Please delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Please delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when requesting someone to postpone or hold off on an action or event. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, I must ask you to please delay the meeting until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"If you're planning to travel to the festival, please delay your journey until later in the day or avoid coming to the site today altogether," a statement said.

The Guardian - Music

They were always of the form now press the button for the um <target>, please (delay [late um] condition) and now press the um button for the <target>, please (control [early um] condition).

Plosone

Other than the general suggestion to " cover your mouth when coughing" or to voluntarily quarantine yourself (i.e. " if you have flu symptoms, please delay your visit"), we found no evidence-based information on procedures or techniques regarding cough aerosol control at the source, the respiratory system of an infected individual.

BMC Pulmonary Medicine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"So please, don't delay.

The New York Times

"If there is a reason for the delay, please make it known.

The New York Times

On the top of one of my father's questionnaires, Lou Gehrig wrote: "Please pardon long delay.

The New York Times

"Please do not delay," Iraq's deputy prime minister, Barham Salih, said in a blunt appeal to the gathering.

The New York Times

Without further delay, please enjoy the candidates for the first official Sentence of the Week of 2012: A.... a joke that fails is a form of madness... (Adam Phillips, "Promises, Promises") B. Michael Jackson represented the ecstatic and the untouchable; Whitney Houston was always human, along every axis.

The New York Times

Please don't delay as submissions are only being accepted through through October 25, 2016.

Huffington Post

So without any further delay, please give it up for my interview with the amazing MC Sha-Rock!

Huffington Post

Feel free to place an order for it but please expect significant delays in shipping as the inevitable and necessary re-pressings will take time".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "Please delay", ensure the context makes it clear what action or event should be postponed. Be specific to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid constructions like "It is requested that you please delay..." as they sound overly formal and less direct. Instead, stick to the concise "Please delay" followed by the item to be delayed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Please delay" functions primarily as an imperative, issuing a polite request or command. It asks the listener or reader to postpone a specific action or event. Ludwig confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "Please delay" is a grammatically sound and polite way to request a postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. While not extremely common, it is used in various contexts, particularly in news, media, and scientific writing. For alternatives, you might consider "Kindly postpone" or "Please hold off". When employing "Please delay", clarity is key; be explicit about what needs to be postponed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Kindly postpone

Emphasizes politeness and formality in requesting a postponement.

Could you please put that off

Uses a question format to soften the request.

I request you to delay

A more formal and direct request for postponement.

Please hold off

Suggests temporarily stopping an action.

Would you mind postponing

A polite inquiry about the possibility of postponement.

Defer action, please

A concise and somewhat formal instruction to delay.

Suspend temporarily, please

Implies a temporary cessation of an activity.

Reschedule if you would

Indicates flexibility and suggests rescheduling as an option.

Consider delaying

Suggests thinking about postponement without a direct request.

Please hold that thought

Asks someone to pause their current line of thinking or discussion.

FAQs

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

Use "Please delay" to politely request someone to postpone an action or event. For example: "Please delay your travel plans due to the storm" or "Please delay the presentation until next week".

What are some alternatives to "Please delay"?

You can use alternatives like "kindly postpone", "please hold off", or "defer action please", depending on the context and level of formality.

Is "Please delay" formal or informal?

"Please delay" is generally considered polite and can be used in both formal and informal settings. However, more formal alternatives might be preferred in very official contexts.

When is it appropriate to use "Please delay"?

It is appropriate to use "Please delay" when you need someone to postpone an action, task, or event due to unforeseen circumstances, scheduling conflicts, or other reasons that necessitate a change in plans.