stop yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stop yourself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when advising someone to refrain from doing something or to control their actions or impulses. Example: "If you feel the urge to react impulsively, take a moment to stop yourself and think before responding."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You can't stop yourself!

The New Yorker

You're winning, but you can't stop yourself.

The Guardian

Don't stop yourself digging that first time through.

The Guardian

"Sometimes you have to stop yourself being funny.

The Guardian - Books

But you try to stop yourself sniggering at "Come on!

The Guardian

Skip the YouTube videos and stop yourself from sharing memes.

The Washington Post

You can't stop yourself from trying to guess how that's even possible.

The New York Times - Tech

Do you have to stop yourself from smiling when you're supposed to be in a row?

Independent

"Stop yourself.

BBC

7. Stop yourself from feeling stuck.

Forbes

Could you stop yourself, even if someone paid you to?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone to manage their reactions, use “stop yourself” to encourage immediate self-interruption of a negative behavior.

Common error

While versatile, “stop yourself” may sound too informal in highly professional or academic writing. Opt for phrases like "“restrain yourself”" or "“refrain from”" in those settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop yourself" functions as an imperative, urging the listener or reader to exercise self-control and cease a particular action or thought. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and practical, reinforcing its effectiveness in everyday communication. Ludwig’s examples showcase scenarios where immediate intervention is needed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Wiki

31%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Academia

7%

Reference

7%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stop yourself" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to advise someone to exercise self-control. According to Ludwig, it functions as an imperative, often found in neutral to informal contexts like news articles and wikis, though less so in formal academic settings. Ludwig AI validates its usefulness in everyday communication, but in formal situations, alternatives such as "restrain yourself" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

restrain yourself

Implies a conscious effort to control one's actions or emotions, often in a more formal context.

hold back

Suggests refraining from expressing something, such as an opinion or emotion.

control yourself

Emphasizes the act of maintaining composure and discipline over one's behavior.

inhibit yourself

Indicates a more forceful suppression of one's impulses or desires.

check yourself

Suggests a quick self-assessment to prevent making a mistake or saying something inappropriate.

curb your enthusiasm

Specifically advises moderating excitement or eagerness.

keep yourself in check

Highlights maintaining constant vigilance over one's actions.

avoid doing something

Focuses on preventing a specific action from occurring.

refrain from

A formal way of saying to abstain from doing something.

desist from

Similar to refrain, but carries a stronger connotation of ceasing an action.

FAQs

How can I use "stop yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "stop yourself" to advise someone to control their actions or impulses. For example, "If you feel the urge to react impulsively, take a moment to stop yourself and think before responding."

What's a more formal way to say "stop yourself"?

In more formal settings, you might prefer alternatives such as "restrain yourself" or "refrain from".

Is "stop yourself" grammatically correct?

Yes, "stop yourself" is grammatically correct and widely used in spoken and written English. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "stop yourself" and "prevent yourself"?

"Stop yourself" implies an immediate interruption of an action or impulse. "Prevent yourself" suggests taking measures to avoid something happening in the future.