Cool MateGround his planes vs Prohibit
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ground his planes
Beyond 10,000 (less common)
Prohibit
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)B2verb
Most formal: ProhibitMost common: Prohibit
| Ground his planes | Prohibit | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɡraʊnd hɪz pleɪnz//🇺🇸 //ɡraʊnd hɪz pleɪnz// | 🇬🇧 //prəˈhɪbɪt//🇺🇸 //prəˈhɪbɪt// |
| Meaning | To stop a pilot from flying their aircraft. | To not allow something. |
| Example | The airline had to ground his planes due to safety concerns. | The law will prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | ground planes, grounded aircraft, ground the fleet, ground due to weather, ground for safety | prohibit access, prohibit use, prohibit behavior |
| Antonyms | - | allow, permit, enable |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'grounded' which refers to being unable to fly due to personal or technical issues., Used incorrectly in non-aviation contexts., Omitted necessary context when discussing aircraft operations. | Confused with 'ban' - 'prohibit' is often used in formal settings., Using 'prohibit' with an infinitive instead of a gerund (e.g. 'prohibit smoking' not 'prohibit to smoke'). |
| Usage notes | Used primarily in aviation contexts. Appropriate in professional settings, but can also be used informally when discussing flight operations. Avoid in casual conversation unless discussing air travel. | Use 'prohibit' in formal contexts such as laws or regulations. It is often more severe than 'forbid'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Ground his planes vs Prohibit
What's the difference between Ground his planes and Prohibit?
Ground his planes: To stop a pilot from flying their aircraft. Prohibit: To not allow something.
Which is more formal: Ground his planes and Prohibit?
Prohibit is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Ground his planes and Prohibit?
Prohibit is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Ground his planes: The airline had to ground his planes due to safety concerns. Prohibit: The law will prohibit the use of mobile phones while driving.
Can I use Ground his planes and Prohibit interchangeably?
Not always. Ground his planes and Prohibit 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.