I will delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'I will delay' is a perfectly valid and correct part of a sentence in written English.
You could use it to mean that you will take a longer amount of time before taking an action, or doing something. For example: I was planning to leave for my vacation tomorrow, but I will delay my departure for a few days.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

So I will delay, for the second year running, the annual rise in fuel duty for nearly six months.

The Guardian - Business

The more I will delay to get indefinite leave to remain, the more I will be depressed.

BMC Public Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I know I'll delay, but I'll probably have that.

BBC

Add to that pressure, a fair number of ministers were willing to resign if Theresa May didn't say, "OK, if the choice is leaving without a deal, or delaying, I'll delay".

BBC

It's everywhere: it will delay us planting up.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Critics worry that it will delay addicts' rehabilitation.

The Guardian

"I bet people will delay getting married until after they get their license," he said.

Los Angeles Times

But I think the Bank of England will delay putting up interest rates for as long as possible, and in the end we think they will be forced to raise them because the economy is growing too strongly".

The Guardian - Business

And I'm afraid they will delay that necessary tightening too long.

Forbes

"I'm pretty sure that will delay the warming," says Seager.

Science Magazine

I wonder if the weather will delay our flight.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I will delay" when you want to express a conscious decision to postpone something, whether it's a task, a meeting, or a decision. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed.

Common error

While grammatically sound, "I will delay" can sound somewhat stiff in informal conversation. Consider using more casual alternatives like "I'll put it off" or "I'll get to it later" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I will delay" functions as a statement of intent. It expresses a decision to postpone an action or event. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts, from delaying a fuel duty rise to delaying a project launch.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I will delay" is a grammatically correct and understandable expression used to state an intention to postpone something. According to Ludwig, it's often found in News & Media, Science and Academia contexts. While versatile, it's best to consider your audience and choose more casual alternatives when informality is desired. Knowing alternatives like "I intend to defer" or "I am going to postpone" can enhance your writing and speaking skills.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I'm going to postpone

Implies a decision to put something off to a later time; slightly more informal.

I intend to defer

Suggests a more formal and deliberate decision to delay.

I'll defer action on

Indicates delaying a specific action or decision.

I'm opting to defer

Emphasizes the choice to delay.

I plan to put off

Similar to postpone, indicating a planned delay.

I'm going to hold off on

Implies waiting before starting something.

I'm going to suspend

Suggests temporarily stopping something.

I'll take a rain check on

An idiomatic expression for postponing, typically for a social event or offer.

I shall hold back from

A more formal way of saying 'I will refrain from'.

I'm inclined to wait

Indicates a preference to delay, often to see how things develop.

FAQs

How can I use "I will delay" in a sentence?

You can use "I will delay" to express your intention to postpone an action. For example, "I will delay the project launch until next quarter."

What can I say instead of "I will delay"?

You can use alternatives like "I intend to defer", "I plan to put off", or "I am going to postpone" depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "I will delay" or "I am going to delay"?

"I will delay" and "I am going to delay" are both grammatically correct, but "I am going to delay" might sound slightly more conversational. The choice depends on the desired level of formality.

What's the difference between "I will delay" and "I might delay"?

"I will delay" expresses a firm intention to postpone, while "I might delay" indicates a possibility or uncertainty about postponing.