has refrained from

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has refrained from" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has chosen not to do something or has held back from an action. Example: "The committee has refrained from making a decision until all the evidence is presented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But since her election, it has refrained from attacking her.

The New York Times

(Only Wayne McGregor has refrained from these temptations).

The New York Times - Arts

Yet the Vatican has refrained from sanctioning them.

The Economist

So it has refrained from aggressively pressing its case publicly.

The New York Times

decimated the program, and the N.C.A.A. has refrained from handing out such a harsh penalty since.

The New York Times

While Ms. Whoriskey has refrained from criticizing the board, Mr. Sher has not.

The New York Times

He has refrained from making such remarks again to avoid another fine from Commissioner David Stern.

The New York Times - Sports

For fear of ridicule, your columnist has refrained from doing so.

The Economist

But there is another reason why he has refrained from trumpeting his rethink of Vietnam.

The Economist

China's government has refrained from commenting much on the European muddle.

The New York Times

That is not to say that China has refrained from asserting its sovereignty claims.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "has refrained from" to indicate a conscious decision to avoid a particular action, especially when emphasizing the self-control or deliberate nature of the choice.

Common error

Ensure you use the correct tense. "Has refrained from" indicates a past action with continuing relevance. Avoid using it for actions that will never occur again, where "refrained from" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has refrained from" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past action of deliberately abstaining from something, with continuing relevance to the present. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has refrained from" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a deliberate choice to avoid a particular action or behavior. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly within news and media. When writing, it's important to consider the nuance of self-control or conscious avoidance that the phrase conveys. Alternatives like "has abstained from" or "has avoided" can be used depending on the specific intent. Remember to use the correct tense and ensure it reflects an action in the past with continuing relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has abstained from

Indicates a deliberate choice to not participate in something, often with a formal or moral implication.

has avoided

Implies staying away from something, either physically or metaphorically.

has desisted from

Suggests ceasing to do something, often after having started.

has held back from

Indicates a conscious effort to control oneself and not do something.

has declined to

Implies a polite refusal to do something.

has foregone

Suggests willingly giving up or doing without something.

has shunned

Indicates a deliberate and often strong avoidance of something.

has kept from

Implies preventing oneself from doing something.

has evaded

Suggests skillfully avoiding something, often with a hint of deception.

has bypassed

Implies going around or avoiding something, often in a strategic way.

FAQs

How to use "has refrained from" in a sentence?

Use "has refrained from" to indicate that someone has consciously avoided doing something. For example, "The company "has refrained from" commenting on the ongoing investigation".

What can I say instead of "has refrained from"?

You can use alternatives like "has abstained from", "has avoided", or "has declined to" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "has refrained from" or "refrained to"?

"Has refrained from" is the correct usage. The verb "refrain" requires the preposition "from". "Refrained to" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "has refrained from" and "has avoided"?

While both suggest not doing something, "has refrained from" implies a conscious effort to hold back, whereas "has avoided" simply means to keep away from something, without necessarily implying active self-control.