refrain from entering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from entering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when you want to express that someone is being asked to not go into a certain place. For example: "We urge you to refrain from entering the building until the maintenance work is complete."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In a letter to guests, it asked them to "refrain from entering the ocean after dark".

The Guardian

It was unclear last week whether the information was enough to persuade the players to refrain from entering into a possibly lengthy, contentious negotiation.

The New York Times - Sports

What's one thing that people ATL should know about what goes on BTL? It's an issue of personal taste, but I wish authors would refrain from entering the world BTL.

The Guardian - Opinion

Laced with black humor, they refrain from entering fully into the human complexities of their characters: unjust power structures, rather than the individual experiences of his protagonists, are the focus of these tales.

The New York Times - Books

This is a huge challenge to the outside world as it seeks to establish a transitional government to rule the country.The danger of inter-ethnic and inter-factional strife is such that even President George Bush urged America's Northern Alliance allies to refrain from entering Kabul.

The Economist

Caroline Sagesser, a social policy expert at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, said the church had no legal protection from investigations, although sometimes the police will refrain from entering church property out of respect, as in a recent case when asylum seekers took refuge in a church.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

He refrains from entering any airport.

The Guardian

But so far, national politicians have refrained from entering the debate.

The Guardian

The SANA account said that Syrian ground forces had refrained from entering Yarmouk, but said nothing about the Syrian air and artillery attacks that first hit Yarmouk on Sunday, which were reported by witnesses, rebels and Palestinian defectors to the rebel side.

The New York Times

They refrained from entering buildings for fear that they were rigged with explosives.

Vice

Worshippers refrained from entering the museum, one of Turkey's most-visited tourist destinations and whose famous dome is considered a triumph of Byzantine architecture.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing people to avoid a potentially dangerous area, use "refrain from entering" to clearly communicate the need for caution.

Common error

Ensure the context is suitable for a literal entry. "Refrain from entering" implies a physical or clearly defined virtual space. For abstract concepts, consider alternatives like "avoid engaging in" or "abstain from discussing".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from entering" functions as a directive, advising or instructing individuals to avoid a specific action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase in English. The examples provided showcase this function in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

10%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrain from entering" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that serves to instruct or advise against entering a specific area or situation. Ludwig AI validates its correctness, and examples show its frequent use in news media, wikis, and scientific contexts. While versatile, the phrase is generally neutral to formal in tone. When using "refrain from entering", ensure that the context relates to an actual or defined virtual space. If the intention is to convey a non-literal meaning, consider alternative phrases such as "avoid engaging in" or "abstain from discussing". Overall, using "refrain from entering" appropriately can clearly communicate a need for caution or restriction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

do not enter

Offers a concise and imperative form, directly prohibiting entry.

abstain from going into

Replaces "refrain" with "abstain" and "entering" with "going into", offering a more formal tone but conveying the same meaning.

avoid stepping into

Substitutes "refrain" with "avoid" and "entering" with "stepping into", implying a deliberate action to prevent involvement.

forgo entering

Replaces "refrain" with "forgo", suggesting a voluntary decision to abstain from entering.

keep out of

Uses a more direct and informal expression, indicating a prohibition or strong suggestion against entering.

hold back from accessing

Implies a conscious effort to restrain oneself from entering or gaining access.

stay away from

Suggests maintaining a distance, emphasizing avoidance of physical proximity.

desist from approaching

Uses more formal language, indicating a request or command to stop approaching a specific area or situation.

prohibit access to

Emphasizes the act of preventing access, often used in official or regulatory contexts.

not gain entrance to

Focuses on the act of not achieving entry, rather than the act of refraining.

FAQs

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

Use "refrain from entering" when you want to politely or formally ask someone not to go into a specific place or situation. For example, "Please "refrain from entering" the construction zone."

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

You can use alternatives like "do not enter", "stay away from", or "avoid stepping into depending on the context".

Is "refrain from entering" formal or informal?

"Refrain from entering" is generally considered a formal phrase. In more casual settings, simpler phrases like "keep out" might be more appropriate.

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

"Refrain from entering" suggests a conscious decision to abstain, often in response to a request or instruction. "Avoid entering", on the other hand, implies a general attempt to prevent oneself from entering a situation or place.