a little delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"a little delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about a minor postponement or interruption, such as: "The meeting was postponed due to a little delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

20 human-written examples

If it takes a little delay it'll take a little delay.

The Washington Post

"Folks, we're having a little delay here," he said.

The New York Times

"It's so easy for incumbents to get a little delay here, a little delay there, and cause a little doubt or raise a procedural thing.

The New York Times

Impose a little delay between cars, so she realizes that there are consequences for wrecking them".

The New York Times

As President Trump said on Monday, "We want to go through a full process" and, "if it takes a little delay, it'll take a little delay". It may be that such a process will not yield a definitive conclusion.

The Washington Post

At the same time, Trump says repeatedly that it should be a "little delay". In other words, he's only going to have so much patience.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

When Tranmere Rovers were beaten 2-0 in 1990, it was Notts County's first ever appearance at Wembley and of course the first year the play-offs finals had been held at the national stadium, so their timing was impeccable if a little delayed.

The Guardian - Sport

Options for Men and Children For men with cancer, the solution is usually simple and involves little delay: a visit to a sperm bank where a semen sample can be obtained.

The New York Times

But a million little delays (helped by a million little lobbyists) pushed it to the end of the session and close enough to deadlines to take away any leverage Ms. Truitt and the outside reformers had.

The New York Times

He set up Jonathan Joseph with a cunning little delayed pass, delivered just as Harley had committed to tackling him.

The Guardian - Sport

Commenting on his unsuccessful search, Hume wrote that the hundreds of house sparrows he killed in pursuit of the Sind sparrow "ought to form a heavy load" on Blyth's conscience, and that if the Sind sparrow existed "it would be only decent for it... to put on an appearance with as little delay as possible".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a little delay", ensure the context clearly indicates the cause and potential impact of the delay to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a little delay" when the delay is substantial or has significant consequences; choose a more appropriate descriptor to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a little delay" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the object of a verb or preposition. It indicates a minor postponement or temporary interruption, as illustrated by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a little delay" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to describe a minor postponement or interruption. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across various contexts. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as scientific writing, this phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse audiences. When using "a little delay", ensure that the context clearly indicates the cause and potential impact of the delay, and avoid using it when the delay is substantial. Alternatives such as "a slight delay", "a minor delay", and "a brief delay" can be used for subtle variations in tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a small delay

Synonymous replacement of "little" with "small", maintaining the same meaning.

a slight delay

Replaces "little" with "slight", emphasizing the minor nature of the delay.

a minor delay

Substitutes "little" with "minor", providing a more formal tone.

a brief delay

Uses "brief" instead of "little", highlighting the short duration of the delay.

a short delay

Similar to "brief delay", but with a slightly more informal feel.

a momentary delay

Replaces "little" with "momentary", suggesting an even shorter interruption.

a tad of delay

Replaces "little" with "tad of", adding a touch of informality.

a touch of delay

Similar to "tad of delay", but slightly more subtle.

a negligible delay

Indicates that the delay is so small as to be unimportant.

a spot of delay

Uses "spot of" instead of "little", giving it a slightly quaint or British feel.

FAQs

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

You can use "a little delay" to describe a minor postponement or interruption, such as "The project experienced "a little delay" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What's the difference between "a little delay" and "a significant delay"?

"A little delay" implies a minor and likely inconsequential postponement, while "a significant delay" suggests a more substantial and potentially problematic interruption.

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

You can use alternatives like "a slight delay", "a minor delay", or "a brief delay" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there will be a little delay"?

Yes, it is perfectly correct and commonly used to inform someone that there will be a minor postponement or interruption. For example: "There will be "a little delay" in processing your request".