refrain from delaying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from delaying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when advising someone to avoid causing a delay or postponement in a situation. Example: "Please refrain from delaying the project timeline, as we need to meet our deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Arthur Levitt, the chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, has asked Congress to refrain from trying to delay an S.E.C. proposal that would limit the consulting work that accounting firms do for audit clients, but a senior lawmaker said that the agency needed more time to work on the proposal.

The New York Times

Reasons for this mismatch have been explored in studies with survivors of interpersonal traumatization and have been integrated in a model describing why survivors of interpersonal violence refrain from, delay or engage in mental health help-seeking [ 23]. Figure 1 gives an overview of the model.

BMC Public Health

They say that the prospect of matching funds for opponents deterred them from exercising their right: the fear of triggering funds led them to delay or refrain from raising and spending money and so to censor themselves.

The New York Times

Previous experience of AHC compelled the women to delay or refrain from contacting the healthcare system.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Ms Mogherini has called on all political players to refrain from violence and complete without further delay the electoral process begun in August 2015.

European Parliament

Prior perceptions about the unpredictability of donor funding influenced the decision of some managers to refrain from using other budget lines and delay implementation.

BMC Health Services Research

But a pledge to refrain from premarital sex, the researchers found, did tend to delay the start of sexual intercourse by 18 months.

The New York Times

The agency asked people to refrain from feeding ducks, geese and other waterfowl, noting that it can cause poor nutrition, overcrowding, delayed migration and the spread of diseases.

The New York Times

They urge it to refrain from further provocative actions and sign and ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and to rejoin the Non-Proliferation Treaty without delay.

European Parliament

Just refrain from testing?

The Washington Post

Iraqi Shiites refrain from retaliating.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refrain from delaying" in formal communication when you want to politely discourage someone from causing a postponement. It carries a tone of professional courtesy.

Common error

Avoid using "refrain from delaying" in casual conversations. It can sound overly formal or even sarcastic, potentially undermining your intended message.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from delaying" functions as a directive, advising against a specific action. While Ludwig provides limited direct examples, its structure suggests a function similar to other 'refrain from' constructions, typically used in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refrain from delaying" is a directive advising against causing a postponement. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically correct. Due to the lack of direct examples, its frequency is considered missing. It's most suitable for professional contexts where politeness and adherence to protocol are valued. Alternative phrases include "avoid postponing" or "do not delay", offering varying degrees of formality. When using the phrase, prioritize formal communication and be mindful of the potential for sounding overly formal in casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Avoid postponing

Focuses directly on preventing the action of postponing.

Prevent delaying

Emphasizes the act of stopping a delay from occurring.

Do not delay

A more direct and concise command to not cause a delay.

Halt any delays

Stresses the immediate cessation of delays.

Cease delaying tactics

Highlights stopping strategies intended to cause delay.

Desist from postponing

A more formal way to say 'stop postponing'.

Forego delaying

Implies giving up the option to delay.

Refrain from procrastination

Focuses on avoiding procrastination as a cause of delay.

Avoid any holdups

Uses a more informal term ('holdups') for delays.

Ensure no delays occur

Shifts the focus to ensuring a lack of delays, rather than directly telling someone to stop delaying.

FAQs

How to use "refrain from delaying" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from delaying" to politely ask someone to avoid causing a delay. For instance, "Please refrain from delaying the project timeline."

What are some alternatives to "refrain from delaying"?

Alternatives include "avoid postponing", "do not delay", or "prevent delaying", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "refrain to delay" instead of "refrain from delaying"?

No, the correct form is "refrain from delaying". The preposition "from" is required after "refrain" when followed by a gerund.

What is the difference between "refrain from delaying" and "avoid delaying"?

"Refrain from delaying" is generally more formal and polite, while "avoid delaying" is more direct and less formal. The choice depends on the context and your desired tone.