Excuse the delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Excuse the delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when apologizing for a late response or action, often in professional or formal communication. Example: "Thank you for your patience. Please excuse the delay in my response; I was attending to other urgent matters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

However, you must apply to bring them to the United States within two years of being granted asylum, barring humanitarian reasons to excuse the delay.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

As the case is reviewed, particular attention should be devoted to understanding what else was going on in the ICU that might have led to delays - but doing so not in order to excuse the delays but in order to develop resilient systems that will allow appropriately rapid resuscitation even in the face of such other factors.

Critical Care

Sharp, amusing and self-deprecating at 89, he excused the delay by quoting a Reader's Digest article about the two most commonly used words: "I'm sorry". In a palace anteroom decorated with a chandelier using energy-saving bulbs, Varma declined to speak about the dispute, given that it's still before the court.

Los Angeles Times

These facts, we think, are sufficient to excuse all the delay that has been shown to exist in this case.

Cornell University

A great many of the printed clauses on a bill of lading purport to excuse the carrier from liability for delayed delivery or from liability for damage to or loss of the goods.

Encyclopedia Britannica

There was no excuse for the Riots in Tottenham and there is no excuse for the delay of criminal prosecutions in the LIBOR scandal.

The Guardian - Business

What is Steinbrenner's excuse for the delay now?

The New York Times - Sports

There has been no such diligence here, and neither the pleadings nor the proof intimates any excuse for the delay.

Cornell University

(e) If the need for leave is foreseeable, and the employee fails to give 30 calendar days' notice with no reasonable excuse for the delay of notification, the agency may delay the taking of leave under § 630.1203(a) of this part until at least 30 calendar days after the date the employee provides notice of his or her need for family and medical leave.

Cornell University

But Kevin Jewell, an economic analyst for Texas Low Income Housing Information Service who has chronicled the progress of the state program on that nonprofit's blog, said state officials used the lack of Davis-Bacon wage information as an excuse, and the delay occurred because the housing department had to build the program from scratch.

The New York Times

"To be very blunt, there's just no excuse for the delay in applying standards that clearly should bar this kind of witch's brew," said Senator-elect Richard Blumenthal, Democrat of Connecticut, who as the state's attorney general has led a campaign against the drinks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Excuse the delay" in professional communication, briefly explain the reason for the delay to provide context and show accountability.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "Excuse the delay" without offering a reason. This can come across as insincere and unprofessional. Provide a brief explanation for transparency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Excuse the delay" functions as an apology or a polite request for understanding when there has been a lapse in time. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a standard expression used to acknowledge tardiness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "Excuse the delay" is a grammatically sound phrase used to apologize for lateness or inaction. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability, its frequency is relatively rare. It's suitable for various contexts, especially news, science and academia, as indicated by the sources in Ludwig. For more formal settings, alternatives like "I apologize for the delay" might be preferred. Providing a brief explanation for the delay enhances sincerity and professionalism.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Please accept my apologies for the delay

Formal alternative emphasizing the speaker's regret.

Sorry for the delay

A more informal and concise apology.

My apologies for the lateness

Formal and emphasizes the tardiness itself.

I apologize for the delay

Direct and formal statement of apology.

Forgive the delay

A request for forgiveness due to the delay.

Please forgive the lateness

Similar to 'forgive the delay' but focusing on 'lateness'.

I regret the delay

Expresses regret regarding the delay.

Pardon the delay

Polite and somewhat formal apology.

We are sorry for the delay

Using 'we' indicates a group apology.

Kindly excuse the delay

Adds a touch of politeness to the request.

FAQs

What is the best way to use "Excuse the delay" in a sentence?

Use "Excuse the delay" at the beginning of your message to politely apologize for a late response or action. For example, "Excuse the delay, I was in a meeting."

What can I say instead of "Excuse the delay"?

You can use alternatives like "I apologize for the delay", "sorry for the delay", or "please accept my apologies for the delay depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "Excuse the delay" in formal communication?

Yes, "Excuse the delay" is appropriate for formal communication, but it's often better to use a more formal alternative like "I apologize for the delay".

What's the difference between "Excuse the delay" and "I apologize for the delay"?

"Excuse the delay" is a polite request for understanding, while "I apologize for the delay" is a direct expression of regret. The latter is generally more formal.