was paused

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was paused" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or process was temporarily stopped in the past. Example: "The video was paused during the most exciting part of the movie."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

By the second scream, the video was paused.

The New York Times

Sleep deprivation was paused for two days, and then resumed for another 21 hours.

The Guardian

The plan to restructure Facebook's stock system was paused by the court until the lawsuit's resolution.

The Guardian - Tech

But Hamas's military loss is not Abbas's political gain, not since the Kerry-led peace process was "paused".

The New Yorker

A 50-inch television, mounted a few feet away, was paused in the middle of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show".

The New York Times

One of the older couples was paused in front of the section that showcased the first of Gaultier's men's skirts.

The New Yorker

But play was paused so another "pod" with six more commercials could run, for everything from insurance to chewing gum.

The Guardian - Sport

In Coventry the programme was paused for a few days but will resume as normal on Monday.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

A man getting off the train looked at the hole where the stadium once was, paused and said, "Damn!" But the day's matinee had not begun.

The New York Times - Sports

That meant losing not just the thing that made phone calls but all of it — the music library, the game of Bejeweled that was paused, the camera.

The New Yorker

The United States was pulled into the Middle East and Afghanistan, and the purported face-off with China was paused like a movie mid-scene.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was paused", ensure that the context clearly indicates the reason for the pause and whether it is expected to resume. For example, "The experiment was paused due to a power outage, but it will resume once the power is restored."

Common error

Avoid using "was paused" when the intention is to convey a permanent stop. "Paused" implies a temporary break, whereas "terminated" or "discontinued" would be more appropriate for a permanent cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was paused" functions as a passive verb construction, indicating that an action or process underwent a temporary cessation. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts, confirming its validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

64%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was paused" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that indicates a temporary interruption of an action or process. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's versatile enough for both scientific and journalistic contexts. Its effectiveness relies on clear indication of the cause and potential resumption. While suitable replacements exist, such as "was temporarily halted" or "was briefly interrupted", it’s crucial to avoid using it when a permanent cessation is intended. Remember that its neutral register allows for broad application, particularly in describing events put on hold.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was temporarily halted

Replaces "paused" with a synonym indicating a brief cessation.

was briefly interrupted

Uses "interrupted" to convey a short disruption.

was temporarily suspended

Substitutes "paused" with "suspended", emphasizing a temporary cessation.

was put on hold

Employs a more informal expression for a temporary stop.

was brought to a standstill

Indicates a complete but potentially temporary stop.

was ceased momentarily

Replaces "paused" with "ceased", suggesting a brief termination.

was held in abeyance

Uses a more formal term, "abeyance", for temporary inactivity.

was put in stasis

Implies a state of inactivity or equilibrium.

was deactivated briefly

Replaces "paused" with "deactivated", suggesting a short period of inoperation.

was idled temporarily

Uses "idled" to suggest a temporary period of not being active or used.

FAQs

How can I use "was paused" in a sentence?

"Was paused" indicates a temporary stop. For instance, "The game "was paused" due to rain" shows a temporary halt.

What's a formal alternative to "was paused"?

More formal alternatives include "was temporarily suspended" or "was held in abeyance". These phrases are suitable for professional or academic writing.

What can I say instead of "was paused" when something stopped permanently?

If something stopped permanently, use phrases like "was terminated", "was discontinued", or "was abandoned", rather than "was paused".

Is "was paused" grammatically correct?

Yes, "was paused" is grammatically correct. It's the past tense passive voice of the verb "pause". It properly describes an action that was temporarily halted.