they halted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they halted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that a group of people or things stopped moving or ceased an action. Example: "As the storm approached, they halted their progress and sought shelter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Here they halted, stared.

The New Yorker

There they halted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"They halted the program.

The New York Times

They wavered, they faltered" and "they halted".

The New York Times

They halted an entire motorized rifle company".

The New York Times

So they halted trading on Yahoo's shares.

The New York Times

They halted the Knicks' 13-game winning streak in April.

The New York Times - Sports

At Thursday night's opening ceremonies, they halted cheering when the American and Japanese delegations arrived.

The New York Times

But the effort exhausted them, and they halted operations in 2000.

The New York Times

They halted construction after building 5 of 20 floors, returning deposits to the eight buyers who had signed contracts.

The New York Times

On seeing the Doctor they halted and edged back, those behind squinting and mouthing over their companions' shoulders.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they halted" to denote a deliberate pause or cessation of movement or activity by a group. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts depending on the surrounding language.

Common error

Avoid using "they halted" when a more nuanced verb is appropriate. For example, "they paused" might be better when the stoppage is temporary, or "they hesitated" if uncertainty is involved.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they halted" functions as a verb phrase, where "they" is the subject pronoun and "halted" is the past tense form of the verb "to halt". It describes a completed action of stopping. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Wiki

17%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they halted" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that describes the action of a group or entity stopping. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, from news reports to encyclopedic entries. While "they halted" is widely applicable, remember to consider alternatives like "they stopped" or "they paused" for more nuanced meanings. When writing, remember that this phrase is typically used to describe an action by a group of people and that there might be more appropriate verbs for certain situations. The phrase is versatile but should be used with consideration for tone and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they stopped

This alternative offers a direct synonym, emphasizing the action of ceasing movement or activity.

they came to a standstill

This alternative emphasizes a complete cessation of movement, suggesting a more permanent or impactful stop.

they ceased

This alternative provides a formal synonym, indicating the termination of an action or process.

they paused

This alternative suggests a temporary stop, implying a resumption of movement or activity later on.

they desisted

This alternative implies a voluntary cessation, often from something potentially negative or undesirable.

they terminated

This alternative suggests a definitive end, indicating the completion or cancellation of something.

they broke off

This alternative implies an abrupt or sudden stop, suggesting an unexpected interruption.

they suspended

This alternative indicates a temporary cessation, suggesting a potential resumption at a later time.

they brought to a halt

This alternative emphasizes the action of causing something else to stop, rather than stopping themselves.

they put a stop to it

This alternative expresses a decisive action to end or prevent something, often with an implied authority.

FAQs

How can I use "they halted" in a sentence?

You can use "they halted" to indicate that a group or entity stopped moving or performing an action. For example, "They halted their progress due to the heavy rain."

What can I say instead of "they halted"?

You can use alternatives like "they stopped", "they paused", or "they came to a halt" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they halted" or "they were halted"?

"They halted" is in active voice, indicating they performed the action of stopping. "They were halted" is passive voice, suggesting an external force caused them to stop. Choose the appropriate voice based on the sentence's meaning.

What's the difference between "they halted" and "they hesitated"?

"They halted" indicates a complete stop, while "they hesitated" suggests a pause due to uncertainty or reluctance. Hesitation implies a brief delay before a decision or action.