refrain from consuming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from consuming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising or instructing someone to avoid eating or drinking something, often for health or dietary reasons. Example: "For the duration of the study, participants are asked to refrain from consuming any caffeinated beverages."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

During this time practising Muslims will refrain from consuming food or drink from dawn to sunset.

Independent

Also, they were asked to refrain from consuming caffeine and nutritional supplements on the testing day.

Sports Medicine - Open

Apicius disapproved of anything that was remotely close to resembling peasant food, convincing the emperor's son, Drusus, to refrain from consuming cabbage tops or sprouts because they were too "common".

Vice

In addition to being vegetarians, all the members of Rise Against, with the exception of Brandon Barnes, are straight edge; that is, they refrain from consuming alcohol or using drugs.

Wikipedia

According to Hirsch, we refrain from consuming the blood to demonstrate that we are not animals and to prevent the life force of the animal (the blood) from entering into our life force.

Huffington Post

Subjects were asked to refrain from consuming alcohol the day before testing, caffeine on the day of testing, and food during the experimentation period.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

These factors have all been postulated as potential causes of falls in dementia, particularly in the LB dementias.[13] All assessments took place in the morning; participants refrained from consuming caffeinated drinks or smoking on the morning of the assessment.

Plosone

Ten hours before the experiment, the participants refrained from consuming caffeine, alcohol and food.

Critical Care

There is no cure for CD except refraining from consuming gluten-containing products.

BMC Biotechnology

The participants were asked to not modify their diet for the duration of the study, except for refraining from consuming any products containing green tea and limiting the intake of caffeine-containing drinks to one cup per day.

European Journal of Nutrition

They can assist you by removing sugary foods from your house and by refraining from consuming sugary foods in your presence, as well as adjusting their menus when hosting you for meals.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to avoid certain substances before a medical test, use "refrain from consuming" to ensure clarity and precision. For example, "Please refrain from consuming alcohol 24 hours prior to the test."

Common error

Avoid using "refrain from consuming" in casual conversations; it can sound stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "don't eat" or "avoid drinking".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from consuming" functions as a directive or an instruction, typically advising or ordering someone to avoid intake of something. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used in research instructions or dietary recommendations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refrain from consuming" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that advises avoiding intake of certain substances or foods. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is used in a variety of contexts, mostly in Science, News & Media and Wiki. Its formal tone makes it suitable for instructional or advisory contexts, particularly in health, research, and religious settings. While effective, it's important to consider the audience and setting to ensure the language is appropriate, opting for simpler alternatives in casual conversations to avoid sounding overly formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstain from eating

Focuses specifically on food, implying a conscious decision to not eat.

avoid ingesting

Highlights the act of taking something into the body, often used in medical or scientific contexts.

desist from drinking

Emphasizes ceasing the act of drinking, particularly relevant for alcoholic beverages.

forgo consumption of

A more formal way of saying to give up the act of consuming something.

refuse to ingest

Emphasizes the act of denying intake, suggesting a deliberate choice.

cease to eat

Indicates a complete stop to eating, often used in medical or dietary instructions.

shun the intake of

Suggests avoiding or rejecting something, often with a negative connotation.

hold back from eating

Highlights the act of resisting the urge to eat.

go without consuming

Emphasizes the absence of consumption, highlighting a period of abstinence.

eliminate from diet

Focuses on the dietary aspect, suggesting a removal of something from one's regular food intake.

FAQs

How can I use "refrain from consuming" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from consuming" when you want to instruct someone to avoid eating or drinking something, often for health or religious reasons. For example: "During Ramadan, Muslims "abstain from eating" and drinking from dawn until sunset", or "Patients should "avoid consuming" caffeine before the procedure".

What's the difference between "refrain from consuming" and "avoid consuming"?

"Refrain from consuming" is generally more formal and suggests a deliberate act of restraint. "Avoid consuming" is a more general recommendation to keep away from something. The best choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.

What can I say instead of "refrain from consuming"?

You can use alternatives like ""abstain from eating"", "avoid ingesting", or "desist from drinking" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is "refrain from consuming" appropriate for casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "refrain from consuming" is quite formal and may sound unnatural in casual conversation. It's usually better to use simpler alternatives like "don't eat", "avoid drinking" or "stay away from" in informal settings.