refrain from engaging

USAGE SUMMARY

"refrain from engaging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express that someone should not participate in a certain activity. For example, "I urge you to refrain from engaging in activities that may put your safety at risk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

The Court has said, too, that Congress can regulate the decision to refrain from engaging in a transaction.

The New Yorker

At the same time, South Korea's military warned that North Korea must refrain from engaging in "rash acts" or face strong punishment, according to South Korea's Defense Ministry.

Independent

After telling a reporter that he likes homosexuals just fine -- provided we refrain from engaging in homosexual acts -- Mr. Santorum came out in support of laws against sodomy.

The New York Times

A Senegalese mediator, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, said, "We want both sides to be separate on the ground, remain in position and refrain from engaging in offensive action".

The New York Times

But even if Vick hasn't changed at his core, if he can persuade young people to refrain from engaging in dogfighting, we will have accomplished something great.

The New York Times - Sports

Foreign NGOs must refrain from engaging in political or religious activities or acting in a way that damages "China's national interests" or "ethnic unity", according to a 15-page outline of the law distributed to the media.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

But for the most part, the contenders smiled and refrained from engaging.

The New York Times

For many months after the 9/11 attacks, Democrats refrained from engaging in the blame game with the Bush Administration.

The New Yorker

He could not accept the idea that John would have "serious difficulty refraining from engaging in behavior that he has never engaged in".

The New Yorker

Passage is innocent as long as a ship refrains from engaging in certain prohibited activities, including weapons testing, spying, smuggling, serious pollution, fishing, or scientific research.

Encyclopedia Britannica

However, the practice of "shomer negiah" -- of refraining from engaging in any physical contact with members of the opposite sex who are not family -- does not fall into this category.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing someone to avoid an action, follow "refrain from engaging" with a specific and clear description of the activity to be avoided. For example: "Please refrain from engaging in any unauthorized data access."

Common error

While grammatically correct, using "refrain from engaging" in casual conversation can sound overly formal or stilted. Opt for simpler alternatives like "avoid" or "don't" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

Refrain from engaging functions as a directive or an instruction, typically advising against participation in a specific action or activity. It's used to discourage certain behaviors, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples, often in contexts where conflict or undesirable outcomes are possible. The phrase suggests a deliberate act of holding back or abstaining.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrain from engaging" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that advises against participating in a specified action or activity. As confirmed by Ludwig, its primary function is directive, aiming to prevent undesirable behaviors or maintain order. While suitable for various writing styles, it is most frequently found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, with a neutral register that makes it appropriate for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure clarity in specifying the activity to be avoided and consider simpler alternatives like "avoid" or "don't get involved" for a more casual tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstain from participating

Replaces "engaging" with "participating" and "refrain" with "abstain", suggesting a more formal tone.

desist from taking part

Replaces "refrain" with "desist", another formal synonym, and "engaging" with "taking part".

avoid getting involved

Uses simpler vocabulary, focusing on avoiding involvement in something.

hold back from participating

Suggests a conscious effort to prevent oneself from participating.

cease to participate

Indicates stopping or discontinuing participation.

keep from joining in

More informal, suggesting avoiding joining an activity.

shun involvement

Implies a deliberate avoidance of involvement, often due to moral or ethical reasons.

not take part

A simpler and more direct way of saying to not participate.

forgo participation

Implies a conscious decision to give up the opportunity to participate.

eschew involvement

A more formal and emphatic way of saying to avoid involvement.

FAQs

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

You can use "refrain from engaging" to advise someone against participating in a particular activity. For example, "The mediator asked both sides to "refrain from engaging" in offensive actions."

What are some alternatives to "refrain from engaging"?

Alternatives include "abstain from participating", "avoid getting involved", or "desist from taking part", depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

Is "refrain from engaging" suitable for all types of writing?

While grammatically correct and versatile, "refrain from engaging" is generally better suited for formal or professional writing. In more casual contexts, simpler alternatives like "avoid" or "don't get involved" might be more appropriate.

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

"Refrain from" typically implies a conscious decision to abstain from something, often due to a rule or request. "Avoid" ("avoid"), on the other hand, suggests preventing something from happening or staying away from something, without necessarily implying a specific prohibition.