Agreed in concept, that there should not be a negative stigma with the use of a safeword. Agreed in concept that there are different situations, not all of which require a stoppage. How you accomplish all that can make the difference between a successful scene and an unsuccessful scene. Any use of a safeword is going to result in a conversation. Therefore, why presume that there needs to be different ones for different situations? In that I'm totally in disagreement with Wyl. It gives away control for one thing. I think that spoils scenes for many submissives... and certainly the dominants. Those who make using a safeword "The End" as noted above, probably say that for that reason.

To those ends, I use only a single word. "Mercy"

Mercy has context. Mercy begets her a whisper in her ear. "Why?" "Why do you need mercy?" If it's a major-rager, some kind of unexpected or unintended damage of course play stops. Some emotional barrier has been crossed, yes, the same. But if not, her comments guide my reactions. Too hard or too much or maybe just a pause is needed, or a change in position, well, those are my choices to make, how to proceed, whether or not to proceed or backtrack or change it up. And the uttering of the word keeps us both in the context of the scene. Control has not passed to the submissive. It remains in my hands.

In fact, to a great degree, no matter what happens next, it melds itself into and becomes part of the ongoing scene. The heat can continue.

And if the scene does indeed need to stop, it's not a "redlight", it's the dom showing mercy.