stopping

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'stopping' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe the action of someone or something ceasing to move, progress, or develop. For example: "The train came to a sudden stop, stopping the passengers from continuing their journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So it would seem, as I have said before, the success we're having in stopping the boats is stopping the questions as well!

The Guardian

There are many other buses stopping near the start of this walk.

The Guardian - Travel

Dr Etienne Krug, the WHO's director for injury prevention has said that there are simple preventive actions that can easily prevent such permanent damage – without stopping you enjoying yourself.

The Guardian

And as many people with respiratory tract infections don't need antibiotics in the first place, because the infection is not actually caused by bacteria, stopping them is perfectly safe.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Unlike DARPA, JIEDDO has a host of Capitol Hill critics who consider its success at stopping IEDs meager compared to the $22bn Congress has provided it over its lifespan.

The Guardian

In the wake of the Francis inquiry and Berwick review, Nice's new safe staffing guidelines, for which I produced the statistical and economic analysis, may have caused surprise by stopping short of setting minimum staffing levels.

The Guardian

How much faster will careening through intersections be compared to carefully stopping?

The Guardian - Tech

She has no intention of stopping: "The only thought I had was: Laura can rest in peace now.

The Guardian

Related: Pubs facing last orders as more developers cash in Envisaged as a way of stopping essential rural services such as post offices and shops being turned into holiday homes, ACV status grants increased protection to premises deemed a "community asset".

The Guardian

I shuddered at the findings and attendant World Cancer Research Fund quotes, hazily remembered stopping drinking for a while after last year's Million Women Study, which showed that even a small glass could help rearrange your breast cells, then calculated that I have quite a few social occasions coming up and that denial may well be the only way forward.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But "stopping the boats" and preventing "successful people smuggling ventures" are two different matters.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stopping", ensure the context clearly indicates whether the action is temporary or permanent. For instance, "stopping briefly" implies a temporary halt, while "stopping completely" suggests a permanent end.

Common error

Avoid using "stopping" as a direct replacement for intransitive verbs of motion. Instead of saying "He is stopping to the store", use "He is going to the store".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "stopping" is as a present participle or gerund. It indicates an ongoing action or serves as a noun, as evidenced by Ludwig's examples where it modifies nouns or acts as the subject of a sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stopping" is a versatile term, primarily functioning as a present participle or gerund to denote the action of ceasing or preventing. Grammatically correct and very common, as Ludwig AI confirms, it finds extensive use in news and media. While semantically interchangeable with alternatives like "ceasing" or "halting", subtle contextual differences exist. Proper usage involves being mindful of the intended duration (temporary or permanent) and avoiding misuse with intransitive verbs. With a high expert rating, "stopping" stands as a reliable and frequently employed term in modern English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ceasing

This alternative directly replaces "stopping" with a synonym emphasizing the termination of an action.

halting

Similar to "ceasing", "halting" implies a more abrupt or forceful stop.

discontinuing

Suggests a more formal or planned cessation, differing from the general action of "stopping".

suspending

Implies a temporary halt, whereas "stopping" can be permanent.

terminating

Indicates a definitive end, often used in formal contexts.

bringing to a halt

This alternative is a more verbose way of saying stopping, adding emphasis to the act.

putting an end to

Expresses the action of ending something, often used when preventing something from continuing.

curtailing

Indicates a reduction or limitation rather than a complete stop.

desisting from

A more formal and less common way of saying stopping, typically used in legal or official contexts.

breaking off

Implies an abrupt cessation, often used in the context of relationships or negotiations.

FAQs

How can I use "stopping" in a sentence?

"Stopping" can be used as a verb in the present participle form (e.g., "The car is stopping") or as a gerund (e.g., "Stopping is crucial").

What are some alternatives to "stopping"?

Alternatives include "ceasing", "halting", or "discontinuing", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "stopping to think" or "stopping thinking"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "Stopping to think" implies you halt an action to consider something, while "stopping thinking" means you cease the process of thought.

What's the difference between "stopping" and "preventing"?

"Stopping" means to cease an action already in progress, while "preventing" means to hinder an action before it starts. For example, "stopping the bleeding" vs. "preventing the injury".