stop speaking

USAGE SUMMARY

"stop speaking" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used in various situations to ask someone to cease speaking. For example: 1. Please stop speaking and listen to what I have to say. 2. The speaker asked the audience to stop speaking during the presentation. 3. Can you please stop speaking for a moment so I can clarify something? 4. The teacher scolded the student and told them to stop speaking out of turn. 5. I had to ask my roommate to stop speaking on the phone late at night because I couldn't sleep. 6. The movie was so exciting that the audience couldn't stop speaking about it afterwards. 7. The bride and groom asked the guests to stop speaking during the ceremony. 8. The child's constant babbling made it hard for the adults to have a conversation, so they had to ask him to stop speaking for a while.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

WHY did he stop speaking?

The New York Times

The art challenged me to stop speaking.

The New Yorker

The characters wouldn't stop speaking to me.

The New Yorker

Why did she and David stop speaking to each another?

The New York Times - Books

It does not mean we stop speaking out".

The Guardian - Books

Mr. Romney then chuckled and suggested that he should stop speaking right there.

The New York Times

How much better about ourselves we'll feel when we stop speaking our embarrassing private family languages!

The New York Times - Books

This gums up the brain's cognitive processes and forces him to stop speaking.

The New York Times

"If experts stop speaking up, you're going to get more fakes surfacing," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

Lebanese security officials also sent her messages through friends, telling her to stop speaking out.

The New York Times

Now, though he is persona non grata in his country, he won't stop speaking out.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop speaking" when you want someone to cease talking immediately. Be mindful of the tone, as it can come across as direct or even rude depending on the context. Consider softening the command with a "please" or an explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "stop speaking" in highly formal situations like presentations or business meetings, as it may sound too abrupt. Instead, opt for more polite alternatives like "I would appreciate it if we could hold questions until the end" or "Let's move on to the next topic".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stop speaking" is as an imperative verb phrase, used to directly request or command someone to cease talking. As Ludwig confirms, it's a valid and common phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stop speaking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to instruct someone to cease talking. While Ludwig confirms its correctness and common usage, its directness can border on impolite in formal contexts. It is most commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Science domains. For more refined situations, consider using alternatives like "be quiet" or "cease talking". Remember, context matters when choosing the most appropriate way to ask someone to be silent.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease talking

A more formal way to say "stop speaking".

be quiet

A direct and often imperative way to ask someone to stop speaking.

refrain from talking

A more formal and deliberate way to express abstaining from speech.

quit talking

A more informal and sometimes exasperated way to ask someone to stop speaking.

fall silent

Implies a sudden and often unexpected cessation of speech.

become silent

Similar to "fall silent" but can also imply a more prolonged silence.

silence yourself

A reflexive command to stop speaking.

hold your tongue

Suggests refraining from speaking, often due to potential consequences.

discontinue speaking

A highly formal and somewhat uncommon way to say "stop speaking".

curtail speech

Focuses on reducing or limiting the amount of speaking.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "stop speaking"?

You can use alternatives like "be quiet", "cease talking", or "hold your tongue" depending on the context.

How to use "stop speaking" in a sentence?

You can use "stop speaking" to directly request someone to be silent, as in "Please stop speaking; I need to concentrate", or to describe a situation where someone ceased talking, such as "He was told to stop speaking during the meeting".

Is "stop speaking" rude?

The phrase "stop speaking" can sound direct or even impolite, depending on the tone and context. Using "please" or providing a reason can soften the command. More polite alternatives might be preferable in formal settings.

Which is correct, "stop speaking" or "stops speaking"?

"Stop speaking" is generally used as an imperative or infinitive. "Stops speaking" is used in the third-person singular present tense, for example, "He stops speaking when the teacher enters the room".