took a pause

USAGE SUMMARY

"took a pause" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you need to indicate a brief break in conversation or a momentary pause in a speech. For example, "The speaker stopped talking, took a pause and then resumed their argument."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

I took a pause from "2666" yesterday.

The New Yorker

Outside it, long-haired militants took a pause from battle to rest, pray and feast.

The Economist

By Ligaya Mishan January 5, 2009 I took a pause from "2666" yesterday.

The New Yorker

The equity-rich major players, many of them members of dynasties, took a pause: they could afford to.

The New York Times

In this case, we had an escalation, and this is one of the reasons why we took a pause.

The Guardian

Stocks fell Monday as investors took a pause from September's rally and held back ahead of a busy week of economic and earnings reports.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

But take a pause.

The Washington Post

She takes a pause.

The Guardian

There I'm going to take a pause.

Stanford University

And could we just take a pause here?

Harvard Business Review

Meanwhile, People is taking a pause in its rapid growth.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "took a pause" with clarifying phrases to specify the reason for the pause, such as "took a pause to reflect" or "took a pause for breath".

Common error

Avoid using "took a pause" interchangeably with "took a break" in contexts where a simple rest is implied. "Took a pause" often suggests a more deliberate and thoughtful interruption.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took a pause" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a temporary cessation or interruption of an action or speech. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took a pause" is a commonly used and grammatically correct expression used to describe a deliberate, temporary stop in an activity, speech, or process. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "paused briefly" or "halted momentarily" exist, "took a pause" often conveys a sense of intentionality and reflection. It's important to differentiate its usage from "took a break", which implies a more general rest period.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

paused briefly

Focuses on the brevity of the pause.

halted momentarily

Highlights the temporary nature of the stop.

interrupted briefly

Emphasizes the break in continuity.

stopped temporarily

Underscores the non-permanent cessation.

suspended activity

Formal way to indicate the cessation of something.

took a break

Common and casual alternative

took a breather

More informal expression suggesting a pause for rest.

ceased temporarily

Highlights the short duration of the action.

took a moment

Focuses on the short period of time.

took a respite

Suggests a pause for relief or rest from something difficult.

FAQs

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

You can use "took a pause" to describe a deliberate interruption in an activity, such as "The speaker "took a pause" to gather their thoughts before continuing".

What's a more formal alternative to "took a pause"?

A more formal alternative to ""took a pause"" is "halted momentarily" or "suspended activity", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "took a pause" or "paused"?

Both ""took a pause"" and "paused" are correct. The choice depends on the desired emphasis. "Took a pause" can emphasize the deliberateness of the action.

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

You can use alternatives like "paused briefly", "interrupted briefly", or "took a moment" depending on the context.