stop altogether

USAGE SUMMARY

'stop altogether' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to say that someone or something has come to a complete halt or no longer exists. Example sentence: We decided to stop the project altogether due to lack of funding.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Stop altogether?

The Guardian

Do not stop altogether.

The Guardian - Books

Perhaps today was the day it would stop altogether.

The New Yorker

Feeling frustrated about my persistent bruxism, I was determined to find a way to stop altogether.

The New York Times - Health

Business did not stop altogether in the N.F.L. on a silent Sunday.

The New York Times - Sports

Productivity gains will become slower and slower until they stop altogether.

The Guardian - Business

The heart could slow, then stop altogether, and no one could prevent it.

The New York Times - Science

So, in theory, civil adjudication could stop altogether, as it already has on one judicial circuit in Georgia.

The Economist

It's nice to know that life doesn't stop altogether outside the M25 though, even in the media world.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I didn't stop altogether until 1995, when we needed a new roof and it seemed sensible to sell the instrument.

The Guardian - Music

My heart actually struck two profound beats deep in my chest, then seemed for a moment to stop altogether.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop altogether" when you want to emphasize the completeness of the cessation. It's stronger than simply saying "stop".

Common error

Avoid using "completely stop altogether". The word "altogether" already implies a complete cessation, so adding "completely" is redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop altogether" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to indicate the complete cessation of an action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It emphasizes that something has come to a complete halt.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stop altogether" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to indicate the complete cessation of an action. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a clear and effective way to express that something has come to a full stop. The phrase appears frequently in news, media, science, and wiki sources, demonstrating its broad applicability. When using this phrase, avoid redundancy by not adding "completely", as "altogether" already implies a full stop. Consider using alternatives like "cease completely" or "end entirely" depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

end entirely

A more straightforward way of expressing the same idea, replacing 'stop' with 'end'.

cease completely

Replaces 'stop' with 'cease' and 'altogether' with 'completely', emphasizing the finality of the action.

halt completely

Synonymous replacement of 'stop' with 'halt', maintaining the sense of an abrupt end.

discontinue entirely

Uses 'discontinue' to suggest a planned ending and 'entirely' for emphasis on the completeness of the action.

terminate fully

Employs 'terminate' to imply a formal or official ending and 'fully' to reinforce the complete cessation.

come to a full stop

Implies a gradual ending that culminates in a complete halt.

bring to a complete stop

A more verbose alternative, adding emphasis to the process of stopping.

put an absolute end to

Uses 'put an end to' to indicate taking action to stop something, with 'absolute' emphasizing finality.

shut down completely

Suggests a complete and often sudden termination, common in technical or operational contexts.

cease operations entirely

More formal and specific, particularly useful in a business or operational context.

FAQs

How can I use "stop altogether" in a sentence?

You can use "stop altogether" to indicate a complete cessation of an action or process. For example, "We decided to "stop altogether" funding the project due to budget constraints".

What can I say instead of "stop altogether"?

You can use alternatives like "cease completely", "end entirely", or "halt completely" depending on the context.

Is it redundant to say "completely stop altogether"?

Yes, saying "completely "stop altogether"" is redundant. The word "altogether" already implies a complete cessation, so adding "completely" is unnecessary.

Which is more formal, "stop altogether" or "cease completely"?

"Cease completely" is generally considered more formal than ""stop altogether"". "Cease" is often used in official or legal contexts.