he refrained from applying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he refrained from applying" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone chose not to submit an application for a position, program, or opportunity. Example: "Despite his qualifications, he refrained from applying for the job due to personal reasons."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

He refrains from applying for any passports.

The Guardian

As a candidate in the 2008 election, President Obama called for recognizing the Armenian genocide but has refrained from applying the term on behalf of the United States, in a bow to the sensitivities of Turks who are key allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and in the fight against Islamic extremism.

Los Angeles Times

Owing to linear dependency between age at diagnosis of CIN3, follow-up duration and attained age, we refrained from applying a full model using all parameters.

British Medical Journal

As we found no differences between mated and non-mated males captured at the spawning assemblages in any of the parameters (i.e. all had turned blue almost equally), we refrained from applying any vision models.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

In view of considerable uncertainty already implied by currently available clinical evidence, we also refrained from applying discount rates to future costs and health outcomes because, generally, our results may better be understood as providing guidance for future research priorities rather than very accurate calculations of value for money to the last decimal point.

BMC Oral Health

"It seems Izzy never did surrender his passport," (p. 270) though as I also report he did refrain from applying for a new one until after his brother-in-law, the great constitutional lawyer Leonard Boudin, won the Supreme Court case establishing the right to travel.

The Guardian - Books

Faced with poor odds, women often refrain from applying for funding.

Nature

In fact, Congress has given the FCC discretion to refrain from applying any Title II regulations that are not necessary to protect consumers and the public interest.

The Guardian - Opinion

I will refrain from applying adjectives or analogs from the arts/animal world, because many odists, including me, have heaped these on him over the years, and it can get a little embarrassing.

The New Yorker

The Federal Communications Commission approved a request from Verizon Communications and other carriers that asked the agency to refrain from applying the rules to new fiber lines they are installing to offer high-speed Internet and video services.

The New York Times - Tech

Five of the UN's special rapporteurs on human rights wrote to the UK government on 1 February urging them to "refrain from applying security and terrorism-related legislation to prosecute peaceful protesters".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he refrained from applying" to indicate a conscious and deliberate choice not to submit an application, especially when implying a moral or ethical reason.

Common error

Ensure you include "from" after "refrain" when followed by a verb ending in "-ing". "Refrain" needs the preposition "from" to correctly introduce the action being avoided. Saying "he refrained applying" is grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he refrained from applying" functions as a statement indicating that a male subject made a deliberate choice not to submit an application. The phrase highlights the act of abstaining from a specific action. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he refrained from applying" is a grammatically sound way to express that a male subject made a conscious decision not to submit an application. According to Ludwig AI, it is a correct and usable phrase. Although real-world examples are missing, the phrase's meaning is clear and can be replaced with alternatives like "he chose not to apply" or "he decided against applying" for stylistic variation. It's crucial to include "from" after "refrained" for grammatical accuracy. While the phrase doesn't heavily lean toward any specific context, its neutral tone makes it suitable for various forms of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he chose not to apply

Replaces "refrained" with the more direct "chose not to", simplifying the language.

he did not submit an application

A straightforward statement of the action not taken.

he decided against applying

Emphasizes the decision-making process, suggesting a deliberate reconsideration.

he declined to apply

A more formal way of saying he refused to apply.

he opted out of applying

Implies that applying was an option, but he actively chose to withdraw.

he avoided applying

Highlights the act of actively staying away from applying.

he abstained from applying

More formal and emphasizes self-restraint or avoidance.

he balked at applying

Implies hesitation or unwillingness to apply.

he passed on the application

More informal; suggests a casual rejection of the application process.

he sidestepped the application process

Suggests a maneuver to bypass the application entirely.

FAQs

What does "he refrained from applying" mean?

It means that he consciously chose not to submit an application for something, often implying a thoughtful or deliberate decision.

What can I say instead of "he refrained from applying"?

You can use alternatives like "he chose not to apply", "he decided against applying", or "he declined to apply", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he refrained applying"?

No, the correct grammatical structure is "he refrained from applying". The preposition "from" is necessary when "refrain" is followed by a verb ending in "-ing".

How does "he refrained from applying" differ from "he didn't apply"?

"He refrained from applying" suggests a conscious decision to abstain, while "he didn't apply" simply states that he did not submit an application, without implying a specific reason or deliberation. It is possible that "he didn't apply" because he forgot, or he was not eligible.