I delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a situation where you postponed or took longer to do something than originally planned. Example: "I delayed my response to the email because I needed more time to gather the necessary information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Consistent with the changes observed in induction of ER stress markers, muscle regeneration in RNF5 KO mice was attenuated, compared to control animals, as evident from (i) delayed production of myosin heavy chain (Fig. 7B) and (ii) a high number of centrally nucleated fibers observed 28 days after cardiotoxin treatment in the KO but not WT animals (Fig. 7C).

Plosone

These comprised (i) delayed specialist referral; (ii) limitations to routine follow up and (iii) accessing care in times of need (Table 2).

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

The inhibition tasks performed were: (i) delayed answer, requiring giving the response to a previous question; and (ii) a so-called Stroop task, such as reading aloud the word green printed in red ink.

Brain

Parent child communication about sexuality has been shown to encourage (i) delayed onset of first sexual activity [ 43, 44], (ii) increased sexual abstinence [ 43, 44] (iii) increased partner communication [ 45] and (iv) practice of safer sex, if sexually active, through condom use [ 44- 46].

BMC Public Health

We use two dependent variables (i) delayed patients: the number of patients who are ready to be discharged from hospital into social care but have not been discharged at midnight on the last Thursday of each month, averaged over the year; and (ii) days delayed during the month experienced by all patients with delayed discharges, not just those waiting at census date, averaged over the year.

Health Economics

"I delayed them," he said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

Mathematically, the average QoS parameters of the delay-sensitive flows are as follows: H i ′ ¯ = 1 I delay - sensitive ∑ i = 1 I delay - sensitive H i, delay - sensitive ′ (13) V i ′ ¯ = 1 I delay - sensitive ∑ i = 1 I delay - sensitive V i, delay - sensitive ′ (14).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Is delayed gratification a choice or an inevitability?

The Guardian - Film

Is delayed PCT the wolf's snout peeking out from grandmother's nightgown?

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Is delayed and/or reduced tumor growth the basis of life span extension by eRapa in this model?

Aging

I delay it as much as possible.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I delayed" when you want to clearly state that you intentionally postponed something. For instance, "I delayed the meeting until next week due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "I delayed" when you actually mean something was delayed by an external factor. Instead of saying "I delayed the project", if the project was delayed due to weather, say "The project was delayed due to weather."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I delayed" functions as a declarative statement where the subject "I" performs the action of delaying. Ludwig confirms this is a correct and usable phrase. The examples show a variety of contexts where the speaker is taking responsibility for the act of delaying.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating that the speaker postponed something. As Ludwig confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase across various contexts, primarily in News & Media and Scientific domains. While generally neutral in tone, the choice of alternative phrases like "I postponed" or "I deferred" can adjust the level of formality. When using "I delayed", it's important to ensure the sentence structure clearly indicates what was delayed and, if necessary, the reason for the delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I put off

Implies postponing something, often due to reluctance or unpleasantness.

I postponed

Indicates a formal rescheduling of an event or action to a later time.

I deferred

Suggests a temporary postponement, often with official approval or a set timeframe.

I held off on

Implies waiting before taking action, usually due to a specific reason or until a certain condition is met.

I waited to

Focuses on the act of waiting before doing something, without necessarily implying a prior plan to act sooner.

I took my time

Emphasizes a deliberate slowness in acting, often for enjoyment or thoroughness.

I procrastinated

Highlights the act of delaying tasks, often due to laziness or a lack of motivation.

I tarried

Suggests a leisurely or unnecessary delay, often implying a pleasant diversion.

I impeded

Focuses on the act of delaying or preventing the progress of someone or something.

I stalled

Implies intentionally delaying something, often to gain time or avoid a difficult situation.

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence "I delayed" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, consider using alternatives like "I postponed", "I deferred", or "I held off on" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

What is the difference between "I delayed" and "I procrastinated"?

"I delayed" simply means you postponed something, while "I procrastinated" implies you delayed something, often due to laziness or lack of motivation.

Is it correct to say "I delayed to do something"?

While understandable, it's more natural to say "I delayed doing something". For example, "I delayed sending the email" is grammatically preferable to "I delayed to send the email".

What are some common reasons why someone might say "I delayed"?

People might say "I delayed" due to a lack of time, unexpected circumstances, a need for more information, or a desire to avoid a difficult task. The specific reason will depend on the context.