proceed unless

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "proceed unless" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action should continue unless a specific condition is met that would prevent it. Example: "You may proceed unless you receive further instructions from the supervisor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

He noted, however, that his office would not proceed "unless we did an examination and checked all the facts".

The New York Times

This Battle of the Sexes can't proceed unless you can correctly identify me.

The New Yorker

Landholders know the project cannot proceed unless the buyer acquires all the plots he needs.

The Economist

The suit will proceed, unless the dispute is resolved through negotiations, Mr. Boulbol said.

The New York Times

As a result, lawyers advise clients not to proceed unless they have a very strong case.

The Guardian

"Langley would never let us proceed unless there was substance," he said.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

He is entitled by contract to a 2.5 percent share in the well proceeds, unless the company's board decides to buy out his stakes.

The New York Times

In Austria the presumed consent law is relatively "hard" in that organ recovery proceeds unless it is known that the deceased objected before death, and the views of relatives are not actively sought.

British Medical Journal

Cellular abundance of p53 is primarily regulated by its rapid degradation, in part via an ubiquitin-independent 20S proteasomal pathway, which rapidly proceeds unless prevented by NAD(P H-dependent binding of P H-dependentH:quinone oxidoreductase 1, a cytoplasmic flavone-containing quinone reductase (Tsvetkov et al, 2009).

British Journal of Cancer

The explanation is that with redundant pathways, only one pathway must operate to assure correct timing; if both operate, the end reaction will proceed too quickly (unless both reactions are happening at a slower rate, say because of reduced concentration; however, these reactions would not be redundant).

BMC Systems Biology

The work is not likely to proceed further unless these fears can be allayed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "proceed unless", ensure the condition that would halt the action is clearly and concisely stated to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Proceed with the experiment unless you observe any unexpected color changes."

Common error

A frequent mistake is not specifying a clear or testable condition after "unless". This makes the sentence vague and can lead to misinterpretations. Always ensure the condition is well-defined and directly related to the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "proceed unless" functions as a conditional connector, indicating the circumstances under which an action should or should not take place. Ludwig confirms this usage through various examples demonstrating its role in setting conditions for continuation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "proceed unless" is a versatile conditional connector commonly used to set a clear condition for continuing an action. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and has widespread use across multiple fields such as news, science and general writing. While Ludwig's AI confirms that "proceed unless" is perfectly acceptable, it is important to specify a clear and testable condition, as well as considering it can be a bit on the formal side. Related phrases such as "continue if not" or "advance only if" can add variety to your writing. Always consider the context to select the most appropriate phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continue if not

Replaces "proceed" with "continue" and rearranges the conditional aspect, but maintains the overall meaning.

advance only if

Substitutes "proceed" with "advance", emphasizing a forward movement contingent on a condition.

go forward if

Uses "go forward" instead of "proceed", keeping the conditional structure intact.

only move forward if

Adds emphasis on the "move forward" action being conditional.

act except when

Changes the verb to "act" and restructures the condition using "except when", slightly altering the emphasis.

carry on provided

Replaces "proceed" with "carry on", introducing a condition of provision.

begin unless

Replaces "proceed" with "begin", focusing on the start of an action.

continue without

Phrases the condition by focusing on continuation in the absence of something.

start except

Uses "start" instead of "proceed" and replaces "unless" with "except", slightly changing the focus.

on condition that

Expresses the same idea but with a more formal and complex grammatical structure.

FAQs

How can I use "proceed unless" in a sentence?

You can use "proceed unless" to indicate that an action should continue as long as a specific condition is not met. For example, "You may proceed unless you receive further instructions."

What can I say instead of "proceed unless"?

You can use alternatives like "continue if not", "advance only if", or "go forward if" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "proceed unless" or "proceed if"?

"Proceed unless" indicates a condition that would stop an action, while "proceed if" indicates a condition that enables an action. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning. For example, "Proceed unless there are errors" vs "Proceed if all tests pass".

What's the difference between "proceed unless" and "continue unless"?

The phrases "proceed unless" and "continue unless" are very similar in meaning. Both indicate that an action should go ahead unless a specific condition is met. The choice often depends on stylistic preference, with "proceed" suggesting a more formal tone.