taken a pause

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taken a pause" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has temporarily stopped or interrupted an activity or process. Example: "After several hours of intense discussion, we decided to take a pause to gather our thoughts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

A lot of businesses that partnered around the Games have taken a pause [to] see what is the next move for them".

Independent

"We've taken a pause," he said, citing a tough advertising climate, a lagging economy and a seriousness that has infused society since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The New York Times - Tech

A Childhood on the Move One day last month, Khalifa parked his taxi in the courthouse garage and arrived just as jury selection had taken a pause for lunch.

The New York Times - Sports

"Do you remember it being taken?" A pause.

BBC

"So we've currently taken a pause in building the bikes.

BBC

"This year has been a year where a lot of the buyers in the secondary market have taken a pause," said Swildens.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

She takes a pause.

The Guardian

I took a pause from "2666" yesterday.

The New Yorker

"Chaotic," he said between cellphone rings, taking a pause.

The New York Times - Sports

Her advice: "Take a pause, wait a few weeks and see what happens.

The New York Times

If it responds by taking a pause for thought, it might even benefit.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "taken a pause" to clearly indicate a deliberate, temporary interruption in an activity or process, especially when you plan to resume it later. For example: "The company has taken a pause in its hiring process to reassess its needs."

Common error

Avoid using "taken a pause" if you intend to convey that something has stopped permanently. Instead, opt for phrases like "discontinued", "ceased", or "abandoned" to reflect the finality of the action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taken a pause" functions as a verb phrase indicating a temporary cessation or interruption. It suggests a deliberate action to stop an activity, implying a plan to resume it later. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from business decisions to personal actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Formal & Business

29%

Science

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "taken a pause" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that signifies a temporary interruption or cessation of an activity. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides various real-world examples from reliable sources, primarily in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. While not exceedingly common, it effectively conveys a deliberate suspension, as opposed to a permanent stop. Consider alternative phrases like "paused temporarily" or "taken a break" to vary your language. Avoid using it to indicate a final cessation. This analysis should guide you in employing "taken a pause" appropriately and effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taken a break

Replaces "pause" with "break", offering a common alternative with a focus on rest.

stopped briefly

A more direct and simple way to express a short stop.

paused temporarily

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the interruption, using a single verb instead of a phrase.

interrupted briefly

Highlights the interruption aspect, specifying it was for a short duration.

halted momentarily

Implies a brief stop with emphasis on the action of stopping.

suspended temporarily

Suggests a formal or official interruption for a limited time.

taken a breather

Uses "breather" instead of "pause", implying a short rest to recover.

eased off

Suggests a reduction in activity rather than a complete stop.

laid off momentarily

Implies a temporary suspension, typically in a work-related context.

desisted temporarily

Offers a more formal alternative, suggesting a conscious decision to stop an action.

FAQs

What does "taken a pause" mean?

The phrase "taken a pause" means to have temporarily stopped or interrupted an activity or process. It implies that the action will likely resume at a later time.

When is it appropriate to use "taken a pause" in writing?

Use "taken a pause" when you want to indicate a temporary cessation of an activity, such as "The negotiations have "taken a break" pending further review".

Are there any synonyms for "taken a pause"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "paused temporarily", "interrupted briefly", or "taken a break" as alternatives to "taken a pause".

Is it grammatically correct to say "take a pause" instead of "taken a pause"?

While "take a pause" can be grammatically correct depending on the context (e.g. "I will take a pause"), "taken a pause" is typically used in the past perfect tense to describe an action that has already occurred. Also, the sentence is grammatically correct using the word pause as a noun.