stay of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stay of" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in legal contexts to refer to a suspension or halt of a legal proceeding or enforcement of a judgment. Example: "The court issued a stay of execution pending the appeal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Stay of execution granted Aug. 23.

Forbes

Prospective study involving patients with an expected intensive care unit stay of ≥48 h.

Annals of Intensive Care

Thirteen patients (93%) required ICU stay of 1 24 days.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Of which, 57 183 bed-days (mean stay of 6 days) were for female and 101 714 bed-days (mean stay of 8 days) were for male.

BMC Health Services Research

The average stay of an I.C.U.

The New Yorker

Snowden's stay of residence expires next summer.

The Guardian

Quai9 allows a stay of only 30 minutes per shot.

The Economist

But Marius II has been granted a stay of execution.

The Economist

But how much use is this stay of execution?

Independent

An appeal has won him a temporary stay of deportation.

The New York Times

The court issued a stay of his execution.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "stay of" in legal contexts, ensure you clearly specify what is being stayed (e.g., "stay of execution", "stay of proceedings").

Common error

Avoid assuming that a "stay of" is a permanent solution. It's crucial to recognize that it only provides temporary relief or suspension, and the underlying issue still needs to be addressed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stay of" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often found within legal and medical contexts. It signifies a temporary suspension or postponement. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stay of" is a versatile expression primarily used to denote a temporary suspension or postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, and it commonly appears in both scientific and news contexts. While the phrase is "correct" and "usable", bear in mind that its formality level varies depending on the situation, ranging from neutral to formal, as observed by Ludwig. Related phrases include "suspension of" and "postponement of", offering alternative ways to express similar concepts. When writing, always specify what is being stayed to avoid ambiguity. A "stay of" provides temporary relief and is not a permanent solution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponement of

Replaces "stay" with a direct synonym, emphasizing the act of delaying something.

suspension of

Similar to postponement, but often used in more formal or legal contexts.

deferral of

Suggests a temporary delay, often with the implication that the matter will be addressed later.

respite from

Implies a temporary relief or break from something challenging or unpleasant.

moratorium on

Suggests a formal suspension of an activity or process, often for a specific period.

cessation of

Emphasizes the ending or stopping of something, potentially temporary.

hiatus in

Indicates a break or interruption in a series or sequence of events.

interval of

Focuses on a period of time between events or activities.

period of delay

Directly describes a time during which something is delayed or postponed.

temporary halt to

Highlights the temporary nature of stopping something.

FAQs

How is "stay of" typically used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "stay of" refers to the temporary suspension of a judicial proceeding or the enforcement of a judgment. For instance, a court might grant a "stay of execution" to delay a scheduled execution.

What are some alternatives to using "stay of" in general writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "suspension of", "postponement of", or "deferral of" to convey a similar meaning. The best choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to express.

Is it appropriate to use "stay of" in informal conversation?

While grammatically correct, "stay of" may sound formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider using simpler terms like "delay" or "pause".

What's the difference between a "stay of execution" and a pardon?

A "stay of execution" is a temporary delay, while a pardon is a complete forgiveness of a crime, potentially releasing someone from punishment permanently. The former postpones, the latter absolves.