pace yourself

USAGE SUMMARY

'pace yourself' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you want to advise someone to take their time and do something at a slower and more controlled rate. For example: "If you want to finish the marathon, you need to pace yourself."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But pace yourself.

The New York Times

"Pace yourself, honey.

The New Yorker

Upon Arrival Pace yourself.

The New York Times - Health

"You just pace yourself".

The New York Times - Sports

Pace yourself and be selective.

The New York Times

Give me strength … Pace yourself.

The Guardian

Pace yourself, and your outrage, accordingly.

The New York Times

Be realistic and pace yourself, they say.

The New York Times - Health

You don't pace yourself, just go nuts.

The Guardian - Sport

If you do choose Cobra, pace yourself.

The New York Times - Health

You just have to pace yourself.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When advising someone undertaking a long-term project, use "pace yourself" to encourage sustainable effort and prevent burnout.

Common error

Avoid using "pace yourself" when the situation demands immediate, intense action; it's more appropriate for activities requiring sustained effort over time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pace yourself" primarily functions as an imperative, offering advice or encouragement to manage one's energy or effort wisely. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in written English. It often appears in contexts where sustained activity is required, such as running a marathon or undertaking a long-term project.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

18%

Science

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "pace yourself" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to advise others to manage their energy or effort over time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is perfectly acceptable for use in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media, but also present in Academic and Scientific contexts, it encourages a balanced and sustainable approach to activities. Alternatives such as "take it easy" or "don't overdo it" offer similar guidance. Remember to use "pace yourself" when the situation calls for sustained effort and to avoid it in situations requiring immediate, intense action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

don't overdo it

Advises against exceeding one's limits, cautioning against excessive effort.

take it easy

This suggests a relaxed approach and avoiding overexertion, implying less intensity than "pace yourself".

moderate your efforts

More formal, suggesting a deliberate control over the level of exertion.

take your time

Focuses on not rushing, emphasizing the avoidance of haste rather than managing energy over a long period.

go easy on

Suggests moderation, often in terms of consumption or effort applied to something.

conserve your energy

Highlights the preservation of energy resources, more directly addressing the aspect of fatigue management.

spread things out

Emphasizes distributing tasks or activities over time, reducing intensity.

be selective

Highlights the importance of carefully choosing what to focus on and expend energy on, related more to choice than management.

set realistic goals

Focuses on the planning stage, encouraging achievable aims that don't lead to burnout.

avoid burnout

Directly addresses the negative outcome of not pacing oneself, focusing on prevention.

FAQs

How can I use "pace yourself" in a sentence?

You can use "pace yourself" to advise someone to manage their energy or resources wisely over a period of time. For example, "If you want to finish the marathon, you need to "pace yourself"."

What are some alternatives to "pace yourself"?

Alternatives include "take it easy", "take your time", or "don't overdo it" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to tell someone to "pace yourself"?

It's appropriate when someone is undertaking a task or activity that requires sustained effort and where there's a risk of them becoming overwhelmed or exhausted. It implies that one should manage their energy or resources to ensure completion.

What does it mean to "pace yourself"?

To "pace yourself" means to regulate your speed or effort in order to avoid becoming too tired or overwhelmed. It involves managing your energy and resources wisely to sustain performance over a period of time.