refrain from undertaking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refrain from undertaking" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising or instructing someone to avoid starting or engaging in a particular action or task. Example: "We kindly ask you to refrain from undertaking any additional projects until the current ones are completed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"During such religious occasions, we normally refrain from undertaking offensive operations.

The New York Times

The decree specifically orders RNC members "refrain from undertaking any ballot security activities in polling places or election districts where the racial or ethnic composition of such districts is a factor".

The Guardian

The suit today was filed in New Jersey because of that settlement, which required the Republican National Committee to "refrain from undertaking any ballot security activities in polling places or election districts where the racial or ethnic composition of such districts is a factor in the decision to conduct" the program.

The New York Times

Once the deal is implemented, Iran will still be "called upon" to refrain from undertaking any work on ballistic missiles designed to deliver nuclear weapons for a period of up to eight years, according to a security council resolution adopted in July.

The Guardian

So refrain from undertaking a bagful of unrelated activities.

Science Magazine

Participating GPs reported to refrain from undertaking further steps because of limited treatment options [ 29].

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Because there are no differences between Illinois and Virginia law material to resolving Defendants' motion and the parties do not argue that Croatian law would apply, the Court refrains from undertaking a choice-of-law analysis at this time.

The Washington Post

So it seems, at best, that Xi Jinping will carry out more of the same state- and stability-focused economic reforms while refraining from undertaking more serious market-oriented reforms.

Forbes

We therefore refrained from undertaking statistical pooling of the results of the individual studies and conducted a best evidence synthesis.

British Medical Journal

We refrained from undertaking additional subgroup analysis because of the difficulty to classify the type of motor disorder and its distribution in children with CP under the age of 2 years accurately.

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Participants were asked to refrain from consuming caffeine and alcohol, and from undertaking strenuous exercise 24 h prior to all experimental trials.

European Journal of Applied Physiology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to avoid a specific action, ensure the context clearly explains why they should "refrain from undertaking" it. Providing a reason enhances the instruction's impact and clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "refrain from undertaking" in informal settings, as it sounds overly formal and unnatural. Opt for simpler alternatives like "don't start" or "avoid doing" to maintain a conversational tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrain from undertaking" primarily functions as a directive or instruction, advising against the initiation or commencement of a particular action. As per Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct. Examples provided by Ludwig show it used in formal and official contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

33%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

8%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrain from undertaking" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is commonly employed in formal contexts, such as news reports, scientific articles, and legal documents, to advise or instruct against initiating a specific action. While versatile, it is best suited for situations demanding a high degree of formality. For casual conversations, simpler alternatives like "avoid starting" or "don't do" are more appropriate. The analysis indicates a solid presence in authoritative sources, solidifying its reliability and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstain from initiating

Replaces "refrain" with "abstain" and "undertaking" with "initiating", slightly more formal.

avoid commencing

Uses "avoid" instead of "refrain" and "commencing" instead of "undertaking", creating a less formal tone.

desist from pursuing

Employs "desist" to replace "refrain" and "pursuing" for "undertaking", implying a more active form of avoidance.

hold back from starting

Utilizes a more colloquial phrasing, replacing "refrain" with "hold back" and "undertaking" with "starting".

forgo implementing

Substitutes "refrain" with "forgo" and "undertaking" with "implementing", suggesting a deliberate decision to not proceed.

refuse to engage in

Focuses on active refusal, replacing "undertaking" with "engage in".

shun embarking on

Emphasizes avoidance, replacing "refrain" with "shun" and "undertaking" with "embarking on".

cease to perform

Highlights the cessation of activity, replacing "refrain" with "cease" and "undertaking" with "perform".

not engage in

Simplifies the phrase to a negative imperative.

omit to initiate

Replaces "refrain" with "omit" and "undertaking" with "initiate", creating a more passive construction.

FAQs

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

You can use "refrain from undertaking" when you want to formally advise someone to avoid starting or engaging in a particular action or project. For example: "We kindly ask you to "refrain from undertaking" any additional projects until the current ones are completed."

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

You can use alternatives like "avoid commencing", "abstain from initiating", or "desist from pursuing" depending on the context and level of formality you want to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "refrain from undertaking" in casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "refrain from undertaking" is generally too formal for casual conversation. Simpler phrases like "avoid starting" or "don't do" are more suitable for informal settings.

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

Both phrases mean to avoid starting something, but "refrain from undertaking" carries a stronger sense of formality and is often used in official instructions or directives, while "avoid undertaking" is slightly less formal.