Guide 143 / 200 5 swaps Formal register
Professional words for “break”
Five verbs for different kinds of breaking.
i · When it mattersTwo lines, no filler
"Break" is too versatile. Name which kind: "interrupt" a flow; "pause" a running process; "suspend" an account or activity; "breach" a contract or rule; "sever" a relationship or connection.
ii · The swaps5 ways
- 01Interrupt neutral
briefly cut a flow
Interrupt the job on failure and alert.
- 02Pause neutral
temporary stop, likely to resume
Pause the campaign during the freeze.
- 03Suspend neutral
formally halt, reversible
Suspend the account pending review.
- 04Breach formal
violate a rule or agreement
Breach of the non-compete would trigger clause 9.
- 05Sever formal
cut off finally
Sever the contract with 60 days’ notice.