forced to stop

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "forced to stop" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone or something is compelled to cease an action or movement, often due to external circumstances. Example: "The car was forced to stop when the traffic light turned red."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We're forced to stop the show.

The Guardian - Travel

People were kind of forced to stop hunting and gathering".

The New York Times - Science

Ms. Brundage, now 49, found herself forced to stop working.

The New York Times

In August of 2003, dam construction was forced to stop.

The New Yorker

Groeschner said about half of the event's approximately 80 volunteers had been forced to stop volunteering.

The New York Times - Sports

Stratfor was forced to stop charging for subscriptions to its newsletter — its principal source of revenue.

The New York Times

As a result many UK operators have been forced to stop offering catered chalets.

Independent

We've been forced to stop growing leeks and onionsbecause of the price".

The Guardian

Mr. Greco, an accountant and business consultant, had lymphoma and was forced to stop working.

The New York Times

Others may be forced to stop the transfer of data to the US until they have.

The Guardian - Tech

Teffi makes it to Novorossiysk, where her ship is forced to stop.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider stronger synonyms like 'compelled' or 'obliged' if the situation involves a moral or legal duty rather than physical force.

Common error

Avoid using "forced to stop" in passive constructions where the agent causing the force is unclear or missing. This can weaken the sentence and leave the reader questioning why the stopping occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "forced to stop" functions as an infinitive phrase indicating a state of compulsion or necessity to cease an action. Ludwig demonstrates its use across various contexts, confirming its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Science

29%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "forced to stop" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate that someone or something was compelled to cease an action due to external factors. Ludwig provides numerous examples across various domains like news, science, and general writing. Its communicative purpose is to convey a lack of choice in the termination of an action, and its register is generally neutral, although it can appear in more formal contexts as well. Alternatives like "compelled to halt" or "obliged to discontinue" can be used for a more formal tone. It is important to maintain clarity by specifying who or what is doing the forcing and avoid passive constructions that obscure agency. As stated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly acceptable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compelled to halt

This alternative emphasizes a strong sense of obligation or necessity, often from an external authority.

obliged to discontinue

This phrase suggests a formal or legal requirement to cease something.

made to cease

Highlights the action of someone or something causing the stopping.

required to terminate

Implies a mandated end, often in a professional or contractual context.

constrained to cease

Focuses on the limitations or restrictions that lead to the stopping.

had no choice but to stop

Emphasizes the lack of alternatives and the inevitability of stopping.

left with no option but to stop

Similar to "had no choice", this highlights the absence of other possibilities.

necessitated to stop

Suggests that stopping was unavoidable due to the circumstances.

driven to stop

Implies external pressures or forces that caused the cessation.

prevailed upon to stop

This phrase implies persuasion, not necessarily physical force, leading to the cessation.

FAQs

How can I use "forced to stop" in a sentence?

You can use "forced to stop" to describe a situation where someone or something is compelled to cease an action due to external circumstances. For example, "The company was "forced to stop" production due to the strike".

What's a more formal alternative to "forced to stop"?

In formal contexts, consider using phrases like "compelled to halt" or "obliged to discontinue" for a more elevated tone.

What can cause someone to be "forced to stop"?

Many external factors can cause one to be "forced to stop", including but not limited to: illness, injury, job loss, government regulation, lack of funding or being "constrained to cease" by external conditions.

Is there a difference between "forced to stop" and "decided to stop"?

Yes, "forced to stop" implies an external compulsion, while "decided to stop" indicates a voluntary choice. For instance, someone might be ""forced to stop"" driving due to poor eyesight, but they might "decide to stop" driving to save money.