time delay between 2 lines of code in javascript, not settimeout
<p>is there a function that would add a time delay between 2 lines of code.  Not the settimeout, because settimeout requires a function/object in its arguments.</p>

<p>I am looking for something like this pseudo code</p>

<pre><code>write "abc";
delay(500);
write "xyz";
</code></pre>

<p>TIA</p>

<p>Edit:
jimr's solution in my other  <a href="http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3048005/document-onclick-settimeout-function-javascript-help">thread</a> worked for my purpose, and so is Robusto's.  </p>

<p>I am just wondering why the "sleep" methods given by Robusto and CMS's link are not preferred. How would that be different than the settimeout method since they both  introduce a pause in the code? (settimeout pauses before the function is executed, the sleep method pauses before the next line is executed.)</p>
