There was a brief silence, punctuated only by the echoes of their footfalls.

There was silence, punctuated by a burst of language from the other end of the line.

There was silence punctuated only by one of the six ministers at the table clearing his throat.

There followed a brief silence, punctuated by the clicking of a keyboard.

There was a remarkable long silence, punctuated by a deep intake of breath.

There was an uncomfortable silence, punctuated by the rushing of the wind.

For a moment there was silence, punctuated, from somewhere deeper inside the building, by one long, isolated scream of pain.

There was a long silence, punctuated by earnest whispers and a low growl.

He dialled Kemp and got silence, punctuated by the sounds of sleep.

But everyone ate in a tense silence, punctuated only by the sound of tearing flesh.