pause temporarily

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pause temporarily" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating a brief stop or interruption in an activity or process. Example: "We will pause temporarily to allow everyone to gather their thoughts before continuing the discussion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

A1 The chairman of the Federal Reserve indicated that the central bank was ready for the experiment of having the Fed's policy-making committee pause temporarily in its two-year campaign to raise interest rates.

The New York Times

PAUSE — Temporarily pauses the batch script.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The river bustles around large boulders, pausing temporarily at a series of sunlit pools, where the pale green water is so clear that you feel as though you're levitating as you float.

The Guardian - Travel

These pauses temporarily interrupted KTPMalawi's momentum, making subsequent activities more difficult to organize and undertake.

Health Research Policy and Systems

Press the "Stop" key to end the playing program, or "Pause" to temporarily stop it from playing.

WikiHow

16% stopped permanently (n = 30) and 5% paused treatment temporarily (n = 9).

Clinical and Translational Medicine

He only paused it temporarily, providing convenient political cover for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, who has been conspicuously silent on the issue.

Huffington Post

We also object to his characterization of BP's efforts to temporarily pause payments by the Court Supervised Settlement Program.

The New York Times

We may temporarily pause acting out irresponsible impulses when we reproduce and become responsible for a young life.

The Guardian

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un appeared to temporarily pause plans for "an enveloping fire at Guam" during a visit to a military command centre.

The Guardian

"We have taken the decision to temporarily pause children's congenital cardiac surgery and associated interventions while this review is conducted, a process we would aim to complete in around three weeks".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When employing "pause temporarily" in technical documentation, specify the expected duration or conditions for resuming the paused activity to provide clarity for users.

Common error

Avoid using phrases like "pause briefly temporarily" as it's redundant. "Temporarily" already implies a short duration, so adding "briefly" doesn't add value and can make your writing sound clumsy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pause temporarily" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying the manner or extent of the verb it modifies. It indicates that an action is being stopped for a limited time, as shown by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adverbial phrase "pause temporarily" is a grammatically correct and neutrally-registered expression used to indicate a short interruption with the expectation of resuming the action later. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used across various contexts like news, science, and general writing. To ensure clarity, avoid redundancy such as "pause briefly temporarily" and use it when a planned resumption is intended. Alternatives like "suspend briefly" or "halt momentarily" can be used based on desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

suspend briefly

Replaces "pause" with "suspend" and "temporarily" with "briefly", emphasizing a short-term halt.

halt momentarily

Substitutes "pause" with "halt" and "temporarily" with "momentarily", suggesting an even shorter interruption.

interrupt for a short time

Replaces the adverbial phrase with a longer, more descriptive expression.

break briefly

Uses "break" instead of "pause", implying a short respite or recess.

take a temporary recess

Emphasizes the formal nature of a break, using "recess" to suggest a formal suspension.

discontinue for now

Suggests a current cessation with the possibility of resumption later.

shelve for the moment

Implies putting something aside for a short duration, possibly with less urgency.

cease operationally

Replaces pause with cease suggesting a technical register.

put on hold

An idiomatic expression for temporarily stopping an activity.

hold in abeyance

A more formal term for suspending something, often pending further action.

FAQs

How can I use "pause temporarily" in a sentence?

You can use "pause temporarily" to indicate a short break or interruption in an activity. For instance, "The chairman indicated that the central bank was ready to "pause temporarily" in its campaign to raise interest rates."

What are some alternatives to "pause temporarily"?

Some alternatives include "suspend briefly", "halt momentarily", or "interrupt for a short time" depending on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it better to say "pause temporarily" or "temporarily pause"?

Both "pause temporarily" and "temporarily pause" are grammatically correct, but "pause temporarily" is often preferred as it flows more naturally in many sentences. The choice depends on the sentence structure and emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "pause temporarily" and "stop"?

"Pause temporarily" implies a planned resumption, while "stop" suggests a more permanent cessation. If you intend to continue the activity later, "pause temporarily" is the more appropriate choice.