was unable to stop

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was unable to stop" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something could not halt an action or process. Example: "Despite his best efforts, he was unable to stop the car from rolling down the hill."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The president was unable to stop the Watergate investigation, however.

The New York Times

Cerberus, meanwhile, was unable to stop Chrysler's downward spiral.

The New York Times

Piazza was unable to stop his swing and struck out.

The New York Times - Sports

Despite serious efforts to stop the bonuses, the administration apparently was unable to stop the payments.

The Washington Post

"I was unable to stop them from interfering in Terri Schiavo's husband's affairs.

The New Yorker

There he was unable to stop the advance of the British under Gen. Edmund Allenby.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The train was unable to stop before hitting and running over some of them".

Independent

But Brooklyn was unable to stop Philadelphia when it needed to.

The New York Times - Sports

A UN force mandated to protect civilians was unable to stop it.

The Economist

He felt the team was unable to stop the Eagles in the open field.

The New York Times - Sports

And he said it was alarming that the defense was unable to stop long drives.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was unable to stop" when you want to clearly convey a lack of ability or failure to prevent a specific action or event from occurring, especially when there was an attempt to do so.

Common error

Avoid using "was unable to stop" in contexts where a more direct, active voice would be clearer and more impactful. For example, instead of "The problem was unable to be stopped by the team", use "The team was unable to stop the problem".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was unable to stop" functions as a verbal phrase expressing an inability or failure to prevent a specific action or event. It is commonly used to describe situations where an attempt to halt something was unsuccessful, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was unable to stop" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the failure to prevent something, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it conveys a sense of lack of control or capacity to intervene. While alternatives like "couldn't prevent" or "failed to halt" exist, "was unable to stop" remains a versatile and widely used option for conveying this meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not able to prevent

A more formal variation emphasizing the inability to prevent.

couldn't prevent

Focuses on the act of prevention that was not achieved.

failed to halt

Emphasizes the failure in bringing something to a standstill.

was unsuccessful in stopping

Highlights the lack of success in the attempt to stop something.

proved incapable of stopping

Emphasizes the lack of capability to stop an action or event.

didn't manage to stop

Indicates a lack of success or management in halting something.

found it impossible to stop

Stresses the impossibility or extreme difficulty in preventing something.

was defeated in the attempt to stop

Highlights the defeat or failure in trying to stop something.

lacked the power to stop

Emphasizes the absence of power or authority to intervene.

could not impede

Focuses on the inability to hinder or obstruct something from happening.

FAQs

What does "was unable to stop" mean?

The phrase "was unable to stop" indicates a lack of capacity or failure to prevent something from happening, despite potentially making an attempt.

What are some alternatives to "was unable to stop"?

You can use alternatives like "couldn't prevent", "failed to halt", or "was unsuccessful in stopping" depending on the context.

How can I use "was unable to stop" in a sentence?

You can use "was unable to stop" to describe a situation where someone or something tried but failed to prevent an action. For example: "Despite his best efforts, he "was unable to stop" the car from rolling down the hill."

Is "was unable to stop" formal or informal?

"Was unable to stop" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, though more formal alternatives might exist for specific situations.