was stopped to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was stopped to" is not correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would involve a different verb or structure to convey the intended meaning. Example: "The car was stopped to allow pedestrians to cross safely." (This should be rephrased for clarity.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

But 7 seconds later, it was stopped to see if an error had been made.

The New York Times - Sports

The spokesman said: "The collision caused a few delays as the train was stopped to be checked.

The Guardian

Most of the train's 554 passengers were taken to a gym hall shortly after the train was stopped to be identified, according to Le Monde.

Independent

Their vehicle reached the six-mile mark, but after it was stopped to allow an emergency vehicle to pass, its global positioning system became confused.

The New York Times

Kenseth appeared headed to an easy victory with six laps to go until Elliott Sadler crashed in Turn 2. The race was stopped to clean up the debris and ensure a finish under a green flag.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Kerpen was stopped to pose for photos and dealt with a barrage of cellphones thrust into his hand so he could say hello to friends and relatives of his fans.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

20 human-written examples

And staff are stopping to listen.

The Guardian

"Nobody is stopping to pick anybody up.

The New York Times

Some are stopping to loot abandoned shops.

The Guardian

GH was stopped due to financial limitations.

Bone Marrow Transplantation

Kagame's message to Nkunda was: Stop.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, substitute the phrase "was stopped to" with more precise alternatives such as "was halted in order to" or "paused to" to enhance readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "was stopped to" as it often results in awkward phrasing. Instead, opt for clearer constructions that directly convey the intended meaning, such as "was stopped in order to" or restructuring the sentence for better flow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was stopped to" functions as a connector indicating purpose, though it is grammatically questionable. It aims to explain why an action was interrupted. Ludwig indicates that this construction is not correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "was stopped to" appears in various contexts, particularly in scientific and news-related content, it is grammatically flawed and should be used with caution. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is not correct. More precise alternatives, such as "was halted in order to" or "paused to", offer enhanced clarity and grammatical accuracy. When aiming for professional or formal communication, opting for these alternatives is advisable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was halted in order to

Replaces "stopped to" with a more formal synonym and clarifies the purpose with "in order to".

was interrupted so that

Indicates a temporary cessation with a specific intention.

paused to

Uses a more concise verb to express a brief interruption for a purpose.

was ceased for the purpose of

Emphasizes the termination of activity with a clear statement of intent.

was brought to a standstill to

Highlights a complete halt and the reason for it.

was ceased to

Replaces "stopped" with "ceased", indicating a more formal tone.

was suspended so as to

Indicates a temporary halt with the intention of something else.

was terminated in order to

Emphasizes a formal ending with a clear purpose.

was discontinued to

Highlights that a process was ended for a reason.

came to a stop to

Uses a more descriptive phrase to indicate the action of halting.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the idea of "was stopped to" in a sentence?

While "was stopped to" is grammatically awkward, you can convey the same idea using phrases like "was halted in order to" or "paused to" depending on the intended nuance.

What's a more formal way to say "was stopped to"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "was ceased for the purpose of" or "was terminated in order to" which clearly indicate the reason for stopping.

Which is correct, "was stopped to" or "stopped in order to"?

"Stopped in order to" is grammatically more sound and clearer. The phrase "stopped in order to" explicitly indicates the intention behind the action.

What can I say instead of "was stopped to" when describing a brief pause?

If you're describing a brief pause, using "paused to" offers a concise and grammatically correct alternative to "was stopped to".