we have halted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we have halted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action or process has been stopped or paused. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have halted all operations until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

We have vacated our office, and we have halted our operational activities".

The New York Times

"For the first time in nearly a decade, we have halted the progress of the Iranian nuclear programme, and key parts of the programme will be rolled back".

The Guardian

"We have halted the sectarian onslaught that wanted to tear the country apart," Mr. Maliki told the crowd, taking credit for the security improvements over the past two years.

The New York Times

If we have halted at certain places last year, this year when the herd moves the animals will stop as soon as they have reached those camp sites".

Pastoralism

Surely, we have halted ISIS' advance in certain regions, but we have not decisively defeated the enemy either in actuality or in appearance.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

And we've halted personnel reductions in the navy and air force.

The Guardian

"Right now we've halted the progress of the obesity epidemic," said Dr. William H. Dietz, director of the division of nutrition, physical activity and obesity at the disease control centers.

The New York Times - Health

Our diplomacy is at work with respect to Iran, where, for the first time in a decade, we've halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material.

Los Angeles Times

Despite President Obama's State of the Union assertion that "for the first time in a decade, we've halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material," reality has proven to be quite different.

Huffington Post

This oft-repeated mantra was employed again in President Obama's 2015 State of the Union address: "[F]or the first time in a decade, we've halted the progress of its nuclear program and reduced its stockpile of nuclear material," he declared.

Huffington Post

We would have taken to the road; at midday we would have halted in the shade of big trees; in the late afternoon the sinking sun would have turned the dust clouds to gold; and every evening at some village there would have been welcome, water, food, a fire in the night.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ this phrase in formal reports or press releases to describe the stopping of an operation for security, ethical or strategic reasons.

Common error

Avoid using "we have halted" if the intention is a momentary delay or a routine break. For instance, if a meeting is just taking a lunch break, "we have paused" is more appropriate; "we have halted" implies a more serious or official interruption to the entire workflow.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we have halted" acts as a present perfect verb phrase consisting of the subject "we", the auxiliary verb "have" and the past participle "halted". According to Ludwig AI, this construction emphasizes the present result of a past action—specifically, that something is currently in a state of being stopped.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Reference

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we have halted" is a correct and effective present perfect construction used to describe a deliberate stop. Ludwig AI identifies it as a high-authority phrase, often appearing in headlines and official statements from organizations like the White House or major scientific bodies. It conveys more weight than "we have stopped" and suggests that the cessation is significant and officially sanctioned. While it appears less frequently than more colloquial alternatives, its presence in sources like The New York Times and The Guardian confirms its reliability for formal writing where a decisive tone is required.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we have stopped

Uses a more common, less formal verb that lacks the authoritative tone of the original.

we have ceased

Significantly more formal and often used in legal or official proclamations of finality.

we have suspended

Implies a temporary cessation with the intent to resume later.

we have discontinued

Specifically refers to ending a service, product line or recurring practice.

we have paused

Suggests a brief or strategic break rather than a significant or potentially permanent halt.

we have called a halt to

An idiomatic expression that emphasizes the decision-making process behind the stop.

we have put an end to

Focuses more on the definitive result and the prevention of further action.

we have frozen

Metaphorical, often used for budgets, recruitment or specific progress within a process.

we have terminated

Suggests an abrupt and usually final end to a contract or program.

we have interrupted

Implies the stop was caused by an external factor or was unintended.

FAQs

How to use "we have halted" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe an official stop, such as: "Because of the funding shortfall, "we have halted the construction" of the new wing."

What can I say instead of "we have halted"?

Depending on the tone, you can use "we have stopped", "we have suspended" or "we have ceased".

Is "we have halted" or "we have stopped" more formal?

"we have halted" is generally more formal and authoritative than "we have stopped", making it ideal for business and news contexts.

What is the difference between "we have halted" and "we have suspended"?

While both mean stopping, "we have suspended" strongly implies that the action will resume at a later date, whereas "we have halted" focuses on the current state of immobility without necessarily promising a restart.