refrain from doing this

USAGE SUMMARY

'refrain from doing this' is correct and usable in written English.
It is generally used to indicate that someone should avoid doing something. For example, "Please refrain from smoking in the building."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

"When she asked them to refrain from doing this, the screeners became angry and threatened her with a strip search," the letter says.

The New York Times

It is possible to further approximate the feedforward delays in the factorization with modes, but we will refrain from doing this here for conceptual clarity Figure 5 A physical interpretation of a component resulting in an approximation of the multiplicative integral.

EPJ Quantum Technology

While this is a normal feeling, refrain from doing this because such behavior may drive away other friends.

WikiHow

If you're going to talk about it all the time or think you're any cooler because of it, then please just refrain from doing this!

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

There are cases in which the alignment could have been manually improved in order to achieve a better performance, but we deliberately refrained from doing this to avoid biasing our results.

Bioinformatics

Be aware that the temptation to let them see you being "the mature one" may be intense at first, and possibly inescapable; recognize that this will be evident anyway and refraining from doing this overtly (to the extent you are able) is the best way to go.

WikiHow

I'd be grateful if you'd refrain from doing the same".

The Guardian

Or he can refrain from doing these things.

Huffington Post

That is real and we don't want somebody to refrain from doing that because of the fear.

Huffington Post

You will not want to be treated badly by your own kids, so refrain from doing the same to your parents.

WikiHow

However, if no one else is doing this, refrain from doing it.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refrain from doing this" when you want to politely or formally request someone to avoid a certain action. It's more appropriate in written communication or formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "refrain from doing this" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "don't do this" or "please don't" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from doing this" functions as an imperative, specifically used to request or instruct someone to avoid a particular action. As supported by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and serves to advise against a certain behavior.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrain from doing this" is a grammatically sound and polite phrase used to request the avoidance of a specific action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it’s most suitable for formal or neutral contexts, such as in news articles, formal instructions, or general guidelines. While it's not very common, with just 4 examples found, its purpose is clear: to instruct or request someone to abstain from a particular action. For less formal settings, simpler alternatives like "don't do this" are more appropriate. Remember to reserve "refrain from doing this" for situations where a degree of formality or politeness is desired.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do not do this

The simplest and most direct way to express the same idea.

refrain from such action

More formal and general, using 'such action' to broaden scope.

avoid doing this

A more direct and less formal alternative.

please don't do this

Adds a polite tone to the request to avoid the action.

abstain from this action

A more formal and emphatic way to express avoidance.

desist from this

A slightly archaic but still valid alternative.

hold back from this

Suggests a restraint or hesitation in performing the action.

keep from doing this

Similar to 'hold back' but emphasizes continuous effort to avoid.

forego this action

Implies a deliberate decision to give up the action.

exercise restraint in this matter

Highlights the need for self-control in avoiding the action.

FAQs

How can I use "refrain from doing this" in a sentence?

You can use "refrain from doing this" to politely ask someone to avoid a certain action. For example, "Please refrain from doing this during the meeting".

What is a less formal way to say "refrain from doing this"?

You can use alternatives like "don't do this" or "please don't do this" in more casual settings.

Is "refrain from doing this" considered polite?

Yes, "refrain from doing this" is a polite way to ask someone to avoid doing something, particularly in formal or written communication.

When is it appropriate to use "refrain from doing this"?

It is appropriate to use "refrain from doing this" in situations where you want to maintain a level of formality or politeness, such as in official notices, emails, or during formal events.