a prolonged pause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a prolonged pause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an extended period of silence or inactivity in conversation or action. Example: "After a prolonged pause, she finally gathered the courage to speak her mind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

After a prolonged pause, his security guard answers apologetically: "They said he was a guest at the hotel," before they get out with Lil Wayne still chuntering.

The Guardian - Music

He also essays a parodic Groucho-like lope in pursuit of the departing Karen and, when Bobby naively asks "what if she just likes me?", Spacey stares at him with a prolonged pause worthy of Jack Benny.

The Guardian

But the recovery has been weak and faltering, so much so that a committee of economists that dates euro-zone business cycles was reluctant last summer to call it anything more than a "prolonged pause" in the recession.

The Economist

"How many of you have experienced violence?" After a prolonged pause, every teenager raised his/her hand.

Huffington Post

There was a prolonged pause, and then he offered: "I think they should talk with the Native Americans," he replied.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

In the control cells, the MT plus ends alternated between phases of slow growing, rapid shortening and prolonged pause state (a state of attenuated dynamic instability).

Plosone

What I admire about Kinnear is that he pays scrupulous attention to language: one notices his prolonged pause when, trying out a speech before the players, he comes across the phrase "blood of fathers".

The Guardian

With both devices, the airway pressure at the end of a prolonged expiratory pause was the same before, after 1h of use and just before the end of the experiment, indicating that neither device increased airway resistance.

Critical Care

Indeed, the lower mtDNA copy number observed in FGD could be explained by a prolonged replication pause [94] resulting from altered nucleotide precursor pool as mtDNA instability increases in the presence of a limiting dTTP pool as it has been reported for folate deficiency [43], [44], [71], [93].

Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Clinical

Storch told Der Spiegel that 98percentt of IPCC climate models cannot replicate the prolonged pause in global warming, and IPCC may need to revise its computer models to correct their apparent warming bias.

Forbes

These are the Watch Fightheg Games Ever.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a prolonged pause" to create dramatic effect in writing, particularly in dialogue or descriptions of tense situations. It effectively signals anticipation or uncertainty.

Common error

Avoid using "a prolonged pause" to describe brief hesitations or moments of thought. Reserve it for instances where the silence or inactivity is genuinely extended and noticeable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a prolonged pause" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a period of silence or inactivity that is extended in duration. Ludwig confirms that the expression is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

37%

Encyclopedias

13%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a prolonged pause" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to denote an extended period of silence or inactivity. Ludwig confirms that it is correct in written English. Though relatively rare, its usage spans across news, science, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, use it to amplify dramatic effect. Alternatives such as "an extended silence" or "a lengthy delay" can be used to diversify your language while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an extended silence

This alternative replaces "pause" with "silence" and "prolonged" with "extended", emphasizing the lack of sound.

a lengthy delay

This option substitutes "pause" with "delay" and "prolonged" with "lengthy", highlighting a time-based interruption.

a drawn-out interval

This alternative uses "drawn-out" and "interval" to convey a sense of duration and separation.

a long hiatus

This option uses "hiatus" to suggest a break or interruption of considerable length.

a significant lull

This alternative employs "lull" to indicate a temporary period of quiet or inactivity.

a protracted stillness

This version replaces "pause" with "stillness" and "prolonged" with "protracted", focusing on a lack of movement or activity.

a sustained break

This alternative uses "sustained" and "break" to highlight a continuous period of interruption.

a considerable hesitation

This option focuses on the aspect of pausing due to uncertainty or reluctance, using "hesitation".

a long intermission

This alternative uses "intermission" which suggest a temporary suspension of activity.

a remarkable silence

This alternative substitutes "prolonged pause" with "remarkable silence", highlighting a noticeable quiet period.

FAQs

How can I use "a prolonged pause" in a sentence?

You can use "a prolonged pause" to describe an extended period of silence or inactivity in a conversation or event. For instance, "After "a prolonged pause", she finally responded to the question".

What's the difference between "a prolonged pause" and "a brief pause"?

"A prolonged pause" refers to a significant and noticeable period of silence, while "a brief pause" indicates a very short interruption. The former is more dramatic and impactful.

What can I say instead of "a prolonged pause"?

You can use alternatives like "an extended silence", "a lengthy delay", or "a long hiatus" depending on the context.

Is "a prolonged pause" formal or informal?

"A prolonged pause" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding language and the situation being described.