stopped to try

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stopped to try" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone paused their current activity in order to attempt something else. Example: "She stopped to try the new dessert at the café before continuing her shopping."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

At a certain point I stopped to try to fix my weaknesses and I started to play to my strengths.

The New York Times

"Oh my God, look at these helmets," shouted David Barrett, 10. "They're beast," said Kevin, as everyone stopped to try one on.

The New York Times

But of the scores of people who walked by over the course of a couple hours — many of them buried in their smartphones — only a few stopped to try out the SmartScreen.

The New York Times

It's a short walk through the walled herb garden to the main house but it took us longer than it should as we stopped to try some of the 12 kinds of mint (I recommend the apple, not so sure about the banana) and the peculiar mushroomy-tasting oyster leaf.

The Guardian - Travel

Two children were wounded as well, after a van stopped to try to help a wounded man who was crawling across the road: "Picking up the wounded?" "Yeah, we're trying to get permission to engage" "Come on, let us shoot!" Raffi Khatchadourian has written extensively about this video, and the important questions it raises about rules of engagement and the law of war — as well as its plain tragedy.

The New Yorker

I saw a dog running loose along the road and stopped to try to help.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

But they didn't stop to try to free them.

The New York Times - Magazine

But I'm going to stop trying to micromanage it.

The New York Times - Arts

Time to stop trying to clone cool.

TechCrunch

They then need to stop trying to control the message.

BBC

Fisher needs to stop trying to out-smart everyone.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly indicates what was stopped and what was attempted for clarity. Avoid ambiguity by providing enough information about both actions.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "stopped to try". For example, "stopping to tried" is grammatically incorrect; ensure you use the base form of the verb after "to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stopped to try" functions as a purpose clause, indicating the reason or intention behind the act of stopping. It explains why someone interrupted their current activity. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stopped to try" is a common and grammatically sound way to indicate that an action was interrupted to attempt something else. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable. It typically functions as a purpose clause and is found in a variety of contexts, most frequently in news and media. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what was stopped and what was being attempted. Alternatives like "paused to attempt" can provide similar meanings with slight variations in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paused in order to attempt

Replaces "stopped" with "paused" and "to try" with "in order to attempt", adding a touch of formality.

interrupted to attempt

Substitutes "stopped" with "interrupted", emphasizing the break in the original activity.

halted to give a shot

Uses "halted" instead of "stopped" and "give a shot" instead of "try", offering a slightly more informal tone.

broke off to have a go

Replaces "stopped" with "broke off" and "to try" with "have a go", providing a more casual, idiomatic feel.

desisted to test

Uses "desisted" for "stopped" and "test" for "try", making the phrase sound more formal and deliberate.

suspended to experiment

Replaces "stopped" with "suspended" and "try" with "experiment", suggesting a temporary pause for a more exploratory attempt.

ceased to endeavor

Substitutes "stopped" with "ceased" and "try" with "endeavor", creating a more formal and somewhat archaic tone.

discontinued to tackle

Uses "discontinued" for "stopped" and "tackle" for "try", implying a cessation of one activity to directly address another.

intermitted to undertake

Replaces "stopped" with "intermitted" and "try" with "undertake", resulting in a more technical and precise expression.

paused briefly to assay

Substitutes "stopped" with "paused briefly" and "try" with "assay", which suggests a short stop for a delicate or careful attempt.

FAQs

How can I use "stopped to try" in a sentence?

You can use "stopped to try" to indicate that someone interrupted an activity to attempt something else, as in "He "stopped to try" fixing the car before going to work".

What are some alternatives to "stopped to try"?

Alternatives include phrases like "paused to attempt", "interrupted to try", or "halted to attempt", which convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "stopped for trying" instead of "stopped to try"?

No, "stopped for trying" has a different meaning. It suggests the reason for stopping was the act of trying, while ""stopped to try"" indicates an interruption to attempt something new.

What's the difference between "stopped to try" and "stopped trying"?

"Stopped to try" means pausing one activity to attempt another, while "stopped trying" means ceasing an attempt at something altogether.