refrain from indicating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from indicating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to avoid making a specific indication or suggestion. Example: "In this report, we will refrain from indicating any personal opinions to maintain objectivity."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Refrain from indicating the terms "purse" or "handbag" in your search criteria.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They simply changed the consequences of refraining from actively indicating one's preferences.

Harvard Business Review

An employee may attend as a spectator any meeting of a political committee to which the general public is admitted, but must refrain from activity as indicated in the preceding paragraphs.

Cornell University

Those who refrained from using indicated that they did not need ecstasy to "flip out" at parties, and that for them, the fear of ecstasy's direct effects and negative health effects outweighed the thrill, and perhaps more importantly, that they generally visited dance events with friends who do not use ecstasy.

BMC Public Health

A previous study has suggested an increased risk of miscarriage associated with these azoles, which may lead health professionals to refrain from their use even if clinically indicated.

American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

The Japanese stressed that Mr. Lee was granted the visa on the condition that he refrain from political activity, and Mr. Kono clearly indicated that the case was a delicate issue.

The New York Times

"Firefighters' sick leave percentages have been decreasing recently," the statement went on, "and if this trend continues, the mayor has indicated he will refrain from making these manning reductions".

The New York Times

Besides, laboratory tests should be repeated only if indicated: clinicians should refrain from using prepackaged orderings and move on to hand-picked and also consider the inherent standard deviation of laboratory findings when ordering tests.

Critical Care

We will, speculatively, indicate general genomic regions but refrain from being very specific.

Evolutionary Applications

Higher scores of the SEQ-12 on both subscales indicate greater self-efficacy to refrain from smoking.

BMC Public Health

Iraqi Shiites refrain from retaliating.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refrain from indicating" when you want to advise someone to consciously avoid suggesting or hinting at something, especially to maintain neutrality or avoid bias.

Common error

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

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from indicating" functions as a directive or recommendation, advising against the act of suggesting or hinting at something. It's used to promote discretion or neutrality, as supported by Ludwig AI which confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

33%

News & Media

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrain from indicating" is a grammatically correct phrase used to advise against suggesting or hinting at something. While confirmed as proper English by Ludwig, it leans towards formality and is best suited for situations where neutrality or discretion is paramount. Though less common, it finds use in various contexts including Wiki, News & Media and Science. Alternatives like "avoid suggesting" or "abstain from pointing out" may be preferable in less formal settings. Be mindful of the context to ensure the phrase's formality aligns with your intended message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

refrain from signaling

Highlights a deliberate act of not giving a sign or indication.

avoid suggesting

Focuses on preventing an idea or possibility from being proposed or hinted at.

avoid implying

Focuses on preventing a subtle or indirect suggestion from being made.

abstain from pointing out

Emphasizes the act of withholding a specific observation or detail.

desist from showing

Highlights the act of stopping oneself from displaying or revealing something.

hold back from revealing

Implies a conscious effort to suppress the disclosure of information.

omit from mentioning

Focuses on deliberately leaving something out of a discussion or statement.

decline to disclose

Highlights a formal or official refusal to reveal information.

forgo specifying

Suggests intentionally choosing not to provide precise details.

refuse to signal

Emphasizes a deliberate act of not giving a sign or indication.

FAQs

What does "refrain from indicating" mean?

The phrase "refrain from indicating" means to avoid suggesting or hinting at something. It implies a conscious effort to not reveal or make something known.

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

You can use alternatives like "avoid suggesting", "abstain from pointing out", or "omit from mentioning" depending on the context.

Is "refrain from indicating" formal or informal?

"Refrain from indicating" is generally considered a formal phrase. In informal contexts, it might be better to use simpler alternatives like "avoid mentioning".

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

Example: "In this report, we will "refrain from indicating" any personal opinions to maintain objectivity." Another example: "Please "refrain from indicating" that you already know the answer."