before breaking off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "before breaking off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a point in time or an action that occurs prior to something being interrupted or terminated. Example: "She was explaining her point before breaking off to answer a question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

Mr. Putin let two more days go by before breaking off his vacation.

The New York Times

She scored several hits on the fleeing Ottoman ships before breaking off the chase.

Wikipedia

"I might," he begins, before breaking off suspiciously.

The Guardian

Wednesday before breaking off into small groups, with the two sides remaining far apart.

The New York Times

He adds, "I hope it wasn't sexual," before breaking off in a cackle.

The New Yorker

Her fingernails became discoloured before breaking off and she lost hair and weight.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

If some of the contacts are people you care about, you can let you know what you're doing before completely breaking off contact.

WikiHow

"That's not me deriding – " she begins, before swiftly breaking off, presumably realising that derision is exactly what it was.

The Guardian

The second part presents mixture problems and various series before it breaks off in the midst of rules for plane figures.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The Marlins showed interest in Bobby Valentine for the job in June before talks broke off, and they plan to reopen their search.

The New York Times

Further, there is no guarantee that the proposal owners made before talks broke off March 11 will still be on the table.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "before breaking off" to clearly indicate a sequence of events where an initial action or state is interrupted by another.

Common error

Avoid using "before breaking off" when the initial action naturally concludes. Use it specifically when something is interrupted or stopped prematurely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "before breaking off" functions as a prepositional phrase followed by a gerund phrase. It indicates the temporal relationship of an action occurring prior to an interruption or cessation. Ludwig's examples show a consistent usage across different sources.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "before breaking off" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that indicates an action was in progress before being interrupted. As Ludwig AI confirms, its function is clear and understandable. The phrase appears most frequently in news and media contexts, indicating its widespread applicability. When writing, ensure the phrase accurately reflects an interruption rather than a natural conclusion. Consider alternatives like "prior to discontinuing" or "before ceasing" for more formal tones. Overall, "before breaking off" is a versatile and useful phrase for conveying sequence and interruption in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before ending

A simpler way of saying "before breaking off", focusing on the cessation of something.

before stopping

A more direct and simple alternative to "before breaking off".

prior to discontinuing

Replaces "breaking off" with a more formal synonym "discontinuing".

before ceasing

Uses "ceasing" to replace "breaking off", suggesting a complete stop.

before interrupting

Focuses on the interruption aspect of "breaking off".

prior to halting

Uses "halting" instead of "breaking off", implying an abrupt stop.

previous to suspending

Replaces "breaking off" with "suspending", implying a temporary halt.

before suspending

Similar to 'prior to suspending,' this option emphasizes a temporary interruption.

ahead of terminating

Uses "terminating" to indicate a more definitive end than "breaking off".

before concluding

Implies that something is coming to a natural end, rather than being abruptly broken off.

FAQs

How can I use "before breaking off" in a sentence?

You can use "before breaking off" to indicate that an action was in progress but then stopped, like in the sentence, "She was explaining her point "before breaking off" to answer a question".

What can I say instead of "before breaking off"?

Alternatives include "prior to discontinuing", "before ceasing", or "before ending", depending on the context.

Is "before breaking off" formal or informal?

"Before breaking off" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, you might consider alternatives like "prior to suspending".

What is the difference between "before breaking off" and "after concluding"?

"Before breaking off" implies an interruption, while "after concluding" suggests that something has reached its natural end. The former is abrupt, the latter is a natural cessation.