some time/ a while

[goodstudent]

For example, if someone asks me "Are you still doing ..."

My reply:

1) I have stopped for some time.

2) I have stopped a while.

Are 1 and 2 both correct?
Do 1 and 2 mean the same thing?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Number 2 should be "stopped for a while". It is difficult to quantify these expressions, but "for some time" is usually longer than "for a while".

 

[SoothingDave]

If you have stopped for a while, the implication is that it is a temporary pause before you continue.