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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
a delay exists
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "a delay exists" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that a delay is present or has occurred in a particular situation. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, a delay exists in the delivery of your order."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
Academia
Professional
Alternative expressions(20)
there is a delay
there is a plot
there is a softness
we have late
there is a vacuum
there is a shower
there is a woman
there is a cost
there is a challenge
we have delay
there is a story
we are behind schedule
there is a snag
there is a setback
there is a difficulty
there is a movie
there is a leadership
there is a postponement
there is a sincerity
there is a toll
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
The number of events required for the trial will be determined to ensure sufficient power for both the overall log-rank test without a delayed effect and the test beyond the delayed period when such a delay exists.
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
59 human-written examples
In the community monopolization effect, early-arriving or resident species adapt to new or changing conditions provided a sufficient delay exists before a better adapted species arrives (Urban and De Meester 2009).
Science
Because the defect is closed gradually, a time delay exists before bony contact and compression occur at the docking site, thus prolonging treatment time.
In addition, the proposed BDSAE approach is implemented frame by frame, and thus, there is no any delay existed.
In an actively controlled system, time delay exists inevitably.
Recent data suggests that on average an 18 to 24 months delay exists from onset of symptoms to the final diagnosis of CTEPH [ 9].
Science
Both of the state feedback and the static output feedback memoryless controllers can be designed to attenuate the system response due to disturbance on the controlled output to a prescribed level even when the time delay exists.
Science
[21] investigated the leader-following problem of network, in which the network topology is assumed to be arbitrarily switched among a finite set of topologies, and time-varying delay exists in the coupling of agents.
The longest delay exists when there are 1050 tags and a large, and then successively a somewhat shorter delay when decreasing.
The time delay exists extensively in the real word networks.
Interval time-varying delay exists in the state, derivatives of the state (neutral), and the output.
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
In academic writing, provide specific details following the phrase, such as the cause or the duration of the delay (e.g., 'a delay exists due to measurement lags').
Common error
A frequent error is omitting the indefinite article 'a' when the noun is countable. While 'delay exists' can be used as a generalized concept in very specific titles, in standard prose, "a delay exists" is the grammatically correct form. Also, avoid using 'exist' (plural) when the subject is singular.
Source & Trust
92%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
Grammatically, "a delay exists" functions as a complete independent clause or a subject-verb unit within a larger sentence. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as a statement of fact within complex systems (e.g., control systems or medical diagnosis).
Frequent in
Science
75%
Academia
15%
Professional
10%
Less common in
News & Media
5%
Social Media
1%
Informal Speech
1%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In conclusion, "a delay exists" is a grammatically correct and highly formal way to denote the presence of a time lag. While Ludwig AI shows that its exact occurrence is relatively rare compared to more common phrases like "<a href="/s/there+is+a+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">there is a delay", it is a preferred choice in scientific, academic, and technical documentation. It is used most effectively when describing systematic lags in data processing, medical diagnostics, or mechanical control loops. Writers should ensure they include the article 'a' and use the phrase when they need to maintain a neutral, objective tone in their reporting.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
there is a delay
Uses an expletive construction to emphasize the existence of the delay rather than the delay itself as the subject.
a delay is present
Slightly more descriptive of a current state rather than a static existence.
a lag occurs
Uses 'lag' which is more common in technical, computing, or telecommunications contexts.
a delay has occurred
Focuses on the event of the delay having happened in the past relative to the present.
latency exists
A more technical term often used in networking and electronics.
a delay remains
Suggests that the delay was expected to be resolved but still continues.
a holdup exists
Less formal and more likely to be used in logistics or personal communication.
propagation delay exists
Specific to physics or telecommunications, describing the time taken for a signal to travel.
timing issues exist
Broadens the scope beyond a simple delay to include general synchronization problems.
a backlog exists
Specifically refers to a delay caused by an accumulation of work or tasks.
FAQs
How to use "a delay exists" in a sentence?
You can use it to describe a situation where something is taking longer than expected. For example: "The study found that <a href="/s/a+delay+exists" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a delay exists between the treatment and the first visible results."
What can I say instead of "a delay exists"?
Depending on your context, you might use "<a href="/s/there+is+a+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">there is a delay", "<a href="/s/latency+occurs" target="_blank" rel="alternative">latency occurs", or "<a href="/s/a+lag+is+present" target="_blank" rel="alternative">a lag is present".
Is "a delay exists" formal?
Yes, it is considered formal. In everyday conversation, people are more likely to say "it's late" or "<a href="/s/there+is+a+wait" target="_blank" rel="alternative">there is a wait".
What is the difference between "a delay exists" and "there is a delay"?
While both are correct, "a delay exists" is slightly more academic and focuses on the delay as an independent entity, whereas "<a href="/s/there+is+a+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">there is a delay" is more common in standard professional correspondence.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
92%
Authority and reliability
4.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested