Cease vs We really should stop this fighting

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Cease

FormalBeyond 10,000 (less common)C1verb

We really should stop this fighting

Top 2,000 (common)
Most formal: CeaseMost common: We really should stop this fighting
 CeaseWe really should stop this fighting
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //siːz//🇺🇸 //siːs//🇬🇧 //wiː ˈrɪəli ʃʊd stɒp ðɪs ˈfaɪtɪŋ//🇺🇸 //wi ˈrɪli ʃʊd stɑp ðɪs ˈfaɪtɪŋ//
Meaningto stop doing somethingWe must end this argument or battle.
ExampleThe company decided to cease all operations due to financial difficulties.We really should stop this fighting before someone gets hurt.
RegisterFormalNeutral
How commonBeyond 10,000 (less common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelC1-
Part of speechverb
Collocationscease fire, cease operations, cease activitiesstop the fighting, stop fighting over, stop this conflict, stop arguing, stop the argument
Antonymsbegin, continue, start-
Common mistakesConfused with 'seize' (to grab)., Using 'cease' as a noun rather than a verb., Incorrectly conjugating 'cease' in the past tense.Using 'should' instead of 'must' for obligation., Confusing 'stop' with 'start' in context., Forgetting to clarify who is involved in the fighting.
Usage notesOften used in formal contexts or legal language. Not commonly used in everyday conversation.Use 'should' to suggest advice or necessity. Appropriate in both spoken and written contexts but may sound less strong than 'must.'

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Cease
We really should stop this fighting

Frequently asked questions: Cease vs We really should stop this fighting

What's the difference between Cease and We really should stop this fighting?

Cease: to stop doing something We really should stop this fighting: We must end this argument or battle.

Which is more formal: Cease and We really should stop this fighting?

Cease is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Cease and We really should stop this fighting?

We really should stop this fighting is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Cease: The company decided to cease all operations due to financial difficulties. We really should stop this fighting: We really should stop this fighting before someone gets hurt.

Can I use Cease and We really should stop this fighting interchangeably?

Not always. Cease and We really should stop this fighting are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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