quit business

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "quit business" is not correct in standard English; it should be "quit the business" or "quit doing business." You can use it when referring to ceasing operations or ending involvement in a commercial activity.
Example: "After years of struggling, the owner decided to quit the business and pursue a different career."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Another high-profile online site, Steven Brill's Contentville, quit business on Friday, leaving its 15 employees without jobs.

The New York Times

Mr Drayson, 43, will leave the company once the takeover has gone through, but is not expected to quit business.

The Guardian - Business

I asked her to describe Welby, a former oil executive who had quit business to study for the Anglican priesthood after his first child had died in a car accident.

The New Yorker

That's because Mr Feld, who lives and works in Boulder, recently made the much-covered decision to quit business travel entirely.Boulder is a nice-enough city and Mr Feld is in the business of giving out money to people who need it, so I suspect that what works for him may not work for everyone else.

The Economist

Smith, 53, quit business school to join as a rookie in 1986.

Forbes

This of course is nothing new and something most people have come to expect from any contact management tool, but Fisher apparently liked this and other features so much that he quit business social network LinkedIn for it.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

THE NEWS Rami Makhlouf, one of the most powerful tycoons in Syria, said he was quitting business to do charity work, including donating profits from his 40 percent stake in Syriatel, the country's top mobile phone company.

The New York Times

BEIRUT, Lebanon Syriaia's most powerful businessman, a confidant and cousin of President Bashar al-Assad, announced on Thursday that he was quitting business and moving to charity work, Syrian television said.

The New York Times

He has narrowed its focus by quitting businesses such as personal computers, typewriters and liquid-crystal displays.

The Economist

Thakrar at Espirito Santo argues that instead of quitting businesses with long-term value, Lewis should capitalise on his standing with shareholders by asking them for about £2bn in a rights issue.

The Guardian - Business

Nevertheless, in recent years Bosch has followed the Jack Welch philosophy of quitting businesses in which it wasn't one of the leading companies.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use more grammatically correct and widely accepted alternatives such as "quit the business" or "quit doing business".

Common error

The most common error is omitting the article "the" before "business". In most contexts, it's grammatically preferable to say "quit the business" or "quit doing business" rather than "quit business".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "quit business" functions as a verb phrase combined with a noun, typically intended to express the action of ceasing involvement in commercial activities. However, Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct in standard English, suggesting alternatives like "quit the business" are preferable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "quit business" is used to indicate the cessation of commercial activities, Ludwig AI flags it as grammatically incorrect. Standard English prefers "quit the business" or "quit doing business". Though found in news media, its use should be approached with caution, especially in formal settings. Alternatives like "cease operations" or "exit the business" are recommended for clarity and grammatical accuracy. Using "quit the business" is a more appropriate way to express the idea that someone has left the commercial sector.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease business operations

More formal and complete way of saying "quit business".

discontinue business activities

Emphasizes the formal action of stopping business activities.

exit the business sector

Implies a broader shift away from the business world.

relinquish business interests

Suggests giving up ownership or control in a business.

abandon commercial ventures

Highlights the act of leaving business ventures behind.

terminate business involvement

Formal phrasing suggesting the ending of participation in business.

bow out of the business

Informal expression for leaving the business world.

retire from business

Suggests leaving the business world permanently, often due to age.

close down the business

Implies shutting down a specific business entity.

divest business holdings

Focuses on selling or transferring business assets.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "quit business"?

The grammatically correct way is to say "quit the business" or "quit doing business". These options are more aligned with standard English usage.

Is it ever correct to say "quit business"?

While "quit business" appears in some contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It is preferable to use "quit the business" or "quit doing business" for clarity and correctness.

What does it mean to "quit the business"?

To "quit the business" means to stop being involved in a commercial activity or enterprise, whether it's a job, a company, or an industry.

What are some alternatives to saying "quit business"?

Alternatives include "cease operations", "stop trading", or "exit the business", depending on the specific context.