stop talking

USAGE SUMMARY

"stop talking" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It can be used in various contexts, such as giving a command, expressing annoyance or frustration, or politely requesting someone to stop talking. Here are some examples: - "Stop talking right now and listen to me!" - "I wish you would just stop talking about your ex." - "Could you please stop talking for a moment and let me finish my sentence?" - "Stop talking back to me and do as I say." - "I can't concentrate with all these people talking, can we please get some quiet? Can you guys please stop talking for a while?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

First they stop talking.

The New York Times - Food

"Please stop talking".

The New Yorker

He couldn't stop talking.

The New York Times

Scott couldn't stop talking.

The New York Times

And stop talking so much.

The New York Times

They just wouldn't stop talking.

The Guardian - Film

People stop talking about it".

The New York Times

"Stop talking about your shoes!

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Here, they can't stop talking.

Independent

Plummer We couldn't stop talking.

The New York Times

I simply couldn't stop talking.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stop talking" when you need someone to be quiet immediately, especially if they are interrupting or being disruptive.

Common error

Avoid using "stop talking" in professional or formal environments. Opt for more polite alternatives like "please refrain from speaking" or "could we hold the discussion there for now?" to maintain decorum.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop talking" functions primarily as an imperative, directly instructing someone to cease speaking. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used as a command or a firm request.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

1%

Science

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stop talking" is a grammatically sound and frequently used imperative phrase that directly commands someone to be quiet. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. While effective for immediate silence, remember that the context dictates appropriateness; formal settings may require more polite alternatives. As shown through Ludwig's examples, it is used across various media, with the highest frequency appearing in news and media contexts. For scenarios demanding politeness, consider alternatives like "please be quiet" or "could you hold on a moment".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be quiet

A direct command to cease making noise.

quit talking

Similar to "stop talking" but might imply annoyance.

cease speaking

A more formal way to ask someone to stop talking.

refrain from speaking

A polite and formal way to request silence.

fall silent

Suggests a gradual cessation of speech.

hold your tongue

Implies refraining from saying something, often to avoid causing offense.

give it a rest

An informal way to ask someone to stop talking, often due to annoyance.

say no more

Indicates that further discussion is unnecessary or unwanted.

shut your mouth

A rude and direct way to tell someone to stop talking.

silence

A noun form indicating the absence of speech.

FAQs

How can I politely ask someone to "stop talking"?

Instead of saying "stop talking", you can use phrases such as "please be quiet", "could you hold on a moment", or "excuse me, I need to finish" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "stop talking" and "be quiet"?

"Stop talking" is a direct request to cease speaking. "Be quiet" is a command to make no noise, which can include sounds other than speech.

When is it appropriate to use "stop talking"?

It's appropriate to use "stop talking" when you need someone to be silent immediately, especially if they are being disruptive or interrupting. However, consider the context and your relationship with the person.

What are some less harsh ways to say "stop talking"?

You can try phrases like "let's move on", "I'd like to hear from others", or simply pausing and making eye contact to signal that you need to speak.