taking a breath

USAGE SUMMARY

"Taking a breath" is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it to indicate any momentary pause in a conversation, thought, or activity. For example: "He paused, taking a breath, before continuing his story."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

O.K.," Denise said, taking a breath.

The New York Times - Magazine

She stopped herself, taking a breath.

The New York Times

Taking a breath, I let it rip.

The New York Times

Taking a breath, she often seemed about to say something.

The New York Times - Arts

They are like taking a breath, one breath at a time.

Princeton University

"This decline has been strong enough that you can easily justify the market taking a breath".

The New York Times

He compared it to taking a breath during a marathon, before a second wind kicks in.

The New York Times

Diagnosing malaria could soon be as simple as taking a breath test.

The Guardian

The rage in Richard grew and fizzled, easy as taking a breath, easy as not responding.

The New Yorker

But when you're in those moments, I recommend first pausing and taking a breath before you do anything else.

University of California, Berkeley

This is what we did in school.' " "You know what I wish?" Latney says, taking a breath.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase metaphorically to describe a market cooling down or a person regrouping after a stressful event.

Common error

Avoid using "taking a breath" when you specifically mean a designated rest period from labor. In such cases, the idiom "taking a breather" is more appropriate, as "taking a breath" typically refers to a single, momentary inhale or a brief mental reset rather than a formal break.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking a breath" typically functions as a gerund phrase or a present participle phrase. As observed in Ludwig, it often serves as a participial adjunct, providing circumstantial information about an action, such as a character's emotional state or a pause in dialogue.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "taking a breath" is a highly versatile and grammatically correct phrase in the English language. Based on analysis from Ludwig, the phrase is equally at home in high-level literary fiction, journalistic reporting and technical instructional guides. Whether used literally to describe the act of inhalation or figuratively to signal a pause in a fast-paced environment, it remains a clear and effective linguistic tool. Writers should feel confident using it to manage rhythm and tone, provided they distinguish it from the slightly more informal "taking a breather" when a longer rest period is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

drawing a breath

A more literary or formal variation of the physical action

pausing to inhale

More technical and emphasizes the specific physical interruption of another action

stopping to breathe

Places more weight on the cessation of activity than the breath itself

taking a moment

Removes the literal biological reference to focus entirely on the temporal pause

catching one's breath

Implies a recovery period after physical or emotional exertion

pausing for air

Often used metaphorically to suggest feeling overwhelmed

inhaling deeply

Focuses on the depth and intensity of the physical act

stealing a breath

Suggests that the pause was quick, secret or hurried

taking a breather

Significantly more informal and suggests a short break from work or exercise

gathering oneself

Focuses on the mental or emotional preparation that happens during a pause

FAQs

How to use "taking a breath" in a sentence?

You can use it to denote a physical action or a pause in thought. For example: "She stopped mid-sentence, "taking a breath", before finishing her argument." or "The economy is currently "taking a moment" to stabilize after the recent surge."

Is "taking a breath" grammatically correct?

Yes, according to Ludwig AI, it is completely correct and widely used in both formal and informal English as a gerund or a present participle phrase.

What is the difference between "taking a breath" and "catching a breath"?

While both involve inhalation, "catching a breath" usually implies a need to recover from exertion, whereas "taking a breath" is more about a voluntary pause or a single inhale.

What can I say instead of "taking a breath"?

Depending on your intent, you could use "drawing a breath" for a more formal tone, or "pausing for a moment" if you want to emphasize the time rather than the physical act.