Moments & Seconds

Agree completely. On the other hand, "I watched him for a moment, then looked back at the menu in front of me" works: One moment = a few seconds (2 or 3?).

I prefer more vague but understandable (if that makes sense) markers, such as "a while," or "for some time."

Two thoughts ~

In my mind, "moment" is more analogous to "minute" than "second." But more important, it carries with it a sense of being indefinite, which you lose by substituting either of the alternative choices.

From my reading of your comment ~ since my own writing background consists of journalistic, technical and creative writing ~ it also seems that you may be attempting to apply the standards and practices of one of those styles (journalistic or technical) to another (creative).

Jan makes an interesting point: a moment is an indefinite period of time, the length of which is not defined by the word itself. It may be synonymous with a point in time, of no duration, or it may clearly mean some span of time, as in "a moment of bliss" (one hopes, at least, that it does). A moment may be lengthened or shortened adjectivally. Or it may be undefined, as "the moment of truth." Just how long does that last?

To string several moments together risks confusion, as RedFern points out, though sometimes "several moments" may be just the vague interval desired – in prose. That is a matter of style. I don't agree with Jan that a "moment" is more analogous to a minute than a second – it is more situational than that – but I do agree with her second point, which is (essentially) that creative prose differs from descriptive writing, and with it certain usages. It's a distinction not covered by mere rules of grammar. But one of great moment.