suspended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "suspended" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something is temporarily halted or paused, such as a service, activity, or process. Example: "The meeting has been suspended until further notice due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was suspended by the broadcaster on 10 March before it announced his contract would not be renewed.

The Guardian

The six officers involved in Gray's arrest have been suspended.

The Guardian

The game was twice suspended, briefly in the first half after a large inflatable banana was thrown on to the pitch and for around 15 minutes after the interval because of objects hurled from the stands.

The Guardian - Sport

Four years ago a Euro 2012 qualifier with Italy was suspended amid scenes of mayhem.

The Guardian - Sport

He said he was "angry" about this, but added: "It would be unfair to pass suspended sentences on you in these circumstances".

The Guardian

A 10-day strike starting at the National Gallery on Tuesday has taken on an added dimension now one of the Public and Commercial Services union's senior representatives, Candy Udwin – suspended on the eve of the first strike in February (Letters, 12 March) – has been sacked.

The Guardian - Arts

But Stormont has been suspended for over a year and the deadlock will continue, given the swing towards republican and unionist hardliners.

The Guardian

Donors have suspended pledged aid worth $150m until Banda, who came to power in 2012 following the sudden death of president Bingu wa Mutharika, "cleans up the mess" of corruption and speedily prosecutes all suspects.

The Guardian

Last year's verdict was already unusual because the sentence was much tougher than the suspended prison term sought by prosecutors.

The Guardian

Mote was suspended from Ukip in 2004, shortly after he was elected, when the party discovered he was facing separate charges for benefit fraud.

The Guardian

The champions realised they had a game on their hands again and Charlie Mulgrew, the stand-in skipper in the absence of suspended Scott Brown, came close with a decent drive after being set up by Stokes.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "suspended" when referring to the halting of a service or activity, implying it will resume in the future. For example: "The bus service was suspended due to bad weather."

Common error

Avoid using "suspended" when you mean something is permanently stopped. "Suspended" implies a temporary cessation, whereas "canceled" means something will not occur or resume. For instance, say "The event was canceled" instead of "The event was suspended" if it's not going to be rescheduled.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "suspended" is as a past participle or adjective, often describing a state of temporary cessation or interruption. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correctly used in various contexts where something has been temporarily stopped.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "suspended" is a versatile term primarily used to indicate a temporary cessation or interruption. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable. Its usage spans across various contexts, with a strong presence in news and media, as demonstrated by the numerous examples from sources like The Guardian and BBC. While "suspended" is generally neutral, it's essential to distinguish it from terms like "canceled" to avoid misrepresenting the permanence of the cessation. By considering the nuances in meaning and context, writers can effectively use "suspended" to convey temporary interruptions in their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Temporarily halted

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the cessation.

Ceased temporarily

Highlights that the stopping is not permanent.

Discontinued temporarily

Highlights the temporary nature of stopping something, like a service or product.

Put on hold

A more informal way of saying something is temporarily stopped.

Interrupted briefly

Implies a short pause in an ongoing process.

Postponed

Indicates that something will happen at a later date.

Deferred

Suggests delaying something to a future time, often due to circumstances.

Adjourned

Often used in formal settings like meetings or legal proceedings.

Shelved temporarily

Suggests putting something aside for later consideration or use.

Put in abeyance

A more formal and less common way of saying "suspended".

FAQs

How is "suspended" used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "suspended" often refers to a sentence that is not immediately enforced, or a person's privileges being temporarily revoked. For example, a driver's license might be "driver's license suspended".

What's the difference between "suspended" and "postponed"?

"Suspended" implies a temporary stop, often due to unforeseen circumstances, while "postponed" means something is delayed to a specific later time. If something is "event postponed", a new date is usually set; if it's "suspended", the resumption is less certain.

What are common reasons for a service to be "suspended"?

Services can be "suspended" for various reasons, including technical issues, safety concerns, or policy violations. For example, a "service temporarily halted" may be due to maintenance.

When is it appropriate to use "halted" instead of "suspended"?

"Halted" and "suspended" are often interchangeable, but "halted" may suggest a more abrupt or immediate stop. You can use alternatives like "temporarily halted", which emphasizes the temporary nature of the cessation.