stop speaking about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stop speaking about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that someone should cease discussing a particular topic. Example: "I think it's time to stop speaking about the past and focus on our future."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Perhaps Ms Berry could be "gently persuaded" to stop speaking about things she clearly knows nothing about.

The Guardian - Opinion

Officials should stop speaking about threats and triumphs until they know exactly what they are speaking about.

The New York Times

He later said his Vikings position coach made homophobic remarks and the head coach, Leslie Frazier, told him to stop speaking about gay marriage.

The Guardian - Sport

The question is whether he'll move the parties to something like binding arbitration, stop speaking about psychological breakthrough, and start implementing American policy — more Dr. Kissinger, less Dr. Phil.

The New Yorker

But Mr. Paul, a prolific fund-raiser, benefited from his decision to largely stop speaking about his positions and, perhaps more important, from the backlash against his opponent, who ran advertisements questioning Mr. Paul's Christianity.

The New York Times

After the attack, several well-wishers told me that if I did not stop speaking about the Pakistani military, I would be shot dead the next time they came for me.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

In fact, I stopped speaking about my family all together unless it was a lie.

Independent

He attended Joanne's wedding to Neil Murray, in 2001, in Scotland, but they stopped speaking about two years later.

The New Yorker

Hebdige stopped speaking about the book publicly after the New York story.

The New Yorker

Born February 24 , 1921to devoted parents Gus and Dena Belmont in Brooklyn, NY, and to a large, loving family that she never stopped speaking about with great sentiment.

The New York Times

And her friends and neighbors, with kind intentions but caught in the trap of Wasp reserve and politeness, simply stopped speaking about the girl.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop speaking about" when you want to directly address someone about ceasing discussion on a specific topic, especially when the topic is sensitive or controversial.

Common error

While "stop speaking about" is generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "cease discussing" or "refrain from mentioning" in academic or professional settings to maintain a more polished tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop speaking about" functions as an imperative, directly instructing someone to cease discussing a particular subject. This is supported by Ludwig's assessment of the phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stop speaking about" is grammatically correct and functions as an imperative instruction to cease discussing a particular subject. Ludwig confirms its validity and provides real-world examples of its usage. While acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives like "cease discussing" may be preferred in academic or professional settings. The phrase appears most frequently in News & Media sources, suggesting a neutral register. When aiming for a more definitive or nuanced expression, consider related phrases such as "refrain from mentioning" or "avoid discussing".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cease talking about

Formal alternative emphasizing the act of halting conversation.

quit discussing

Suggests a more definitive end to a discussion.

refrain from mentioning

Focuses on avoiding any reference to the subject.

avoid discussing

Highlights the act of deliberately steering clear of a topic.

fall silent on

Emphasizes a sudden or complete cessation of talk about a subject.

no longer talk of

Indicates a past habit that has been discontinued.

discontinue discussion of

A formal way of saying to stop the discussion.

clam up about

An informal alternative suggesting reluctance or refusal to speak.

cut short the discussion on

Implies an abrupt termination of the conversation.

keep mum about

Emphasizes secrecy and a deliberate choice not to disclose information.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "stop speaking about"?

You can use alternatives like "cease talking about", "quit discussing", or "refrain from mentioning" depending on the context.

Is "stop speaking about" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "stop speaking about" is grammatically correct and follows standard English sentence structure, as confirmed by Ludwig.

When is it appropriate to use "stop speaking about"?

It is appropriate to use "stop speaking about" when you want to directly instruct someone to cease discussing a particular subject, especially when it is causing discomfort or is deemed inappropriate.

What's the difference between "stop speaking about" and "stop talking about"?

While both phrases are very similar, "stop speaking about" can sometimes imply a slightly more formal or serious tone compared to "stop talking about", although they are largely interchangeable.