed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that expresses a deliberate decision not to continue with a particular action or process. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It's commonly found in news media and scientific contexts, conveying a neutral to professional tone. While similar phrases exist, such as "refuse to proceed" or "opt not to continue", "decline to proceed" offers a specific nuance of considered refusal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refuse to go ahead

Replaces "decline" with "refuse" and uses "go ahead" instead of "proceed".

opt not to continue

Uses "opt" to express a choice and "continue" instead of "proceed".

decide against proceeding

Changes the structure to focus on deciding against the action.

choose not to move forward

Emphasizes the choice aspect and uses "move forward" as a substitute.

withdraw from proceeding

Indicates a removal of oneself from the action.

halt the process

Focuses on stopping the process rather than declining to continue.

abandon the plan

Suggests a complete abandonment of the intended action.

cease the undertaking

More formal, replacing "proceed" with "undertaking" and "decline" with "cease".

discontinue the action

Uses "discontinue" to mean stopping an action in progress.

back out of the deal

Suggests a withdrawal from an agreement or arrangement.

FAQs

How can I use "decline to proceed" in a sentence?

You can use "decline to proceed" to indicate a decision not to continue with a particular action. For example, "After reviewing the evidence, the prosecutor may "decline to prosecute" the case."

What's a more formal alternative to "decline to proceed"?

A more formal alternative would be "refuse to continue" or "elect not to advance". "Decline to proceed" itself is generally acceptable in formal contexts.

Is it better to say "decline to proceed" or "refuse to proceed"?

"Decline to proceed" and "refuse to proceed" are very similar. "Decline" often implies a more polite or formal refusal compared to "refuse", which can sound more assertive.

When is it appropriate to use "decline to proceed"?

It's appropriate when you want to express a decision not to move forward with something, whether it's a legal case, a project, or any other kind of action. The tone is generally neutral to formal.