this must cease

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this must cease" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong demand or necessity for something to stop or come to an end. Example: "The ongoing disruptions in the workplace are affecting productivity; this must cease immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

"This must cease".

The New York Times

If you're one of those girls who has a new boyfriend every week, this must cease.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

This pressure must cease immediately.

The Guardian

On the evening of April 4 , 1967 one year to the day before he was assassinated, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. went into Riverside Church in Manhattan and said of the war in Vietnam: "This madness must cease".

The New York Times

"Respect for the body," it said, "comes by wrapping it in white linen and laying it in a place prepared -- pickling of the body, by the draining of the blood, by the draining of its leftover blood is an abomination to Me and this practice Must Cease!

The New York Times

"Using Ripa to access telephone records of journalists is wrong and this practice must cease.

BBC

Somehow this madness must cease.

Huffington Post

Instead, we decided to support France in its reconquest of her former colony... Somehow this madness must cease.

Huffington Post

It can never be saved so long as it destroys the deepest hopes of men the world over....Somehow this madness must cease.

Huffington Post

In searing memos, the judge described Mr. Long's intervention as "uncalled for, unnecessary and highly unprofessional" and issued this stern dictum: "This attitude and conduct must cease at once".

The New York Times

We must cease this madness, we must break this spell.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this must cease" to convey a strong sense of urgency and necessity for stopping an action or behavior, especially in formal or serious contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "this must cease" in casual conversations. It sounds overly formal and might be perceived as pretentious. Opt for alternatives like "this needs to stop" in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "this must cease" is to serve as a declarative statement expressing a strong imperative. It functions to emphatically state that a particular action, behavior, or situation is unacceptable and requires immediate termination. Ludwig examples illustrate this in contexts of policy and personal conduct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this must cease" is a grammatically sound expression used to convey a strong imperative for something to stop. While relatively rare in overall usage, as confirmed by Ludwig, it frequently appears in news and media contexts, and less frequently in wiki sources. The phrase is generally considered to be neutral to formal in register, making it suitable for professional or serious communications. When a more informal tone is desired, alternatives such as "this needs to stop" may be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

This needs to stop

More informal and direct.

This has to end

Similar in meaning, but emphasizes finality.

This cannot continue

Formal and emphasizes the impossibility of continuation.

This should be stopped

Suggests a recommendation with less force.

This activity must be discontinued

Formal and emphasizes termination of action.

This practice must be abolished

Formal and suggests complete removal.

An end must be put to this

More emphatic and literary in tone.

This is unacceptable and must be rectified

Adds a sense of disapproval and the need for correction.

The foregoing must be terminated

Very formal and legalistic.

The above must stop

Refers to something previously mentioned; less forceful.

FAQs

How to use "this must cease" in a sentence?

Use "this must cease" to express a strong demand or necessity for something to stop. For example, "The ongoing disruptions in the workplace are affecting productivity; "this must cease" immediately."

What can I say instead of "this must cease"?

You can use alternatives like "this needs to stop", "this has to end", or "this cannot continue" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "this must cease"?

It's appropriate in formal situations, legal contexts, or when expressing a serious demand for something to stop. It is less appropriate in casual conversation.

What is the difference between "this must cease" and "this needs to stop"?

"This must cease" is more formal and carries a stronger sense of urgency and finality, whereas "this needs to stop" is more informal and direct.