diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 834ceef..8235498 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Added
 
-- Choose the pause DeadAir leaves where it cuts a silence, from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds, for each show in its settings, on a slider from brisk to relaxed shown while DeadAir is on. It is 0.3 seconds unless you change it, up from 0.2, which made speech sound rushed (#182, #183).
+- Choose the pause DeadAir leaves where it cuts a silence, from 0.2 to 0.5 seconds, for each show in its settings, as its breathing room, on a slider from brisk to relaxed. It is 0.3 seconds unless you change it, up from 0.2, which made speech sound rushed (#182, #183).
 
 ### Changed
 
diff --git a/web/app.css b/web/app.css
index b40e81f..dab7bfe 100644
--- a/web/app.css
+++ b/web/app.css
@@ -1131,6 +1131,8 @@ input[type=range]::-moz-range-thumb{width:12px;height:12px;border:0;border-radiu
 .dpslide input[type=range]::-moz-range-thumb{width:var(--t);height:var(--t);box-shadow:0 0 0 3px var(--panel),0 1px 4px rgba(0,0,0,.3)}
 .dpslide input[type=range]:focus-visible{outline:2px solid var(--accent);outline-offset:4px;border-radius:var(--t)}
 .dpends{display:flex;justify-content:space-between;font-size:12.5px;color:var(--dim)}
+.dpause:has(input:disabled){opacity:.45}
+.dpslide input[type=range]:disabled{cursor:default}
 .fdl+.ffield{margin-top:18px}
 .flabel{font-size:14px;font-weight:500}
 .cap{margin:0;font-size:12.5px;line-height:1.45;color:var(--dim)}
diff --git a/web/src/dialogs.ts b/web/src/dialogs.ts
index ea62f02..6d14f29 100644
--- a/web/src/dialogs.ts
+++ b/web/src/dialogs.ts
@@ -531,11 +531,11 @@ function settingsModal(f, newUrl?: string){
       <p class="cap">Cuts the dead air: long silences in ${isGroup?'these shows':'this show'} shrink to a beat, so
       episodes finish sooner and every voice keeps its own pace. Leave it off for stories whose pauses
       are part of the telling.</p>
-      <div class="dpause" id="sdpausebox"${f.deadair?'':' hidden'}>
-        <div class="dphead"><label class="flabel" for="sdpause">Pause it leaves</label><output id="sdpauseout" for="sdpause"></output></div>
-        <div class="dpslide"><input type="range" id="sdpause" min="200" max="500" step="100" value="${f.deadair_pause||300}"></div>
+      <div class="dpause">
+        <div class="dphead"><label class="flabel" for="sdpause">Breathing room</label><output id="sdpauseout" for="sdpause"></output></div>
+        <div class="dpslide"><input type="range" id="sdpause" min="200" max="500" step="100" value="${f.deadair_pause||300}"${f.deadair?'':' disabled'}></div>
         <div class="dpends" aria-hidden="true"><span>Brisk</span><span>Relaxed</span></div>
-        <p class="cap">A longer pause sounds more relaxed and saves less time.</p></div></div>
+        <p class="cap">The silence kept where a long one is cut. More is easier on the ear; less saves more time.</p></div></div>
     ${isGroup?'':`<div class="ffield"><label class="flabel" for="sblockin">Hide items that mention</label>
       <div class="chips" id="sblock">${chipsHTML(f.blocked||[],'sblockin')}</div>
       <p class="cap">Whole words or phrases. Hidden from your list and not downloaded for you, along
@@ -580,8 +580,8 @@ function settingsModal(f, newUrl?: string){
     if(n) n.oninput=()=>{ newest=Math.max(1,Math.floor(Number(n.value))||1); draw(false); };
   };
   for(const r of $$('[name=swin]')) r.onchange=()=>{ mode=r.value; draw(true); };
-  // The pause only matters with DeadAir on, so it is shown only then.
-  $('#sdead').onchange=e=>{ $('#sdpausebox').hidden=!e.target.checked; };
+  // Breathing room only matters with DeadAir on: greyed out, not hidden, so it can be seen beforehand.
+  $('#sdead').onchange=e=>{ $('#sdpause').disabled=!e.target.checked; };
   const pause=$('#sdpause'), pauseText=()=>{ const s=`${pause.value/1000} s`; $('#sdpauseout').textContent=s; pause.setAttribute('aria-valuetext',s); };
   pause.oninput=pauseText; pauseText();
   draw(true);