stop the course

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stop the course" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to halting a class, program, or educational path that someone is currently engaged in. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have decided to stop the course and focus on my personal commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

A FEW inhabitants of Offenbach, under the Frankfurt airport flight path, vainly tried to stop the course of history on October 29th.

The Economist

When the seven plaintiffs sued late last year to stop the course, they charged that its main purpose was to promote religion.

The New York Times

And we have good reason to believe that this will make it possible to find new treatments, and eventually drugs, to slow or even stop the course of a number of diseases.

Harvard University

There will be regulations to curb some of the worst things that happened around the crisis, but nothing can stop the course of complexity.

Forbes

According to an Israeli TV station, the Assn. of University Heads in Israel had "covertly" tried to stop the course.

Los Angeles Times

I would stop the course of the film even and in my comment I would have an ongoing argument with Treadwell: "Here I differ from Treadwell".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

After a few days, the patient feels better, credits the antibiotic, stops the course midway and tucks away the rest of the pills in a drawer, to be used the next time.

The Guardian - Opinion

Injections of penicillin or other antibiotics such as tetracycline or erythromycin are very effective at killing the spirochetes and stopping the course of the disease at any stage, and for this reason syphilis is no longer the lifelong affliction it once was.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Hardenedow.

Huffington Post

In patients who stopped the course of the vaccination schedule during chemotherapy, the indication is to resume the program starting from the suspended dose (C, III).

BioMed Research International

Still, in a wild weekend that will best be remembered for the Who'll Stop the Rain course and the boisterously boozy New York fans, perhaps an unassuming golfer with a deep love for Gotham makes the most sense.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "stop the course", ensure that the context clearly indicates what "course" refers to (e.g., a treatment regimen, a series of events, an academic program).

Common error

Avoid using "stop the course" when you mean to only pause or temporarily interrupt something. "Suspend the course" or "interrupt the course" might be more accurate if the intention is not a complete cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop the course" functions as a verb phrase typically used to describe the action of ceasing or discontinuing a particular process, treatment, or program. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates a deliberate halt to a sequence of events or actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Academia

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stop the course" is a grammatically sound and neutrally registered verb phrase used to indicate the termination of a process, treatment, or program. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While its frequency is uncommon, its applications are diverse, spanning across news, science, and academic contexts. For alternatives, consider "discontinue the course", "halt the course", or "interrupt the course" depending on the intended nuance. When employing this phrase, clarity is crucial to ensure that the referent of "course" is unambiguously understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

discontinue the course

Replaces "stop" with a more formal verb, "discontinue", indicating a more official or permanent cessation.

halt the course

Uses "halt" as a synonym for "stop", suggesting a more abrupt or forceful interruption.

interrupt the course

Implies a temporary break rather than a complete cessation.

suspend the course

Similar to "interrupt", suggesting a temporary pause with the intention of resuming later.

cease the course

A more formal way of saying "stop", often used in official or legal contexts.

terminate the course

Suggests a definitive end to the course, often with negative connotations.

cancel the course

Indicates that the course will not continue as planned, often due to external factors.

abandon the course

Implies leaving the course unfinished, often due to lack of interest or difficulty.

put an end to the course

A more emphatic way of saying "stop", highlighting the finality of the action.

bring the course to a standstill

Focuses on the state of inactivity resulting from the stoppage.

FAQs

What does "stop the course" mean?

The phrase "stop the course" means to halt or discontinue a particular process, treatment, academic program, or series of events. The specific meaning depends on the context in which it's used.

What can I say instead of "stop the course"?

You can use alternatives like "discontinue the course", "halt the course", or "interrupt the course" depending on the intended meaning and level of formality.

Is it better to say "stop the course" or "end the course"?

The choice between "stop the course" and "end the course" depends on whether you want to emphasize an abrupt halt or a planned conclusion. "Stop the course" implies an interruption, while "end the course" suggests a natural or scheduled termination.

Can "stop the course" be used in medical contexts?

Yes, "stop the course" is often used in medical contexts to refer to ending a course of treatment, such as antibiotics or injections. For instance, one might say, "In 54.8% of cases, the result was considered sufficiently satisfactory to stop the course of injections."