halted momentarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "halted momentarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a brief pause or stop in an action or process. Example: "The train halted momentarily at the station to allow passengers to board."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A crowd dressed in glowing hats, DIY antlers and plenty of fairy lights surged up to the main area – halted momentarily by the neon spectacle of illuminated drumming troupe Spark! weaving its way in the other direction – to be engulfed by the waves of sound crashing through Stage No. 6 courtesy of My Bloody Valentine and their new material from MBV.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They halt momentarily when grunts, pig-like squeals and violent splashing from warring moorhens interrupt, then resume their conversation.

The Guardian

A speck of grit caused the gears to grind to a halt momentarily, when MIA allowed Galang to be used in a Honda Civic commercial: a dissonantly corporate move for a champion of the developing world, made worse by the justification offered that the Honda was a poor person's car.

The Guardian - Music

I woke up when the train's soporific rocking and chugging came to an abrupt halt, momentarily disorientated.

BBC

Halting shows momentarily for gunfire, he generated his standard mood-lightener: "I wonder which one of my pictures they saw?" Hope amassed a fortune, investing much of it in California real estate.

Forbes

But the N.C.A.A. momentarily halted the process, pointing to bylaw 14.2.3.2.1., its regulations regarding delayed eligibility.

The New York Times - Sports

Unfortunately, she was momentarily halted, but the consumate professional rose to her feet and continued with her performance.

The Guardian - Music

Then Delmon Young strikes out, and the A's crowd is getting louder and louder - cheers that are momentarily halted by Peralta's broken bat base hit.

The Guardian - Sport

We spied one momentarily halted in front of the Guaranty Trust Company, a depressing sight, low, green as a snake, and longer than the other one-story jobs in tow.

The New Yorker

Bellarabi momentarily halted the procession with his fine late finish from an acute angle but that did nothing to detract from Barcelona - and Messi's - exquisite display.

BBC

And while the dot-com meltdown and the XFL's declining ratings may have momentarily halted the momentum of these insurgencies, the reverses are only temporary.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "halted momentarily" when you want to emphasize a short, abrupt stop that doesn't last long. It's more formal than "stopped briefly" but less dramatic than "came to a screeching halt".

Common error

Avoid using "halted momentarily" in casual conversation or informal writing; simpler alternatives like "stopped for a second" or "paused briefly" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

Adverbial Phrase: "Halted momentarily" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb by indicating the manner or extent of the halting. It specifies that the action of halting is brief. As seen in Ludwig examples, the structure indicates a brief interruption.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "halted momentarily" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase that describes a brief pause or stop. According to Ludwig, it is most commonly found in News & Media contexts and is considered a relatively formal expression. While grammatically sound and useful for adding specificity to descriptions, remember that simpler alternatives might be more appropriate in informal settings. The Ludwig AI analysis confirms its correct usage and provides context for its application. While infrequent, its specific meaning makes it valuable in certain writing scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paused briefly

Replaces "halted" with "paused" and "momentarily" with "briefly", offering a slightly simpler construction.

stopped briefly

Substitutes "halted" with "stopped" while retaining the adverb "briefly" for brevity.

briefly interrupted

Replaces "halted" with "interrupted", emphasizing the temporary disruption.

paused for a second

Uses "paused for a second" to specify the extremely short duration of the stop.

came to a brief stop

Emphasizes the action of stopping with the phrase "came to a stop", specifying it was brief.

momentarily ceased

Substitutes "halted" with "ceased", providing a more formal alternative.

briefly suspended

Replaces "halted" with "suspended", implying a temporary cessation of activity.

interrupted for a moment

Replaces "halted" with "interrupted", extending momentarily to a moment.

slowed briefly

Suggests a reduction in speed rather than a complete stop, but still implies a momentary interruption.

hesitated briefly

Indicates a short pause due to uncertainty or reluctance, rather than a forced stop.

FAQs

What does "halted momentarily" mean?

The phrase "halted momentarily" means to stop or pause for a very short amount of time. It implies a brief interruption in an action or process.

What can I say instead of "halted momentarily"?

You can use alternatives like "paused briefly", "stopped briefly", or "briefly interrupted" depending on the context.

Is "halted momentarily" formal or informal?

"Halted momentarily" is considered more formal than alternatives like "stopped briefly". It's suitable for news reports, academic papers, or professional writing.

How can I use "halted momentarily" in a sentence?

Example usage: "The parade "halted momentarily" as a dignitary passed by." It describes a quick, temporary stop.