stop a little

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stop a little" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in informal contexts to suggest pausing briefly or taking a short break, but it is not standard. Example: "Before we continue, let's stop a little and gather our thoughts."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

They sometimes had to stop, a little spooked, sweating and laughing suddenly, something breaking the spell.

The New Yorker

Her son left to walk his friend to the bus stop a little after 8 30, she said.

The New York Times

"At what point will it stop?" A little exasperated, Selig said: "It will take myriad solutions to fix our problems.

The New York Times - Sports

But I want to stop a little bit about that because I am not the manager of the national team," he said.

The Guardian - Sport

"After 'The Widow of Saint-Pierre,' I said to myself, I've worked a lot, I've worked well, and I want to stop a little.

The New York Times

"Not man, once I was a man". Look at what — we can stop a little bit to reflect on what this experience here has been like and can we define it in some ways.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

And the self-questioning has stopped – a little bit, anyway".

The Guardian - Music

It's a sensible answer, but it stops a little short of a yes.

Independent

He is part of a travelling circus, certainly, but the laughter stopped a little while ago.

The Guardian - Sport

When they tackle love in "Anthrax," which includes a minute-plus guitar-feedback intro, the world stops a little bit.

The New Yorker

The Metro train stops a little over a mile away; the ride to Union Station in Washington takes just under an hour.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for a more formal tone, replace "stop a little" with options like "pause briefly" or "suspend momentarily" to maintain clarity while increasing sophistication.

Common error

Avoid using "stop a little" in formal writing; it can sound informal. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "briefly interrupt" or "temporarily cease" to better suit the tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stop a little" functions primarily as a verb phrase, often used to indicate a temporary cessation or brief pause in an activity. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is not standard.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

17%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stop a little" signifies a short pause or temporary halt. Ludwig AI suggests it's not standard, although analysis reveals its common usage in news, media and online guides. While generally acceptable, especially in informal communication, more refined alternatives such as "pause briefly" or "interrupt momentarily" might be better suited for formal or academic settings. Therefore, writers should consider their audience and context when deciding to use "stop a little".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pause briefly

Focuses on the brevity of the interruption.

take a short break

Emphasizes the temporary nature of stopping.

halt momentarily

Suggests a formal and temporary cessation.

break for a second

Indicates an extremely short interruption.

desist for a moment

A more formal way to suggest a brief pause.

suspend briefly

Implies a temporary interruption of an ongoing process.

interrupt briefly

Focuses on the action of stopping something else.

hold up a second

Informal suggestion to wait or pause quickly.

cease briefly

Highlights the temporary end of something.

discontinue momentarily

A slightly more formal way to indicate a temporary stop.

FAQs

How can I use "stop a little" in a sentence?

You can use "stop a little" to suggest a brief pause or cessation. For example, "They sometimes had to "stop a little", spooked, something breaking the spell."

What are some alternatives to "stop a little"?

You can use alternatives like "pause briefly", "take a short break", or "halt momentarily" depending on the context.

Is "stop a little" grammatically correct?

While "stop a little" is understandable, Ludwig AI considers it not standard English. It's generally acceptable in informal contexts, but it might be better to use more precise or formal alternatives in professional or academic writing.

What's the difference between "stop a little" and "stop briefly"?

Both phrases suggest a short pause. However, "stop briefly" is generally more concise and may be preferred in formal contexts, while "stop a little" can sound more conversational.