declining to collaborate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "declining to collaborate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of refusing or choosing not to work together with others on a project or task. Example: "After much consideration, she decided on declining to collaborate with the team on the new initiative."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

(He produced a run for an exhibition, but the British postal service has declined to collaborate).

The New York Times

But even after it had, the Germans complained, Turkey still declined to collaborate and refused to lend four objects for a current exhibition.

The New York Times - Arts

Professor Tibshirani, for instance, has reservations about some of Dr. Redelmeier's choices, and declined to collaborate on the Academy Awards study.

The New York Times - Science

If you believe that she planned to psychologically pressure you into, in effect, paying for a kidney, you should decline to collaborate in cloaking an organ sale as a gift.

The New York Times - Magazine

Dr. Wilkins was obliged to hand over his technician and graduate student, Raymond Gosling, and his best sample of DNA to Dr. Franklin, who then declined to collaborate with him or to discuss her data fully.

The New York Times - Science

Zanco declined to collaborate, and warned, "I trust you would make yourself aware of the possible copyright implications of any sort of reproduction, and clear the related permissions, procedure and mandatory credits".

The New Yorker

Following that rejection, Altieri declined to collaborate further on publishing with Cánovas.

Science Magazine

According to Giger, Lynch declined to collaborate with him on Dune because he felt Giger had "stolen his ideas".

Wikipedia

Exposure to the corporate music industry has only underscored her skepticism about the way it operates; she declines offers to collaborate with established producers and songwriters, which she sees as backhanded compliments, of a sort rarely paid to similarly accomplished male musicians.

The New Yorker

The Haqqani Network, which the Pakistan Army consistently declines to attack, is collaborating with LeT and Al Qaeda to hit Indian interests in Kabul and Kashmir.

Huffington Post

Other filmmakers had approached Angelou about doing a documentary, but she declined, not wanting to collaborate with filmmakers she didn't know well.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "declining to collaborate", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific project, task, or initiative from which collaboration is being refused. Providing context enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "declining to collaborate" implies a complete aversion to working with others. It typically refers to a specific instance or project. Clearly delineate the boundaries of the non-collaboration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "declining to collaborate" functions as a verb phrase indicating a refusal or unwillingness to participate in a joint effort. It expresses the action of choosing not to work together. Ludwig AI validates this construction as grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "declining to collaborate" is a grammatically sound verb phrase used to express a decision not to participate in a collaborative effort. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "refusing to cooperate" and "opting out of collaboration" exist, this phrase maintains a neutral tone. When employing this phrase, ensure the context clarifies the specific collaborative endeavor being declined to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refusing to cooperate

Emphasizes a lack of willingness to work together, highlighting a more direct refusal.

opting out of collaboration

Suggests a more conscious decision to not participate in a collaborative effort.

rejecting joint efforts

Focuses on the rejection of combined work or activities.

abstaining from teamwork

Implies a voluntary refraining from participating in team-based tasks.

choosing not to participate

Highlights the element of choice in avoiding involvement.

withdrawing from partnership

Indicates a removal of oneself from an existing collaborative arrangement.

demurring on cooperation

Uses a more formal tone to express reluctance to collaborate.

not engaging in joint ventures

Specifically refers to avoiding collaborative business undertakings.

passing on collaboration

Informally suggests declining an opportunity to collaborate.

turning down collaboration

Indicates a direct refusal of a collaborative offer.

FAQs

What does "declining to collaborate" mean?

It means refusing or choosing not to work together with others on a particular project or task. It signifies a decision to remain separate from a collaborative effort.

What are some alternatives to "declining to collaborate"?

You can use alternatives such as "refusing to cooperate", "opting out of collaboration", or "rejecting joint efforts" depending on the specific context.

Is "declining to collaborate" formal or informal?

The phrase "declining to collaborate" is generally considered neutral to formal. While understandable in most contexts, more informal options like "passing on collaboration" can be used in casual settings.

How do I use "declining to collaborate" in a sentence?

For example: "After careful consideration, she is declining to collaborate on the new marketing campaign" or "Due to conflicting schedules, he is declining to collaborate on the research project".