took a break

USAGE SUMMARY

"took a break" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone had an interruption or pause in activity, typically for rest or recreation. For example: "After a long day of studying, I took a break to watch some TV."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I took a break.

The New York Times

George took a break.

The New Yorker

So I took a break.

The New York Times - Arts

He recently took a break from "stop.

The New York Times - Arts

To summarize, Obama took a break.

The New Yorker

The casting directors took a break.

The New Yorker

The men took a break for tea.

The New York Times - Magazine

We took a break and reconvened.

The Guardian

Fosse took a break from film for his next projects.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On Thursday, the Rangers took a break from the rink.

The New York Times - Sports

Cejudo took a break from his book tour to talk.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took a break" to indicate a deliberate pause for rest or a change of activity, ensuring it clearly separates distinct phases of action or effort.

Common error

Avoid using "took a break" excessively in close succession; vary your language with synonyms like "paused briefly" or "interrupted activity" to maintain reader engagement and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took a break" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating a temporary cessation of an activity. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts, confirming its role in describing a pause or interruption. Ludwig AI confirms that this usage is grammatically sound and common.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "took a break" is a very common and grammatically correct verb phrase used to indicate a temporary pause or interruption in an activity. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, encyclopedias, and general writing. While versatile, it's advisable to occasionally use synonyms like "paused briefly" or "interrupted activity" to avoid overuse. Ludwig AI validates the phrase's correctness and widespread applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had a pause

Simple and direct way of expressing the interruption.

stopped for a moment

Focuses on the brevity of the pause.

took time out

Highlights taking some time away from a task.

paused briefly

Emphasizes a short interruption in an activity.

took a breather

Implies a pause for rest or recovery.

rested briefly

Underlines the aspect of taking rest during the pause.

interrupted activity

Highlights the act of stopping an ongoing process.

ceased temporarily

Suggests a formal and temporary halt to something.

suspended operations

Indicates a formal interruption, often in a business context.

discontinued momentarily

Suggests a brief cessation of a process or action.

FAQs

How can I use "took a break" in a sentence?

You can use "took a break" to indicate a pause in an activity. For example, "After working for several hours, I took a break to grab a coffee."

What can I say instead of "took a break"?

You can use alternatives like "paused briefly", "interrupted activity", or "took time out" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "take a break" instead of "took a break"?

"Take a break" is the present tense or imperative form, while "took a break" is the past tense. Use "took a break" when referring to a past action, and "take a break" when giving a command or describing a general action.

What's the difference between "took a break" and "rested briefly"?

"Took a break" generally indicates a pause from any activity, while "rested briefly" specifically implies a pause for the purpose of resting or recovering. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the rest aspect of the pause.