stopped drinking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stopped drinking" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone has ceased the act of consuming alcoholic beverages or any other drink. Example: "After years of struggling with alcohol, she finally stopped drinking and began focusing on her health."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Everyone has stopped drinking.

The New York Times

Louis hasn't stopped drinking.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Everyone stopped drinking.

The New Yorker

I stopped drinking alcohol.

The New York Times - Sports

Soon he stopped drinking.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He stopped drinking in 1977.

The New Yorker

Q: Have you stopped drinking?

The Guardian

He stopped drinking in the late 1980s.

The New York Times - Books

"He stopped drinking and he stopped snacking".

The New York Times

(He stopped drinking caffeine after "Terminator 2").

The New Yorker

Even then she hadn't stopped drinking.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stopped drinking" to indicate the act of no longer consuming alcohol, not necessarily implying a prior addiction. It can simply mean someone made a conscious choice to cease drinking.

Common error

Avoid using "stopped drinking" interchangeably with terms like "sober" or "recovered alcoholic" without proper context. "Stopped drinking" indicates a cessation of the act, while the other terms imply a deeper history or ongoing process.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stopped drinking" is as a verb phrase, specifically a past tense verb followed by a gerund. Ludwig AI confirms this is correct and usable in written English. It acts as the predicate of a clause, indicating that someone has ceased the act of consuming alcoholic beverages or any other drink.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stopped drinking" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the cessation of alcohol consumption. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage across various contexts. As evidenced by numerous examples, this phrase appears frequently in "News & Media", with neutral register. While often associated with overcoming addiction, it can also refer to a simple lifestyle choice. Alternatives such as "quit drinking" or "gave up drinking" offer similar meanings with slightly different connotations. Remember to provide context when using this phrase and avoid equating it directly with "sober" without sufficient information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quit drinking

Replaces "stopped" with "quit", implying a more decisive action.

gave up drinking

Uses the phrasal verb "gave up", suggesting a sacrifice or decision to abandon the habit.

ceased drinking

Employs "ceased", a more formal synonym for "stopped".

abstain from alcohol

Focuses on abstaining from alcohol specifically, highlighting the substance being avoided.

sober up

Implies transitioning from a state of intoxication to sobriety.

became teetotal

Describes adopting a lifestyle of complete abstinence from alcohol.

kicked the habit

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate overcoming an addiction.

cut out alcohol

Suggests eliminating alcohol from one's diet or lifestyle.

renounced alcohol

Implies a formal or conscious decision to reject alcohol.

swore off drinking

Uses a stronger, more emphatic verb to convey a firm resolution.

FAQs

How can I use "stopped drinking" in a sentence?

You can use "stopped drinking" to describe someone who has ceased consuming alcohol. For example: "After experiencing health problems, she "stopped drinking" entirely."

What are some alternatives to saying "stopped drinking"?

Alternatives include phrases like "quit drinking", "gave up drinking", or "abstained from alcohol", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "stopped drinking alcohol"?

While grammatically correct, "stopped drinking alcohol" can be redundant since "drinking" often implies alcohol. However, it can be used for clarity if the context might be ambiguous.

What's the difference between "stopped drinking" and "is sober"?

"Stopped drinking" refers to the act of ceasing alcohol consumption. "Is sober" describes a state of not being intoxicated, often implying a sustained period of abstinence after problematic drinking.