a protracted delay

USAGE SUMMARY

'a protracted delay' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a long, extended period of waiting or inactivity. For example, "The construction of the new bridge was plagued by a protracted delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The iPlayer, which launched last year after a protracted delay and at the cost of several million pounds, has expanded rapidly in recent months.

The Guardian - Tech

The film was eviscerated by critics and made little impression when it was released, after a protracted delay, in 2010.

Los Angeles Times

Our results demonstrate that policy makers should be aware of an 8% risk of death in untreated patients with coronary artery disease judged to be low-severity at presentation, if there is a protracted delay before revascularization.

BMC Health Services Research

The culturally prevalent view that EDs largely affect teenage girls meant that many of these young men only recognised their behaviours and experiences as possible symptoms of an ED after a protracted delay, mitigating possibilities of early intervention and improved prognosis.

BMJ Open

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

There is little dispute that the key reason underlying nuclear waste's unfolding complex story of "controversy, litigation, and protracted delay" lies with grave public concerns over "adequate protection of public health and safety and the environment" [2].

Energy, Sustainability and Society

We have chosen to focus this investigation on the seemingly protracted delay to the initiation of insulin that UK patients are exposed to and it's potential consequences.

BMC Endocrine Disorders

In a recent series, The Times's Robin Pogrebin detailed many of the commission's dysfunctional ways, including inadequate record-keeping, protracted delays and a lack of transparency.

The New York Times

In March, protracted delays in marketing a cheaper alternative for tamoxifen, the breast cancer drug made by AstraZeneca, prompted sharp criticism from Federal District Judge Ricardo M. Urbina for the District of Columbia, who said he found the situation absurd.

The New York Times

According to "The VA Claims Backlog Working Group March 2014 Report," in 2014, the total number of disability compensation claims awaiting adjudication stands at a whopping 700,000 across the country, with some 400,000 facing protracted delays of more than 125 days.

Huffington Post

Several news organisations have reported protracted delays in obtaining visas.

The Guardian

Sir Michael Lyons told the Guardian he had identified protracted delays in the release of land as the single biggest cause of Britain's housing crisis.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a protracted delay" when you want to emphasize that a delay has been unusually long or has lasted longer than expected. This phrase adds a layer of severity to the situation.

Common error

While "a protracted delay" is grammatically correct, avoid using it in overly casual conversations. Simpler terms like "a long delay" might be more appropriate in informal settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a protracted delay" functions as a noun phrase, where 'protracted' modifies the noun 'delay', indicating a prolonged or extended period of postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a protracted delay" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a delay that has lasted longer than expected. According to Ludwig, it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in news and science writing, but can also appear in more formal settings. While other phrases like ""a long delay"" or ""an extended delay"" exist, "a protracted delay" emphasizes the excessive length and potential negative impact of the delay. While the phrase is valid in the English language, it is relatively rare, so you should use it with caution.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a prolonged waiting period

Replaces 'delay' with 'waiting period' and 'protracted' with 'prolonged', emphasizing the act of waiting.

an extended hold-up

Substitutes 'delay' with 'hold-up', a more informal term, and 'protracted' with 'extended'.

a lengthy postponement

Replaces 'delay' with 'postponement', indicating a planned deferral, and 'protracted' with 'lengthy'.

a drawn-out intermission

Uses 'intermission' for 'delay', suggesting a temporary cessation, and 'drawn-out' for 'protracted'.

a lingering setback

Employs 'setback' instead of 'delay', highlighting the negative impact, and 'lingering' for 'protracted', indicating persistence.

a sustained interruption

Replaces 'delay' with 'interruption' and 'protracted' with 'sustained', emphasizing continuity.

a chronic holdup

Substitutes 'delay' with 'holdup', and 'protracted' with 'chronic', focusing on the repetitive nature of the delay.

a never-ending waiting game

Replaces "delay" with "waiting game" adding a sense of frustration; substitutes "protracted" with "never-ending", making it a much stronger expression.

a dragging stagnation

Uses 'stagnation' for 'delay', indicating lack of progress, and 'dragging' for 'protracted', emphasizing the slowness.

a creeping retardation

Substitutes 'delay' with 'retardation', a formal term for slowing down, and 'protracted' with 'creeping', indicating a gradual process.

FAQs

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

You can use "a protracted delay" to describe situations where something is taking longer than expected, like "The project suffered "a protracted delay" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "a protracted delay"?

Some alternatives to "a protracted delay" include "a long delay", "an extended delay", or "a lengthy delay".

Is it better to say "a protracted delay" or "a prolonged delay"?

"A protracted delay" and "a prolonged delay" are very similar. "Protracted" emphasizes the duration and the sense that it has gone on for too long, while "prolonged" simply highlights the length of time.

What is the difference between "a delay" and "a protracted delay"?

The term "a delay" refers to any instance of something being late or postponed. Adding "protracted" emphasizes that the delay has been unusually long, troublesome, or has exceeded normal expectations.