stopped to use

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stopped to use" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone paused their current activity in order to utilize something, such as a tool or resource. Example: "She stopped to use her phone before continuing on her walk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

He stopped to use the bathroom.

The New York Times

We began to walk out, but he stopped to use the just finished bathroom.

The New Yorker

Driving home through a state park, I stopped to use the restroom and accidentally left my purse behind.

The New York Times - Magazine

The police said that the driver, Makhamba Tounkara, 23, had stopped to use a pay phone around 10 30 a.m.

The New York Times

But had it just happened to, say, Robert De Niro, would Mr. De Niro have stopped to use the bathroom?

The New York Times

Outside a pizza parlor where the men stopped to use a pay phone, a white gang pounced on the three black men, severely beating one.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Why did I stop to use Richard Rogers's powder room?

The New Yorker

"Every time I drive the nine hours home, I worry about stopping to use the restroom".

Huffington Post

About 15% stop to use park facilities.

Wikipedia

Use port stops to recharge batteries using local power.

WikiHow

But can she get him to stop using jokes to deflect intimacy?

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a brief interruption in a narrative, use "stopped to use" to clearly indicate the purpose of the pause. For example, "He "stopped to use" his phone to check the map before continuing."

Common error

Avoid using "stopped to use" when a different verb would more accurately describe the action, such as "stopped to repair" or "stopped to adjust". "Use" implies employing something for its intended purpose, so ensure it fits the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stopped to use" functions as a verb phrase indicating a temporary interruption of an activity for the purpose of utilizing something. Ludwig examples show the phrase used in various contexts, typically preceding a noun phrase specifying what was used.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "stopped to use" is a grammatically correct verb phrase indicating a pause in an activity to utilize something. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides examples spanning news, scientific, and general contexts. While not exceedingly common, it effectively communicates a temporary interruption for a specific purpose. Alternative phrases like "paused to utilize" or "took a break to employ" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in formality and emphasis. This phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, exhibiting a neutral register suitable for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paused to utilize

Replaces "stopped" with "paused" and "use" with "utilize", offering a slightly more formal tone.

took a break to employ

Uses "took a break" to replace "stopped" emphasizing the interruption, and "employ" instead of "use".

halted to operate

Substitutes "stopped" with "halted" suggesting a more abrupt pause and "operate" for "use".

interrupted to make use of

Adds "interrupted" suggesting an unexpected stop, and extends "use" to "make use of".

ceased to apply

Replaces "stopped" with "ceased" conveying a more complete stop and "apply" for "use".

desisted to handle

Uses "desisted" for "stopped" highlighting a voluntary stop and "handle" for "use".

suspended action to wield

Emphasizes the suspension of action and replaces "use" with the more active verb "wield".

broke off to work with

Uses "broke off" for "stopped" implying a temporary stop and "work with" for "use".

discontinued briefly to exploit

Highlights the brevity of the stop with "briefly" and replaces "use" with "exploit".

suspended activity to engage with

Replaces "stopped" with "suspended activity" to clarify the pause and use "engage with" instead of "use".

FAQs

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

Use "stopped to use" to indicate that someone paused their current activity to utilize something. For example, "She "stopped to use" her phone before continuing on her walk."

What can I say instead of "stopped to use"?

You can use alternatives like "paused to utilize", "took a break to employ", or "halted to operate" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "stopped to using"?

No, "stopped to using" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "stopped to use", where "to use" is an infinitive phrase indicating the purpose of stopping.

What's the difference between "stopped to use" and "stopped using"?

"Stopped to use" means someone paused an activity in order to utilize something, while "stopped using" means they ceased utilizing something altogether. The former is a temporary pause, while the latter is a permanent cessation.