halt payment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "halt payment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to stop or suspend a payment, often in financial or contractual situations. Example: "Due to the discrepancies in the invoice, we have decided to halt payment until the issue is resolved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Archives|APPEALS ALIEN FUND MOVE.; Ship Owners' Body Asks Coolidge to Halt Payment to Germany.

The New York Times

APPEALS ALIEN FUND MOVE.; Ship Owners' Body Asks Coolidge to Halt Payment to Germany.

The New York Times

But he also wants his country to renounce its latest bailout agreement and to halt payment on its debts.

The New Yorker

The Wyeth trust filed a motion, still pending, to halt payment of all of Fleming's claims.

Forbes

Robertson had heard that Thibeault was on his way to Toronto to cash the ticket and hired some lawyers who had the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation halt payment of the ticket.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But it has arrested industry entrepreneurs and ordered banks to halt payments to online-gambling firms.

The Economist

Many church leaders used the death of this contact to halt payments.

The New York Times

Another "paid-up option" allows most customers to halt payments and get limited benefits.

The Washington Post

The proposed pension freeze for Detroit would halt payments of nonpension benefits to both active workers and retirees.

The New York Times

Several of her friends said she had been taken aback by the Justice Ministry's decision to halt payments as of Oct. 1.

The New York Times

In mid-March, Washington let it be known that it would halt payments to the international agency that monitors the Chemical Weapons Convention until its director, José Bustani, packs his bags.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "halt payment", clearly state the reason for stopping the payment to avoid confusion or legal issues. For example, "We must halt payment due to discrepancies in the invoice."

Common error

Avoid using "halt payment" if you intend the payment to be temporarily stopped. "Suspend payment" is more appropriate for temporary cessation, whereas "halt payment" suggests a more definitive stop.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "halt payment" functions as a verb-noun phrase, where "halt" acts as a verb instructing to stop, and "payment" is the noun being acted upon. Ludwig confirms the phrase's correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "halt payment" is a grammatically sound expression used to indicate the stopping or suspension of a payment. As noted by Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. While its frequency is relatively rare, it appears consistently in news and business contexts. Alternative phrases like "stop payment" or "suspend payment" may be more common depending on the intended nuance and context. When employing the phrase "halt payment", ensure that the reason for stopping the payment is clearly communicated to avoid potential misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stop payment

Replaces "halt" with a more common synonym, maintaining the same meaning.

suspend payment

Implies a temporary cessation of payment, rather than a complete stop.

cancel payment

Indicates that a previously scheduled payment will not be made.

cease payment

A more formal way of saying to stop payment.

discontinue payment

Similar to "cease payment" but can also imply a longer-term or permanent stop.

withhold payment

Suggests a deliberate holding back of payment, often due to a dispute or issue.

defer payment

Postpones the payment to a later date, rather than stopping it altogether.

rescind payment

Formally revokes or annuls a payment that was previously authorized.

interrupt payment

Emphasizes the break or pause in the payment process.

impound payment

Payment is held by a third party, usually by legal order.

FAQs

How can I use "halt payment" in a sentence?

You can use "halt payment" to indicate the stopping of a payment. For example, "The company decided to halt payment on the contract due to unmet obligations."

What's a less formal way to say "halt payment"?

A less formal way to express "halt payment" is to "stop payment". This is a more common term in everyday conversations.

Is it better to say "halt payment" or "suspend payment"?

The choice between "halt payment" and "suspend payment" depends on whether the payment is intended to be stopped permanently or temporarily. Use "suspend payment" when the payment will resume later.

What is the difference between "halt payment" and "withhold payment"?

"Halt payment" generally means to stop a payment that was already in progress, while "withhold payment" means to deliberately not make a payment that was due, often because of a dispute or unmet obligation.