paused

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "paused" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a temporary stop or break in an action or process. Example: "She paused for a moment to gather her thoughts before continuing her speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Sport

Travel

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I paused.

The New York Times

Roach paused, then added: "I do it all the time".

The Guardian

As part of this work, we've paused the update to the Android app and rolled back to the previous version.

The Guardian

Apart from Amec and 3i, commodity stocks are among the other major fallers as metal prices paused for breath after yesterday's rises.

The Guardian - Business

An interesting moment because Yellen paused to confer with aides.

The Guardian - Business

"I might as well retire" was the early retort from Brownlee as he paused for a well-earned breather after high-fiving the waiting spectators who greeted his performance of 1hr 48min 50sec with the applause it deserved.

The Guardian - Sport

With that sort of wealth, why should one steal?" Burley then asked him: "If you didn't steal, where is the money?" Nadir laughed, paused, and replied: "You have to ask the administrators.

The Guardian - Business

The Scottish national party has barely paused for breath since losing last September's referendum on independence for Scotland – immediately declaring itself the moral victor and demanding greater powers for Edinburgh.

The Guardian

He then paused, before concluding: "I'll probably never win an Oscar for saying this – although the way it's been going we've been winning one every 20 years, so we ain't due one until about 2004 – I just feel that we have to be recognised as people.

The Guardian

Asked if she could be president, Tambo paused, then replied: "Why not?

The Guardian

I'm not one to shed tears but…" Hank paused.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a longer or more deliberate break, consider stronger alternatives such as "halted" or "suspended" to convey the intended duration and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "paused" when you mean something has stopped permanently. "Paused" implies a temporary break with the expectation of resumption. Use alternatives like "ended", "ceased", or "terminated" for permanent stops.

Linguistic Context

The word "paused" primarily functions as a verb, typically used in the past tense to describe the action of briefly stopping or interrupting an activity or speech. As seen in the Ludwig examples, "paused" indicates a momentary break before resuming.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Sport

15%

Less common in

Travel

10%

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "paused" is a verb indicating a temporary interruption, frequently used in news, business, and sports contexts. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. When you mean to convey a brief break with an expectation of continuation, "paused" is an excellent choice. For similar situations, alternatives like "halted" or "stopped momentarily" can be used, while being mindful of the subtle nuances in meaning. Avoid using it to imply something has stopped permanently.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

halted

Indicates a complete stop, similar to paused but potentially more abrupt.

took a pause

A more verbose but semantically similar construction.

stopped momentarily

Emphasizes the brief duration of the stop.

interrupted

Highlights that something caused the pause, implying an external factor.

suspended

Suggests a temporary removal or cessation, often in a more formal context.

broke off

Indicates a sudden stop in speech or action.

took a break

Implies a deliberate pause for rest or respite.

ceased briefly

Highlights the temporary nature of the cessation in a formal tone.

came to a standstill

Describes a state where movement or activity has stopped.

recessed

Often used in formal or legal contexts to indicate a temporary adjournment.

FAQs

How can I use "paused" in a sentence?

You can use "paused" to indicate a temporary interruption. For example, "She "paused" before answering the question" or "The music "paused" briefly then resumed".

What are some alternatives to the word "paused"?

Alternatives to "paused" include "halted", "stopped momentarily", or "interrupted", depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "paused" and "stopped"?

"Paused" implies a temporary cessation with an expectation of continuing, while "stopped" can indicate either a temporary or permanent end. The sentence "The game was "paused"" suggests it will continue, whereas "The game was "stopped"" could mean it's over.

When is it appropriate to use "paused" instead of "suspended"?

"Paused" is generally used for brief, informal interruptions, while "suspended" is often used in more formal contexts, like a project or activity that is temporarily discontinued. For example, you might say "She "paused" her speech," but "The project was "suspended" due to funding issues."