he interrupted himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he interrupted himself" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when a character or speaker in a narrative suddenly stops their own speech or thought, often to change direction or clarify something. Example: "As he spoke about his plans, he interrupted himself to address a question from the audience."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

Here he interrupted himself.

Independent

"Oh, yeah," he interrupted himself.

The New Yorker

He interrupted himself: "God these are very tricky words".

The New York Times - Books

He interrupted himself; he decided that he needed his friend Bret Easton Ellis as backup.

The New Yorker

He interrupted himself with a short laugh mocking youth's grand illusions.

The New York Times

Is this a C.? Is this a Cf.?" He interrupted himself, "Oh sorry, that's a blue-book term".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

He interrupts himself.

The Guardian - Books

He interrupts himself, stumbling over a thought.

The New York Times - Magazine

Another politician is announcing, slowly, that he is taking power, and he interrupts himself, saying, "By God Almighty, protect yourselves".

The New York Times

You watch in half-awe, half-revulsion as he interrupts himself with heavy sighs and purses his lips in consternation.

The New York Times - Arts

He interrupts himself to root for more beers in the icebox, flagging his omissions - details too personal or too dull - and throwing down devil-may-care challenges.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he interrupted himself" to show a character's self-awareness or a sudden change in thought. This can add depth and realism to dialogue.

Common error

Avoid using "he interrupted himself" when the character is interrupted by someone else. This phrase specifically refers to self-interruption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he interrupted himself" functions as a narrative device, indicating a break in a character's speech or thought process. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, as demonstrated in numerous examples where a speaker halts their own discourse.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he interrupted himself" is a grammatically sound and contextually rich expression, frequently used in news and media sources. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively portrays a character's self-awareness, internal conflict, or sudden change of thought. While relatively uncommon, mastering its usage can add depth and authenticity to writing. Be mindful to avoid using it for external interruptions and consider alternatives such as "he cut himself short" or "he stopped mid-sentence" to better suit varying nuances. Using the tips and examples above, you can write better content.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he cut himself short

This phrase indicates an abrupt ending to speech, similar to a sudden interruption.

he stopped mid-sentence

This focuses specifically on halting speech in the middle of a sentence.

he caught himself

Implies a self-correction or realization during speech.

he paused abruptly

Highlights the suddenness of the stop, without specifying the reason.

he backtracked

Suggests a change of direction or retraction of a statement.

he thought better of it

Indicates a reconsideration leading to the ceasing of an action or statement.

he hesitated then stopped

Emphasizes the hesitation before the cessation of speech.

he broke off

Similar to cutting oneself short, implying an incomplete utterance.

he checked his tongue

A more figurative way of saying he stopped himself from speaking further.

he rephrased his statement

Suggests that the speaker altered their wording for clarity or to correct themselves.

FAQs

How can I use "he interrupted himself" in a sentence?

This phrase is used to indicate that a person stopped speaking or acting mid-action due to a change of thought or realization. For example: "As he began to criticize her work, "he interrupted himself", realizing it wasn't constructive."

What does "he interrupted himself" mean?

It means someone stopped their own speech or action, typically to correct themselves, change the subject, or reconsider what they were saying or doing.

Are there alternatives to saying "he interrupted himself"?

Yes, depending on the context, you could use phrases like "he cut himself short", "he stopped mid-sentence", or "he caught himself".

Is it grammatically correct to say "he interrupted himself"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct and widely used in both written and spoken English.