left to stop

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "left to stop" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a situation where something is remaining or has been abandoned, but it lacks clarity without additional context. Example: "After the meeting, only a few tasks were left to stop the project from moving forward."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

He should have enough left to stop him again.

The Guardian - Sport

Furcal smacked a ball up the middle, and Andrus dived to his left to stop it.

The New York Times

Mrs Merkel hopes to steal enough votes from the left to stop any party forming a government without her.

The Economist

In the 76th minute, Howard went high to his left to stop a free kick by Ronaldinho.

The New York Times - Sports

Smith wants the American left to stop blaming American foreign policy for the Middle East's ills and concentrate instead on the structural deficiencies of the region's societies.

The New York Times - Books

The Sampdoria goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano leapt to his left to stop Domenico Berardi's low spot-kick one minute from the end.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

In 2007, a civil court refused to grant a Hindu mother leave to stop her husband from converting their son to Islam.

The New York Times

2. Nigel Farage tried to get Vote Leave to stop claiming that the UK was sending £350m a week to the EU, Banks says.

The Guardian

Carney, claiming that Iran was engaged in "malignant behavior" in Syria, said the international community must up pressure for Assad to leave to stop the conflict from widening.

Huffington Post

Leaves are heat dried (fried) Heat dry (fry) the leaves to stop further oxidation.

WikiHow

Will the Senate Step Up? It's now left to the Senate to stop this resolution.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, rephrase "left to stop" with more precise alternatives such as "tasked with preventing" or "remaining to halt" to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "left to stop" in contexts where active voice would be clearer and more direct. For example, instead of "the decision was left to stop the project", consider "they decided to stop the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "left to stop" functions as an infinitive phrase, often used to express purpose or remaining action. However, according to Ludwig AI, the phrase is not considered grammatically correct, indicating potential misuse or need for rephrasing for clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

19%

Science

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "left to stop" appears with some frequency, particularly in news and media contexts, Ludwig flags it as grammatically incorrect. This suggests that while it may be encountered, it's advisable to use clearer, more grammatically sound alternatives like "tasked with stopping" or "remaining to halt". Be mindful of the context and aim for precision in your writing by avoiding potentially ambiguous phrasing. While prevalent, its usage doesn't guarantee correctness or optimal clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

allowed to halt

Changes the verb to 'halt' while keeping the passive voice structure. Slightly more formal.

permitted to prevent

Replaces 'stop' with 'prevent', implying a proactive effort.

given the task of stopping

Rephrases to emphasize the assignment of a duty.

responsible for halting

Shifts focus to accountability for a task.

tasked with preventing

Similar to the previous, but uses 'preventing' for a proactive sense.

remaining to impede

Uses a more forceful verb, 'impede', and focuses on what's left undone.

empowered to cease

Suggests authorization to bring something to an end.

authorized to discontinue

Indicates formal approval to stop an action.

deputized to obstruct

Implies a formal delegation of power to block something.

charged with terminating

Highlights the responsibility to end or conclude something.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound way to say "left to stop"?

More grammatically correct alternatives depend on the intended meaning. If something remains to be done to prevent something, use "remaining to halt". If someone has been assigned to stop something, use "tasked with stopping".

How can I use "left to stop" in a sentence correctly?

While "left to stop" is generally considered grammatically incorrect, it could be used in very specific contexts where something remains to be done to halt something. However, rephrasing for clarity is generally recommended.

What are some alternatives to "left to stop" that convey a similar meaning?

Depending on the intended meaning, alternatives include "remaining to halt", "tasked with stopping", or "responsible for halting".

In what situations should I avoid using "left to stop"?

Avoid using "left to stop" in formal writing or when clarity is paramount. It is generally better to opt for more precise and grammatically standard alternatives to ensure your meaning is clear.