stops his time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stops his time" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express the idea of pausing or halting one's activities or schedule, but it is not a standard expression. Example: "When he feels overwhelmed, he stops his time to reflect and recharge."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As soon as White makes a move, he pushes a lever that stops his time clock, and starts Black going.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Each time he stops, his opponent makes a move so he can see it, and he responds before moving to the next board.

The New York Times

All the same, the jury accepted expert testimony that under the circumstances, the operator should have been able to stop his train in time had he been going 10 m.p.h. or less.

The New York Times

Mukesh doesn't plan on stopping his studies any time soon and now has his sights set on becoming a teacher himself.

Unicef

So let's hope that both Brian Harvey and Brian of the family Harvey are OK and that he stops spending his time standing outside Downing Street with a binder full of evidence and a crowd of laughing tourists.

Vice

Despite having to stop his truck several times because of the severe headache, he successfully completed his delivery route.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

A man named Jose informs Mr. Lasso that the threatening resident with the baseball bat antagonized the men again that morning, this time stopping his truck to unleash a stream of expletives and epithets.

The New York Times

The barbarian can change or stop his attacks at any time, creating many options in combat.

Wikipedia

Umar for the time stopped his armies from advancing further into Anatolia, and instead ordered Abu Ubaidah, now governor of Syria, to consolidate his rule in conquered land of the Levant.

Wikipedia

His staff confronted him last week, telling him he had to start focusing on the unglamorous parts of campaigning and stop spending his time promoting documentaries that he makes and hosts with his wife.

The New York Times

His wife, Annette, wanted him to leave the show last year and stop splitting his time between their Upper East Side apartment, where he sleeps during the week, and their Hamptons home, where she lives with their three children.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the awkward phrase "stops his time", opt for clearer alternatives like "pauses his schedule" or "takes a break" to convey the intended meaning more effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "stops his time" in formal writing. This phrase is not standard English and can confuse readers. Choose precise language to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stops his time" functions as a verb phrase where "stops" is the verb and "his time" acts as the object. However, Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "stops his time" is grammatically questionable and not a standard expression in English. As noted by Ludwig AI, it does not convey a clear meaning. While the intention might be to indicate pausing a schedule or taking a break, it's crucial to use more precise and commonly understood alternatives, such as "pauses his schedule" or "takes a break", to avoid ambiguity. While examples can be found across different sources, the phrase's infrequent usage suggests it should be avoided in formal writing. Prioritizing clarity and precision will enhance communication and ensure your intended meaning is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

halts his schedule

Replaces 'stops' with 'halts' and 'time' with 'schedule', focusing on planned activities.

pauses his work

Substitutes 'stops' with 'pauses' and 'time' with 'work', implying a temporary break from tasks.

suspends his activities

Implies temporarily ceasing particular actions or engagements.

interrupts his activity

Replaces 'stops' with 'interrupts' and 'time' with 'activity', suggesting a disruption of an ongoing action.

ceases his activities

Indicates a complete end or termination of an activity.

takes a break

Replaces the entire phrase with a common idiom indicating a pause from work or other activity.

manages his schedule

Shifts the meaning to the planning and control of one's time, rather than an abrupt cessation.

allocates his schedule

Focuses on how someone budgets their time among different tasks.

uses his schedule

Indicates the manner in which someone employs the time available to them.

budget his schedule

Refers to planning one's use of time in a structured manner.

FAQs

What does "stops his time" mean?

The phrase "stops his time" isn't standard English and lacks a clear, universally understood meaning. It could be interpreted as pausing scheduled activities or taking a break, but it's best to use more explicit language for clarity.

What can I say instead of "stops his time"?

You can use alternatives like "pauses his schedule", "takes a break", or "interrupts his activity" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "stops his time" grammatically correct?

No, "stops his time" does not follow standard English grammar rules and is not a recognized idiomatic expression. It's advisable to use grammatically correct and commonly understood alternatives.

How to avoid using awkward phrases like "stops his time" in writing?

Prioritize clarity and precision. If a phrase sounds unnatural or ambiguous, consider simpler alternatives that convey your intended meaning directly. Review and revise your writing to identify and replace such phrases.