formally ceased

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "formally ceased" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has officially ended or been discontinued, often in a legal or formal context. Example: "The company has formally ceased operations as of the end of the fiscal year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

It formally ceased to exist in 1817.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Soon after the 1969 presidential election, the SFIO formally ceased to exist.

Encyclopedia Britannica

He had a particularly close relationship with Michael Palin, whose work he continued to edit even after he had formally ceased to be a publisher.

The Guardian - Books

Strikingly, the portraits reveal an institution still firmly set in the traditions of a Soviet empire that once controlled territory from Budapest to Vladivostok – but which formally ceased to exist more than 20 years ago.

Independent

For decades, Tanzania has hosted refugees from neighbouring countries in the volatile Great Lakes region, but recently the government has made no secret of its desire to remove its refugee populations, particularly those from Burundi, where hostilities formally ceased in 2008.

The Guardian

Robin Butler, Thatcher's principal private secretary, anticipated her unease, telling her this "could easily be misunderstood as implying one-sided penitence and reconciliation on our side when it was the Argentines who were the aggressors and still not formally ceased hostilities".

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

He insists that an interim constitution, known as "the basic law", should be agreed on by February 28th; that the American-run Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) should formally cease to run Iraq by June 30th; and that sovereignty should be handed over to an Iraqi provisional government the next day.

The Economist

The following month, he was forced to formally cease to be a monk after several monasteries refused him membership, which he said was due to their fear of government reprisals if they were to allow him to enter.

Wikipedia

On 11 November 1940 Fisher was formally discharged, and the O&AT officially ceased to exist.

Wikipedia

The group was never formally dissolved, but ceased to exist at some point after the CCP's Ninth Congress in the Spring of 1969.

Wikipedia

Neither the United States nor the Koreas signed a peace treaty to formally end the Korean War, which came to a halt with a cease-fire.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "formally ceased" to indicate that an action, process, or entity has officially and legally ended. This phrase adds a tone of authority and finality to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "formally ceased" in informal contexts. This phrase is best suited for situations where official documentation or legal proceedings are involved. Using it casually can sound overly stilted or pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "formally ceased" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with a verb to express that an action or state has officially and legally come to an end. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "formally ceased" is a phrase used to indicate the official and legal termination of something, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is grammatically correct and most appropriate in formal contexts like legal documents, news reports, and official statements. While alternatives like "officially ended" or "legally terminated" exist, "formally ceased" emphasizes the structured and documented nature of the ending. Keep in mind the context to avoid sounding overly formal in casual situations. The phrase is commonly found in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, demonstrating its established use in professional writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

officially ended

Replaces "formally ceased" with a more straightforward and common expression for something ending officially.

terminated formally

Inverts the order of words, but retains the essential meaning.

legally terminated

Emphasizes the legal aspect of the termination, which might be suitable in certain contexts.

officially discontinued

Focuses on the action of discontinuing something in an official capacity.

was formally dissolved

Suitable for entities such as organizations or agreements.

was formally revoked

Applies when something like a law, right, or agreement is officially cancelled.

brought to a formal end

Changes the structure to a more descriptive form, highlighting the action of ending something formally.

has formally concluded

Emphasizes the sense of completion and official closure.

came to a formal close

Similar to "conclusion" but with a slightly different tone, suggesting a structured ending.

reached its official conclusion

Suggests that something has naturally reached its end point.

FAQs

What does "formally ceased" mean?

"Formally ceased" means that something has officially and legally ended or been discontinued, often through a formal process or announcement.

How can I use "formally ceased" in a sentence?

You can use "formally ceased" to describe the end of an organization, agreement, or practice, such as: "The company "officially ended" operations last year" or "The treaty "was formally revoked" by the government".

What are some alternatives to "formally ceased"?

Alternatives to "formally ceased" include "officially ended", "legally terminated", or "officially discontinued", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "formally ceased" and "ceased"?

Yes, "formally ceased" implies an official or legal ending, while "ceased" simply means stopped. The addition of "formally" emphasizes that the end was recognized and documented through official channels.