he stopped himself

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he stopped himself' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to express that someone prevented himself from doing something. For example: "He stopped himself from screaming when he saw the spider".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

He stopped himself.

The New York Times

I don't believe" — he stopped himself.

The New York Times

Then he stopped himself and started over.

The New Yorker

He stopped himself from adding "myself".

The New Yorker

But then he stopped himself.

The New Yorker

He stopped himself, struggling for composure.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

He stops himself, unsure.

The Guardian

Then he stops himself.

The New York Times - Magazine

He stops himself, astonished by the insight.

The Guardian - Film

Could he stop himself even if he wanted to? "I can make one later," Caperton said.

The New Yorker

He stops himself, retraces his steps, leaves long gaps while searching for exactly the right metaphor.

The Guardian - Music

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he stopped himself" to clearly indicate a deliberate act of self-interruption, whether it's to avoid saying something inappropriate or to prevent an unwanted action. This emphasizes conscious control.

Common error

Avoid using "he stopped himself" when a passive construction is more appropriate. For example, don't say "He stopped himself being seen" when you mean "He avoided being seen."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he stopped himself" functions as a verb phrase indicating a subject's conscious act of self-interruption or self-restraint. It highlights the subject's agency in preventing an action or utterance. The Ludwig AI confirms the phrase as grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he stopped himself" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate a deliberate act of self-restraint or interruption. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in various contexts, especially within News & Media. While versatile, careful attention should be paid to ensure it accurately conveys intentionality and isn't confused with passive constructions. Alternatives like "he checked himself" or "he held his tongue" offer nuanced variations for specific situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he checked himself

Focuses more on consciously restraining an action or statement.

he stopped short

Implies a sudden and immediate cessation of movement or speech.

he refrained from continuing

Emphasizes the act of deliberately holding back from proceeding further.

he thought better of it

Suggests that the person made a wiser decision to not continue with a previous action.

he caught himself mid-sentence

Highlights the interruption of speech specifically.

he stopped in his tracks

Emphasizes stopping an action abruptly because of an idea or realization.

he held his tongue

Implies a suppression of speech to avoid saying something.

he bit back the words

Suggests a strong urge to speak that was resisted.

he paused abruptly

Indicates a sudden halt in an activity or conversation.

he reconsidered his statement

Highlights a change of mind regarding what was about to be said.

FAQs

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

This phrase is used to indicate that someone intentionally interrupted their own action or speech. For example, "He started to yell, but "he stopped himself", realizing it wouldn't help."

What are some alternatives to "he stopped himself"?

You can use alternatives like "he checked himself", "he refrained from continuing", or "he held his tongue" depending on the specific context.

What's the difference between "he stopped himself" and "he paused"?

"He paused" simply means there was a temporary cessation. "He stopped himself" implies a deliberate act of preventing oneself from continuing, often due to a conscious decision or realization.

Is "he stopped himself" formal or informal?

The phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's commonly used in news articles and literature, as demonstrated by the examples from The New York Times and The New Yorker.