stop believing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stop believing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to encourage someone to cease their faith or trust in something, often in a context of skepticism or disillusionment. Example: "After hearing the truth, I had to stop believing in the myths that surrounded the legend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Stop believing you are immune.

Independent

And stop believing.

The Guardian

"Don't Stop Believing".

The New Yorker

When did he stop believing it?

The New Yorker

"After a while, you stop believing people.

The New York Times - Sports

"I don't stop believing," Manager Joe Girardi said.

The New York Times - Sports

"He wouldn't let anybody stop believing," catcher Buster Posey said.

The New York Times - Sports

Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" is playing on the jukebox.

Independent

"It's not over until you stop believing," one said.

The New York Times

We can't allow ourselves to get discouraged and stop believing.

The Guardian - Sport

The music is playing a tune, "Don't Stop Believing".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop believing" when you want to directly address a ceasing of faith or trust, often in response to new information or a change in circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "stop believing" in contexts where a more nuanced expression of doubt or questioning is appropriate. Sometimes, suggesting a re-evaluation (e.g., "reconsider your assumptions") is more constructive than demanding a complete cessation of belief.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop believing" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating the cessation of belief. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. It often serves as an imperative, urging someone to abandon a particular belief, or as a declarative statement about one's own loss of faith.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stop believing" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase employed to urge the abandonment of a belief, express disillusionment, or challenge convictions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and diverse application. It appears most often in News & Media, Wiki, and Science contexts, suggesting a neutral to slightly informal register. When using the phrase, consider the potential for a more nuanced expression, and ensure it aligns with the specific intent to convey a ceasing of faith or trust. Alternatives such as "cease to believe" or "abandon belief" can offer varying degrees of formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease to believe

Formal alternative emphasizing a complete halt to belief.

discontinue believing

Emphasizes the act of stopping a continuous state of believing.

abandon belief

Highlights the act of giving up or rejecting a belief.

lose faith

Focuses on the loss of trust or confidence.

become disillusioned

Implies a loss of belief due to disappointment.

reject the idea

Emphasizes a conscious decision to refuse acceptance of an idea.

doubt

Introducing uncertainty or questioning a belief.

question everything

Suggests critical examination rather than outright rejection.

reconsider your beliefs

Suggests re-evaluating existing beliefs, not necessarily stopping them.

be skeptical

Implies a cautious approach and questioning attitude towards beliefs.

FAQs

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

You can use "stop believing" to express the cessation of faith or trust in something. For example, "After seeing the evidence, I had to "stop believing" in the conspiracy theory".

What's a less direct way to say "stop believing"?

Instead of directly telling someone to ""stop believing"", you could suggest they "question everything" or "reconsider your beliefs", which are gentler alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "stop believing"?

It's appropriate to use "stop believing" when you want to convey a strong sense of disillusionment or when someone's beliefs are demonstrably false or harmful.

What phrases are similar in meaning to "stop believing"?

Similar phrases include "lose faith", "abandon belief", or "become disillusioned", all of which suggest a fading or ending of belief.