refrain from interrupting

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from interrupting" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when asking someone to avoid cutting off or disturbing another person while they are speaking. Example: "During the meeting, please refrain from interrupting others while they share their ideas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Another thing Penn did to avoid negative feedback was to refrain from interrupting a take once he had started it.

Harvard Business Review

Students evaluated their sense of self-efficacy regarding clinical communication skills (e.g., How confident are you that you can refrain from interrupting the patient? How confident are you that you can identify unexpressed feelings?) in a 7-point Likert scale (from 1 = not at all confident to 7 = totally confident).

BMC Medical Education

The 10 to 15 regular members, most of them neighborhood residents, don't have to agree with one another, but the rules of respect are strict: participants must refrain from interrupting or holding side conversations, and they must share their opinions.

The New York Times

Try to refrain from interrupting and choose to listen first.

HuffPost

Mary Dickson, president of the local League of Women Voters chapter, Rita Zwern, the debate's moderator, and other members of the organization tried to plead with audience members to refrain from interrupting, but their efforts didn't work.

Los Angeles Times

It also requires that you refrain from interrupting, advice-giving, correcting facts, defending yourself, making your case, or saying things that leave your partner feeling unheard or cut short.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

When the overture ended, the audience refrained from interrupting the mood with applause.

The New York Times - Arts

UNICEF reminds parties to the conflict to refrain from attacking or deliberately interrupting water supplies, treatment and distribution systems, acts which are prohibited under international Humanitarian law.

Unicef

(Never raise your voice or start whining. If they interrupt you, refrain from becoming angry).

WikiHow

Men refrain from speaking for the group; if one interrupts a woman or finishes her sentence, he may be politely reminded of what he has done.

The New York Times

The 11-item self-control scale aims to assess parents' and children's ability to control their impulses, alter their emotions and thoughts, and to interrupt undesired behavioral tendencies and refrain from acting on them.

BMC Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When facilitating discussions or meetings, remind participants to "refrain from interrupting" to ensure everyone has a chance to speak and be heard.

Common error

While "refrain from interrupting" is grammatically correct, it may sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "don't interrupt" or "please let them finish" to maintain a relaxed tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from interrupting" functions as a directive, advising or requesting someone to avoid a specific action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. It's typically used to maintain respectful communication, as shown in the examples from the search results.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Wiki

27%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

13%

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrain from interrupting" is a grammatically sound phrase used to politely request the avoidance of interruptions, mainly in professional or formal contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is correct and usable. While not exceedingly common, it serves a clear purpose in fostering respectful communication. Simpler alternatives like "avoid interrupting" may be more appropriate for casual settings. When used, this phrase helps ensure that everyone has the chance to express themselves without being cut off, contributing to a more productive and courteous environment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

avoid interrupting

This is a more direct and simpler way to express the same idea of not interrupting.

do not interrupt

This is a command form expressing the same idea in short and direct way.

hold back from interrupting

Adds a sense of effort or restraint in avoiding interruption.

abstain from interrupting

Similar meaning, but the word abstain implies more formal tone than refrain.

desist from interrupting

Desist carries a more formal tone, suggesting a deliberate cessation.

keep from interrupting

This suggests a more casual and conversational tone.

pause before interrupting

Highlights the moment just before an interruption occurs, encouraging a stop.

inhibit interruption

This emphasizes the active prevention of interruptions.

cease interrupting

This suggests stopping an interruption that has already begun.

don't cut someone off

This phrase uses a more conversational idiom for avoiding interruptions.

FAQs

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

You can use "refrain from interrupting" to politely ask someone to avoid cutting others off during a conversation. For example: "During the presentation, please "refrain from interrupting" the speaker."

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

You can use alternatives like "avoid interrupting", "do not interrupt", or "please let them finish" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "refrain from interrupting" or "refrain to interrupt"?

"Refrain from interrupting" is the correct form. "Refrain" requires the preposition "from" when followed by a gerund (an -ing verb used as a noun).

What's the difference between "refrain from interrupting" and "avoid interrupting"?

"Refrain from interrupting" is more formal and implies a conscious effort to hold back. "Avoid interrupting" is less formal and simply suggests preventing interruptions.