refusal to inform

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "refusal to inform" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone is declining or unwilling to provide information or details about a specific matter. Example: "The committee expressed concern over the refusal to inform the public about the safety issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Speaking on the eve of the annual economic summit meeting of the seven biggest industrial democracies, the President contrasted the openness of the leaders gathering here with the Russians' "secrecy and stubborn refusal to inform the international community of the common danger" from the nuclear disaster.

The New York Times

Their refusal to inform reveals a huge cultural gap concerning secularism and freedom of expression.

Huffington Post

Our utterly inexcusable use of nuclear weapons and refusal to inform the Japanese of the effects of radiation ultimately took the lives of hundreds of thousands of innocents.

Huffington Post

Regarding the CIA's refusal to inform the FBI about Mihdhar and Hazmi, author Lawrence Wright suggests the CIA wanted to protect its turf and was concerned about giving sensitive intelligence to FBI Agent John P. O'Neill, who Alec Station chief Michael Scheuer described as duplicitous.

Wikipedia

Other practiced violations of international laws, which also appeared in the case of the Iranian-Arab poet Shabaani, has been seen in the Iranian authorities refusal to inform the families of prisoners on the location of the prisoner and the judicial process, along with their rejection in handing over the body of the executed person.

Huffington Post

However, this information was unsuitable for analysis due to several reasons (inconsistent income due to temporary jobs, refusal to inform about income or unknown incomes of all family members and incomes in the form of goods instead of money).

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Inclusion criteria were, a diagnosis of chronic daily headache (illness duration >5 years), and an age ≥18 years; exclusion criteria were, comorbidity with major disorders of the central nervous system (such as Parkinson disease, dementia or epilepsy), delirium and any condition affecting the patient's ability to complete the assessment, including refusal to give informed consent.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

It is unknown how many of the non-participating children were not included because of inability to complete the questionnaire, or refusal to give informed consent.

BMC Family Practice

Of total 2418 patients screened, 257 patients were not enrolled in the study either due to failure to meet the inclusion criteria or due to refusal to give informed consent.

BMJ Open

Exclusion criteria were progressive ischemic stroke, cerebellum or brain stem lesions, thrombolysis or embolectomy, severe aphasia or hypoesthesia, cognitive dysfunction (indicated by scoring less than 7 on the Abbreviated Mental Test [ 18]), heart, lung, liver, or kidney comorbidity, traumatic brain injury, cancer, and refusal to give informed consent.

BioMed Research International

In addition, researchers confronted by serious, valid, and actionable IRRs or IFs may feel that their professional duty to warn (or rescue) the participant (and the correlative risk of legal liability for failure to do so) may over-ride the participant's refusal to be informed [ 13].

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "refusal to inform", ensure the context clearly indicates who is refusing to inform whom and about what. For example, specify "the company's refusal to inform investors about the risks".

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice in ways that obscure who is refusing to inform. Instead of saying "Information was refused", be direct: "The government refused to inform the public".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "refusal to inform" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes the act or instance of someone declining to provide information. This is supported by Ludwig, which indicates the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "refusal to inform" is a grammatically sound noun phrase that denotes a deliberate act of withholding information. As confirmed by Ludwig, this phrase is correct and usable in written English. While not exceedingly common, it appears in diverse contexts, particularly in news, science, and occasionally in wiki-based content. When employing this phrase, it's best practice to clearly identify the refusing party and the subject of the withheld information. Avoiding passive voice constructions will enhance clarity. Alternatives such as "failure to disclose" or "lack of transparency" may be considered to subtly shift the emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failure to disclose

Emphasizes the act of not revealing information that should be shared.

withholding information

Highlights the act of deliberately keeping information secret.

non-disclosure

A more formal term for not revealing information, often in a legal or contractual context.

secrecy

Focuses on the state of being kept secret or the practice of maintaining secrecy.

lack of transparency

Emphasizes the absence of openness and honesty in providing information.

concealment of facts

Highlights the deliberate act of hiding or suppressing factual information.

failure to report

Emphasizes the omission of reporting required information.

evasiveness

Focuses on indirectness and avoiding direct answers or disclosure.

stonewalling

Refers to obstructing or delaying by refusing to answer questions or provide information.

reticence to disclose

Highlights a reluctance or unwillingness to reveal information.

FAQs

How can I use "refusal to inform" in a sentence?

You can use "refusal to inform" to describe a situation where someone or some entity is unwilling to provide information. For example: "The committee expressed concern over the administration's "refusal to inform" the public about the investigation."

What are some alternatives to "refusal to inform"?

Some alternatives include "failure to disclose", "withholding information", or "lack of transparency". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "refusal to inform" grammatically correct?

Yes, "refusal to inform" is a grammatically correct noun phrase. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts.

What's the difference between "failure to inform" and "refusal to inform"?

"Failure to inform" implies a lack of communication that may be unintentional. "Refusal to inform", on the other hand, suggests a deliberate decision to withhold information.