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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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a later delay

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a later delay" is not correct and is redundant in written English.
The term "later" implies a delay, so using both together is unnecessary. Example: "Due to a later delay in the project timeline, we will need to adjust our deadlines."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By definition, in a two-test design, reminisced items are produced for the first time at a later delay from the study event than are forgotten items.

These include an early delay in understanding some aspects of counting [ 11- 13], and a later delay in using counting procedures in simple addition [ 12, 14- 16].

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Note: Negative change indicates a later (delayed) acrophase at the end of treatment.

That gave Republicans a quorum in the Senate, and a few weeks later DeLay went to Austin.

News & Media

The New Yorker

Third, only a limited analysis of predictors of later delay could be conducted given the sample size; there was some evidence that a narrative test (the Bus Story) was the best predictor of poor outcome within the resolved group.

Educated girls will marry later, delay having children, and will space pregnancies to improve health outcomes.

News & Media

Huffington Post

They will stay in school, marry later, delay childbearing, have healthier children, and earn better incomes that will benefit themselves, their families, communities and nations.

Formal & Business

Unicef

It's quite possible that "Separate Lives," another Phil Collins classic released a couple months later, delayed the single.

News & Media

Huffington Post

If he wants to stay with his father, he must return to his mother," Manhattan supreme court Justice Deborah Kaplan said, before setting an initial hearing date for the start of February – later delayed by a month.

August same-store sales increased for several retailers, partly due to a growing trend among schools to start classes later, delaying back to school shopping a bit.

News & Media

Forbes

"Borders" was released on CD, cassette and 7" on 30 January 2012, with the parent album Generation Freakshow originally scheduled with a release date of 26 March 2012 but later delayed until 23 April 2012.

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Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "a later delay" as it is redundant; "later" inherently implies a delay. Instead, opt for alternatives like "a subsequent delay" or "a further delay" for clarity.

Common error

Do not combine "later" with "delay". This creates unnecessary repetition in your writing. Choose one word or use a synonym to convey the intended meaning concisely.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

77%

Authority and reliability

2.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a later delay" functions as a noun phrase, but its usage is questionable due to redundancy. As Ludwig AI points out, the term "later" implies a delay, making the combination unnecessary. While it attempts to describe a postponement, its effectiveness is undermined by its awkward construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a later delay" is flagged by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect due to redundancy. The word "later" already implies a delay, making the combination unnecessary and awkward. While the intended purpose is to indicate a postponement, clearer and more concise alternatives, such as "a subsequent delay" or simply "a delay", are preferable. Despite appearing in various sources like news and scientific articles, its usage should be approached with caution, especially in formal writing, to maintain clarity and precision.

FAQs

Is the phrase "a later delay" grammatically correct?

No, the phrase "a later delay" is considered grammatically incorrect because it's redundant. The word "later" already implies a delay, making the use of both words together unnecessary. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is not correct.

What can I say instead of "a later delay"?

Instead of "a later delay", you can use phrases like "a subsequent delay", "a further delay", or simply "a delay", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "a later delay" or "a subsequent delay"?

"A subsequent delay" is the correct and more precise phrase. "A later delay" is redundant because "later" implies a delay already. "Subsequent" clearly indicates a delay that follows another event.

What's the difference between "a delay" and "a later delay"?

The phrase "a delay" is a general term indicating something is postponed or slowed down. "A later delay" is redundant and grammatically awkward. It implies a delay that occurs at a later time, but the word "later" is unnecessary. It's better to just use "a delay" or rephrase for clarity.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: