declined to proceed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declined to proceed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has chosen not to continue with a particular action or process. Example: "After careful consideration, the committee declined to proceed with the proposed changes to the policy."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

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

Encyclopedia Britannica

"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

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

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

The Guardian

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

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

TechCrunch

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

When DeVos declined to commit to proceeding with the gainful employment rule at her confirmation hearing in January, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), said,  "Swindlers and crooks are out there doing back flips when they hear an answer like that".

Huffington Post

Spain's players and their understated coach, Vicente del Bosque, declined to panic and proceeded to go undefeated the rest of the way, thereby smashing the last vestige of Spain's sporting inferiority complex, with Nadal and Pau Gasol, the most successful Spanish basketball player in history, watching from the stands in Johannesburg.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "declined to proceed" when you want to clearly and formally state that an action or process will not be continued. It is suitable for official reports, news articles, and professional communications.

Common error

Avoid using "declined to proceed" when a simple "stopped" or "ended" would suffice. "Proceed" implies a deliberate, planned action, so it's unsuitable for describing the cessation of spontaneous or unplanned activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declined to proceed" functions as a verb phrase indicating a decision not to continue with a particular action or plan. As Ludwig confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used. Examples show its application in various contexts, from legal matters to project implementations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Wiki

17%

Science

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "declined to proceed" is a versatile verb phrase used to express a formal decision not to continue with an action or plan. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It commonly appears in news, encyclopedias, science and wiki articles and carries a neutral to professional tone, suitable for conveying decisions in a clear and unambiguous manner. Consider alternatives like "opted not to continue" or "refused to proceed" for slight variations in emphasis. When employing this phrase, ensure it aligns with the intended scope of deliberate, planned actions, and avoid using it in place of simpler terms like "stopped" when describing spontaneous activities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

opted not to continue

Focuses on the choice made not to keep going.

chose not to proceed

Emphasizes the deliberate selection against moving forward.

refused to proceed

Highlights the act of rejecting the continuation.

decided against proceeding

Indicates a decision made after considering the option to proceed.

passed on proceeding

Suggests an opportunity to proceed was available but rejected.

withdrew from proceeding

Implies an initial intention to proceed that was later retracted.

halted the process

Focuses on the action of stopping a process.

abandoned the plan

Highlights the act of giving up on a pre-determined plan.

suspended further action

Emphasizes a temporary cessation of activity.

terminated the initiative

Signifies a complete ending of a project.

FAQs

What does "declined to proceed" mean?

The phrase "declined to proceed" means that someone has chosen not to continue with a particular action, plan, or process. It indicates a decision to stop or abandon something that was previously underway.

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

You can use "declined to proceed" when referring to a decision not to continue with a specific action. For example: "The committee "declined to proceed" with the proposed changes.".

Which is a more informal way to say "declined to proceed"?

More informal ways to express the same idea include "backed out", "stopped", or "didn't go ahead with". These alternatives are suitable for casual conversations but less appropriate for formal writing.

What are some alternatives to "declined to proceed" that maintain a formal tone?

For formal contexts, you can use phrases like "opted not to continue", "refused to proceed", or "decided against proceeding". These options provide a similar level of formality while varying the wording.