stop thinking about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stop thinking about" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when you want to advise someone to cease their thoughts on a particular subject. Example: "You need to stop thinking about the past and focus on the future." Alternative expressions include "quit worrying about," "stop dwelling on," and "cease considering."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Alford, William P., Don't Stop Thinking about..

Harvard University

Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow.

Forbes

"Stop thinking about immigration.

The New York Times

It makes us stop thinking about things.

The New Yorker

"I can't stop thinking about you".

The New York Times

Sam couldn't stop thinking about John.

The New Yorker

"You just never stop thinking about it".

The New York Times

Stop thinking about your voice.

The Guardian - Books

I can't stop thinking about what happened.

The New York Times

He couldn't stop thinking about the cop.

Independent

I can't stop thinking about the elections.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If something is too hard to handle by someone, suggest some alternatives to shift the focus.

Common error

Avoid implying that someone can instantly "stop thinking about" something. Acknowledge the difficulty and suggest strategies for managing thoughts, such as distraction or mindfulness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop thinking about" functions as an imperative, directly instructing or advising someone to cease mental focus on a particular subject. Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is used frequently across a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

18%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stop thinking about" serves as a direct way to advise someone to cease focusing on a particular thought or concern. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely used. While it appears in a variety of contexts, it's particularly frequent in news media and academia. When using this phrase, remember to be mindful of the context and audience, and to offer supportive strategies rather than implying complete thought control. If you need an alternative, you can also try "don't dwell on it".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

don't dwell on it

Focuses on avoiding prolonged or excessive thought about something.

put it out of your head

An idiomatic expression that means to stop thinking about something, often something unpleasant.

let it go

Encourages releasing attachment to a thought or concern.

dismiss from your mind

Offers a more direct and active way to cease thinking about something.

refrain from dwelling on

A more formal way of advising someone not to dwell on something.

cease contemplating

Replaces "stop thinking" with a more formal verb, "contemplating".

shift your focus away from

Implies redirecting attention to something else.

discontinue pondering

Uses the more formal "discontinue" and "pondering" instead of "stop" and "thinking".

banish the thought

Suggests actively removing a thought from one's mind.

get over it

Suggests moving on from something that is causing distress.

FAQs

What does "stop thinking about" mean?

The phrase "stop thinking about" means to consciously cease focusing your thoughts on a particular subject or idea. It often implies that the subject is causing distress or is unproductive to dwell on.

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

You can use alternatives like "don't dwell on it", "let it go", or "put it out of your head" depending on the context.

How can I use "stop thinking about" in a sentence?

You can use "stop thinking about" to advise someone to cease dwelling on a specific topic: "You need to "stop thinking about" the exam and relax." or "I wish I could "stop thinking about" what happened yesterday."

Is it always possible to "stop thinking about" something?

While "stop thinking about" implies a conscious effort to cease thinking, it's not always easy or immediately achievable. It's often more realistic to manage thoughts rather than completely eliminate them.