taking a quick break

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "taking a quick break" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a short pause or rest during an activity or task. Example: "After working for several hours straight, I decided it was time for taking a quick break to recharge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

Yeah, Yankees!' " she said, taking a quick break and keeping a wary eye on her supervisor.

The New York Times

George Galloway is taking a quick break from the campaign trail to smoke his favourite cigar inside his car.

Independent

"We got clobbered," Robbie Whitney said, taking a quick break from his work behind the deli counter.

The New York Times

"The dogs were buried back there," one of the workers said, taking a quick break and pointing to a patch of ground at the rear of the property.

The New York Times

"This is not the first time I've been on Staten Island during the Fourth of July," Mr. Lhota said, taking a quick break from shaking hands.

The New York Times

Mr. Loebach actually had one, when the Italian manufacturer Luigi Billiani, taking a quick break from his own booth one morning, passed by and offered to produce Mr. Loebach's chair prototype.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

If I do I'll take a quick break while eating a Pop-Tart at my desk.

The New York Times

After her 11-hour testimony before congressional Republicans in October, Clinton took a quick break from calorie-counting.

Independent

Photograph: Parliamentlive.tv A quick summary of the key points, as the committee takes a quick break.

The Guardian - Business

You might run for 15 seconds, take a quick break, then sprint at a severe incline for 8 seconds.

The New York Times - Sports

"No matter where they are they might want to take a quick break and read," Ms. Laycock said.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "taking a quick break" to signal a short interruption in an activity for rest or refreshment. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

While "taking a quick break" is common, avoid using it excessively in short succession. Vary your language by using synonyms like "pausing briefly" or "taking a short pause" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "taking a quick break" functions as a gerund phrase, often used as a noun within a sentence. It describes the act of pausing briefly from an activity. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "taking a quick break" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a short pause from an activity. As Ludwig confirms, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, as well as formal and business settings, with a neutral register. While its usage is generally acceptable, it's wise to vary your language with synonyms like "pausing briefly" or "having a short pause" to avoid repetition. Remember to use this phrase to clearly indicate a short interruption for rest or refreshment.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

taking a short pause

Substitutes "quick break" with "short pause", maintaining a similar level of formality.

pausing briefly

Focuses on the action of pausing and uses "briefly" to indicate the short duration.

having a brief respite

Replaces "quick break" with a more formal and sophisticated term, "brief respite".

taking a breather

Emphasizes the restorative aspect of the break, suggesting a moment to catch one's breath.

stopping for a moment

Highlights the act of stopping and specifies it's only for a "moment".

grabbing a quick recess

Replaces "break" with "recess", suggesting a temporary cessation of activity.

stepping away for a minute

Emphasizes the physical action of moving away from something temporarily.

taking five

An idiomatic expression indicating a five-minute break.

interrupting for a second

Highlights the interruption aspect and specifies its short duration.

taking a time out

Implies a temporary suspension of activity, often used in a more disciplinary context but adaptable.

FAQs

How can I use "taking a quick break" in a sentence?

You can use "taking a quick break" to describe a short pause from an activity. For example, "After working for three hours, I'm "taking a quick break" to grab some coffee".

What is a more formal alternative to "taking a quick break"?

A more formal alternative to "taking a quick break" is "having a brief respite". This option is suitable for professional or academic writing.

Is it grammatically correct to say "take a quick break" instead of "taking a quick break"?

Yes, both phrases are grammatically correct. "Take a quick break" is often used as an imperative, giving a command or suggestion. "Taking a quick break" functions as a gerund phrase, describing the action itself.

What are some common situations where people are "taking a quick break"?

People often are "taking a quick break" from work, studying, exercise, or other demanding activities to rest, recharge, or attend to personal needs.