halt

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "halt" is a correctly used word in written English and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
Example sentence: The man brought the horse to a halt so he could collect it once the race track was clear.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Tens of thousands of Hong Kong residents – young and old, rich and poor – have peacefully occupied major thoroughfares across the city, shuttering businesses and bringing traffic to a halt.

The Guardian

Midway through construction, however, financial problems caused the project to grind to a halt.

The Guardian - Music

Martin Schulz, the president of the European parliament, refused to call a halt to this odd situation (which internally is now referred to as Nespressogate) even after being warned in writing more than a year ago by the joint leaders of the Green Group that coffee farmers in Latin America are facing "a real hunger crisis".

The Guardian - Opinion

The papers, in company with their owner, have fervently supported the two main Ukip policy planks for years: opposition to membership of the European Union and a halt to immigration.

The Guardian

Following news reports of the allegations, Couchsurfing said that users' safety was a top priority and that it was constantly "evolving our tools and processes to find and halt abusers of our system".

The Guardian

He had given up 145 runs for his three wickets and there was nothing the young spinner could do to halt the fiercest hitting he has had to deal with.

The Guardian - Sport

Key figures in Downing Street and Whitehall, led by the prime minister and the cabinet secretary, assessed all the options they could deploy to halt what appeared to be the yes side's momentum.

The Guardian

Prison numbers have been growing at a rate of more than 100 per week, but Clarke said he could halt the rise without letting any prisoners out before they had served their full sentence or scrapping short prison sentences.

The Guardian

Brain drain can be a terrible condition that, once it sets in, can be impossible to halt.

The Guardian

"A learner like Luke Foley fluking an election win with local protest votes after just one term out of office would bring NSW to a screeching halt".

The Guardian

Two years after rising to national prominence with a 13-hour talking filibuster against drones, Rand Paul has made another marathon speech on the floor of the US Senate – only this time in a bid to halt the federal government's mass surveillance of Americans' phone records and to derail an extension of the Patriot Act.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "halt", consider the level of formality required by the context. While it's suitable for news reports and formal writing, more casual language like "stop" may be preferable in informal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "halt" excessively in everyday speech. While grammatically correct, it can sound stilted or overly formal in casual contexts. Opt for simpler alternatives like "stop" or "end" in informal conversation.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "halt" is as a verb, indicating the action of stopping or bringing something to a stop. It also functions as a noun, signifying a cessation or interruption. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's a correctly used word.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sport

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the word "halt" functions primarily as a verb or noun to indicate the stopping or cessation of something. It is grammatically sound, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, and finds frequent use in news, sports, and business contexts. Although "halt" can be used in many contexts, it is more formal than alternatives like "stop". When determining whether to use "halt", it is important to consider your target audience and your overall message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop

A general term for bringing something to an end, similar to "halt" but more common in everyday language.

bring to a standstill

Emphasizes a complete cessation of movement or activity.

put a stop to

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the act of preventing something from continuing.

call a stop to

An idiomatic expression emphasizing the act of declaring an end to something.

cease

Indicates a more formal or permanent stopping of an action or process.

discontinue

Implies an interruption or cessation of something ongoing.

terminate

Suggests a definite end, often of a planned or official nature.

bring to a close

Suggests a formal ending or conclusion.

curtail

Suggests reducing or limiting something, rather than stopping it completely.

break off

Implies a sudden or abrupt termination.

FAQs

How to use "halt" in a sentence?

The word "halt" can be used as a verb, meaning to stop or cause to stop, or as a noun, meaning a cessation or stop. For example: "The police ordered the vehicle to "halt"" (verb) or "The construction work came to a "halt"" (noun).

What can I say instead of "halt"?

You can use alternatives like "stop", "cease", "terminate", or "discontinue" depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Which is correct, "halt" or "stop"?

"Halt" and "stop" are both correct, but they carry different connotations. "Halt" is often used in more formal or official contexts, while "stop" is a more general and commonly used term. The choice depends on the tone and register you want to convey.

What's the difference between "halt" and "pause"?

"Halt" implies a complete cessation or end, while "pause" suggests a temporary interruption with the expectation of resuming. For example, you might "halt" a project due to funding issues, but "pause" it for a short break.