a delay of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a delay of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a specific period of time by which something is postponed or held up. Example: "There was a delay of two hours before the flight was able to take off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

A delay of hours?

The New York Times

"There is only a delay of payment".

The New York Times - Sports

The incident caused a delay of about 10 minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

They advocated -- ultimately successfully -- a delay of the auction.

The New York Times

Mladic's lawyers are demanding a delay of six months.

The Guardian

But a delay of some weeks is possible, officials say.

The New York Times

But there was a delay of more than six hours.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

Palmer also had a delay-of-game penalty.

The New York Times - Sports

This resulted in a delay-of-game penalty.

The New York Times - Sports

But the field goal was waved off because of a delay-of-game penalty.

The New York Times - Sports

Eric Staal took a delay-of-game penalty.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a delay of", specify the duration of the delay to provide clarity and context. For example, "There was a delay of several hours due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using passive voice when describing the cause of "a delay of". Instead of saying, "The project was subject to a delay of six months", use active voice: "The project experienced a delay of six months because of funding issues".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a delay of" functions as a noun phrase, typically followed by a duration or a reason. It indicates a period during which something is postponed or slowed down. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

21%

Science

17%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a delay of" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate a postponement or interruption. According to Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, primarily appearing in news, academic, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, specify the duration of the delay for clarity and avoid passive voice. Alternatives such as "a postponement of" or "an interruption of" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey. Ludwig's examples illustrate its wide application in diverse scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a postponement of

Replaces 'delay' with 'postponement', emphasizing the act of rescheduling to a later time.

a deferral of

Substitutes 'delay' with 'deferral', suggesting a temporary suspension or withholding.

a hold-up of

Uses 'hold-up' instead of 'delay', implying an obstruction or hindrance causing the delay.

an interruption of

Replaces 'delay' with 'interruption', focusing on the break in continuity.

a setback to

Changes the structure to indicate a reversal or impediment affecting progress.

a slowing of

Emphasizes the reduction in speed or progress rather than a complete stop.

a lag in

Uses 'lag' to indicate a period of time between one event and another.

a moratorium on

Suggests a temporary prohibition or suspension of an activity.

a respite from

Implies a brief period of rest or relief from something.

a suspension of

Indicates a temporary cessation or interruption of something.

FAQs

What is the difference between "a delay of" and "a postponement of"?

While both phrases indicate something is being moved to a later time, "a delay of" often implies an unexpected or unintentional pause, while "a postponement of" suggests a more deliberate rescheduling.

How to use "a delay of" in a sentence?

You can use "a delay of" to specify the duration of a delay. For example, "The flight experienced "a delay of" three hours due to bad weather".

What are some synonyms for "a delay of"?

Some synonyms include "a deferral of", "a hold-up of", or "an interruption of", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "delay in" or "a delay of"?

"A delay of" is used to specify the length of time, such as "a delay of two weeks". "Delay in" is used to describe where the delay occurs, such as "a delay in the project". Both are correct, but have different meanings.