suspend payments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspend payments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a person or organization is temporarily halting financial transactions or obligations. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have decided to suspend payments until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

Filing to suspend payments is the first step in France toward a court-ordered company restructuring.

The New York Times

But if a split cap breaches its banking covenants it can suspend payments on zeros.

Independent

She said employment advisers should be given more discretion to decide when to suspend payments.

Independent

The loss of that money had forced him to cancel a production and temporarily suspend payments to his dancers.

The New York Times - Arts

Millions of Argentines are suffering from the government's decision to freeze bank accounts and suspend payments on its debts.

The New York Times

Under the Affordable Care Act, states now have more power to suspend payments whenever there is credible evidence that Medicaid dollars are being misused.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

The city's decision to suspend payment in the system was first reported in The New York Post.

The New York Times - Arts

Last September Ecuador decided, with more or less explicit encouragement from the International Monetary Fund, to temporarily suspend payment of some of its foreign debt.

The New York Times

Levy added that the company's decision to suspend payment of its quarterly dividend reveals the extent to which Ford is imperiled.

Forbes

His money's dried up, and like Rudy he's had to suspend payment for some of his aides.

Huffington Post

Oslo refused and suspended payments of €140m, while still distributing €13m through Őkotárs.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When announcing a decision to "suspend payments", clearly communicate the reason for the suspension and the expected duration or conditions for resumption to avoid confusion and maintain transparency.

Common error

Avoid using "suspend payments" when the intention is to permanently stop payments. "Suspend" implies a temporary halt, whereas terms like "cease" or "discontinue" indicate a permanent end.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "suspend payments" functions primarily as a verbal phrase. It describes the action of temporarily stopping or halting the act of making payments. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "suspend payments" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe a temporary halt in financial disbursements. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and usability. Appearing most frequently in news and business contexts, its purpose is to inform about the temporary nature of stopped payments. Related phrases like "halt payments" or "defer payments" offer similar meanings with slight differences in nuance. When using this phrase, it is crucial to clearly communicate the reason and expected duration of the suspension to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

halt payments

Emphasizes an abrupt stop to payments, suggesting a more immediate action.

defer payments

Highlights the postponement of payments to a later date, implying a scheduled resumption.

cease payments

Suggests a more formal and potentially permanent termination of payments.

discontinue payments

Similar to 'cease payments' but may imply a less formal or official cessation.

interrupt payments

Focuses on the temporary nature of stopping payments, like a pause.

put payments on hold

Implies a temporary cessation with the intention to resume later.

freeze payments

Suggests payments are stopped due to external restrictions or issues.

place a moratorium on payments

Refers to an official or legal suspension of payments, often due to economic hardship.

shelve payments

Indicates a temporary abandonment of payments, possibly until conditions improve.

postpone disbursements

Formally delays the distribution of funds, usually for a specific reason.

FAQs

How to use "suspend payments" in a sentence?

You can use "suspend payments" to indicate a temporary halt in financial disbursements, as in "The company decided to "suspend payments" to its suppliers due to cash flow issues".

What can I say instead of "suspend payments"?

Alternatives include "halt payments", "defer payments", or "put payments on hold" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "suspend payments" or "suspending payments"?

"Suspend payments" is generally used as an infinitive or in headlines, while "suspending payments" is used in continuous tenses, such as "The company is "suspending payments"".

What's the difference between "suspend payments" and "cancel payments"?

"Suspend payments" means to temporarily stop them, with the expectation of resuming later. "Cancel payments", on the other hand, implies a permanent termination of payment obligations.