refrain from sharing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from sharing" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you should not divulge a certain piece of information, or to ask another person to refrain from doing so. For example: "As a reminder, please refrain from sharing confidential information with anyone outside of this group."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

They choose their words more carefully, and refrain from sharing their hunches.

The New York Times

One can hardly, with justice, inform a Negro that he has a duty as a citizem to refrain from sharing in the rights of citizenship.

The New Yorker

But it appears the site may be operating counter to guidelines from the Department of Education's Office of Federal Student Aid, which warn student borrowers to safeguard their financial aid PINs and refrain from sharing them with anyone.

The New York Times

Despite calls from the victim's family to refrain from sharing it, the footage has gone viral on social media.

BBC

A series of three studies delivers new knowledge on how to target consumers who still refrain from sharing to widen the market potential of CSS.

Journal of Business Research

To reduce the bandwidth and energy required by the backhaul system for implementing ideal BS cooperation, BSs may refrain from sharing CSI, but only exchange their data received from mobile users.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Waiting and paddling are three-quarters of the surfing experience -- a detail all those movies refrained from sharing.

The New York Times

But she and her brothers and sisters wisely refrained from sharing their mildly antislavery beliefs, especially with fellow Kentuckians, and practiced an un-neutral neutrality.

The New York Times

I awoke to learn that he'd been ousted by Ferrer in four sets — a piece of information I refrained from sharing with my son, who has enough on his plate, coping with the second day of fourth grade.

The New Yorker

All of these attacks could easily be executed on public or unprotected Wi-Fi networks, so you should be especially careful when using such services, refraining from sharing sensitive data over them.

The Guardian - Tech

So yesterday, in asking Justice Solomon to lift the order so he could set the record straight, Mr. Combs's lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, rattled off the details that he said he had refrained from sharing with the press.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When instructing others to maintain confidentiality, use "refrain from sharing" to clearly and politely communicate the need to keep information private. For example: "Please refrain from sharing the meeting's content outside the team."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "refrain from sharing" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using simpler phrases like "don't share" or "keep it to yourself" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from sharing" functions as an imperative construction, typically used to issue a polite command or instruction. It's used to advise someone to avoid disclosing or disseminating specific information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable part of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

31%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "refrain from sharing" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression, primarily found in News & Media and Science contexts. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's suitable for politely instructing someone to not disclose information, particularly when confidentiality is paramount. While versatile, it can be perceived as overly formal in casual settings. For more natural phrasing, consider using alternatives like "avoid disclosing" or "do not divulge". It's always key to select the phrasing that is the most appropriate in a given context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not to pass on

An informal and succinct way of saying not to share.

avoid disclosing

Replaces "refrain from" with "avoid" and "sharing" with "disclosing", slightly altering the tone.

withhold from circulation

Implies preventing something from becoming widely known.

abstain from revealing

"Abstain from" is a more formal alternative to "refrain from", while "revealing" replaces "sharing".

do not divulge

Uses a more direct and forceful tone by employing "do not" and replacing "sharing" with "divulge".

keep confidential

Focuses on the action of maintaining secrecy rather than avoiding sharing.

hold back from communicating

Emphasizes the act of withholding communication, which is a broader concept than just sharing.

keep quiet about

An informal way of saying not to share information.

decline to disseminate

Uses more formal and technical vocabulary to convey the idea of not distributing information.

cease from distributing

"Cease from" implies a stop to an ongoing action of distributing, which may or may not involve a sharing aspect.

FAQs

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

You can use "refrain from sharing" to politely instruct someone not to disclose information. For example, "Please refrain from sharing this document with unauthorized personnel."

What are some alternatives to "refrain from sharing"?

Alternatives include "avoid disclosing", "do not divulge", or "keep confidential", depending on the desired level of formality.

Is "refrain from sharing" suitable for formal writing?

Yes, "refrain from sharing" is appropriate for formal writing, as it conveys a polite and respectful instruction. However, consider context and audience.

What's the difference between "refrain from sharing" and "do not share"?

"Refrain from sharing" is generally more polite and formal than "do not share". "Do not share" is more direct and can be used in less formal settings.