refrained from running

USAGE SUMMARY

"refrained from running" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to indicate that someone chose not to run in a specific situation. Example: She refrained from running to avoid drawing attention. Alternative expressions include "chose not to run" and "abstained from running."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Being under house arrest, another former president Mohammad Khatami and former presidential candidate for the 2009 elections Mir-Hossein Mousavi, who are among the reformist leaders, were refrained from running for the 2013 presidency.

Huffington Post

In the wake of his house arrest, Khatami refrained from running but has endorsed Rafsanjani.

The Guardian

Mr. Gore refrained from running down Mr. Bradley, a tactic he has stopped in the last few days since the vice president has been predicted to win virtually all the states, including New York, with Democratic primaries on Tuesday.

The New York Times

King responded that as long as Douglas, unlike Powell, refrained from running afoul of the Criminal Code of Canada, he had nothing to fear.

Wikipedia

Although we refrained from running a t-test with three data points, we provided standard error bars in Figure 6D.

eLife

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr. Romney, who is running a negative advertisement questioning Mr. Huckabee's immigration record, largely refrained from attacking Mr. Huckabee at the debate, choosing instead to focus on his own business experience and his conservatism.

The New York Times

One indication of how effectively the governor has slipped off the radar is that Vice President Al Gore's campaign has, thus far, largely refrained from accusing him directly of meddling in Florida's ballot battles.

The New York Times

The president, in fact, pointedly refrained from repeating that formula.

The Economist

Until then, the government had conspicuously refrained from cracking down.

The Guardian

The demonstrators, in turn, mostly refrained from hitting officers.

The New York Times

The public refrained from holding protests during the elections.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "refrained from running" to clearly indicate a deliberate choice not to participate in a race, competition, or candidacy. This phrasing emphasizes the act of holding back or abstaining.

Common error

Avoid using "refrained from running" when simply describing an inability to participate. This phrase implies a conscious decision, not a lack of capacity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refrained from running" functions as a verb phrase, specifically indicating a deliberate choice to abstain from participating in a running activity, whether literal or metaphorical. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refrained from running" is a grammatically sound phrase used to express a deliberate choice to avoid participating in a running-related activity, be it literal or metaphorical. Primarily found in news and media sources, as highlighted by Ludwig, this expression carries a neutral tone and implies a conscious decision rather than a mere inability. While not exceedingly common, as per Ludwig AI's analysis, understanding its connotation is crucial to prevent misuse. Alternative phrases like "abstained from competing" or "chose not to participate" offer similar meanings with slightly different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

abstained from competing

Emphasizes a deliberate choice not to compete.

chose not to participate

Highlights the conscious decision to avoid involvement.

opted out of the race

Focuses on declining to be part of a competition.

declined to contend

Implies a formal refusal to enter a contest.

desisted from entering

Suggests a cessation of intent to join.

avoided participation

Highlights active avoidance of being involved.

forwent competing

Implies giving up the opportunity to compete.

passed on the opportunity to run

Focuses on the missed chance to engage in the activity.

did not engage in the competition

Expresses a lack of involvement in a competitive setting.

stayed out of the contest

Indicates remaining uninvolved in the competition.

FAQs

How can I use "refrained from running" in a sentence?

You can use "refrained from running" to indicate a conscious decision not to participate in a race or competition. For example, "Due to the injury, she "refrained from running" in the marathon."

What is an alternative to "refrained from running"?

Alternatives include "abstained from competing", "chose not to participate", or "opted out of the race", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "refrained from running" or "did not run"?

"Refrained from running" suggests a deliberate choice not to participate, while "did not run" is a more neutral statement that could indicate either a choice or an inability. The best option depends on the specific context you wish to convey.

What does it mean when someone "refrained from running" for office?

It means they made a conscious decision not to be a candidate in an election. This could be due to various reasons, such as lack of interest, strategic considerations, or personal circumstances.