a severe delay of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a severe delay of" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a significant or serious postponement of an event, process, or delivery. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, there was a severe delay of the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The patients resumed oral intake after stenting and those with a severe delay of emptying had a reduced survival time [ 54].

BMC Gastroenterology

In S. cerevisiae, mutants lacking Atg11 and Atg17 had a severe delay of pexophagy (Kim et al., 2001; Cheong et al., 2005; 2005).

Cellular Microbiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The most common medical error was a severe delay or absence of recommended treatment for severe sepsis, which occurred in 10 (42%) patients.

Critical Care

However, by forcing the de novo functioning of the OXPHOS system, a severe delay in the biogenesis of the respiratory chain complexes was observed in the mutants, which demonstrated a direct functional effect of the mitochondrial genetic background.

Plosone

Half of these deaths were expertised as caused by medical errors The most common cause of medical error was a severe delay or the absence of detection and recommended treatment for severe sepsis.

Critical Care

Absence of the post-transcriptional modification of the wobble anticodon position of the cytoplasmic tRNALys has been shown to cause ribosome pausing on lysine codons, inducing a severe delay in the rate of translation elongation10,11,12.

Nature

Compared to controls, the mice experienced a severe delay in the migration of neurons in their brains, leading to abnormal brain development.

Science Magazine

A severe delay or the absence of detection and recommended treatment for severe sepsis were the main medical errors in nine patients (38%).

Critical Care

The circulation of a dog-related RV variant in wildlife populations (in this case of FB) may pose a severe delay and complicate the elimination of dog and human rabies.

BMC Infectious Diseases

Compared with partial root-zone cooling, full root-zone cooling may result in a more severe delay of hormone production that favours flower development.

AoB PLANTS

Indeed, inactivation of adenylate cyclase results in a severe delay in, but not a complete arrest of, germ tube emergence.

BMC Genomics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a severe delay of", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the seriousness of the delay. This helps convey the impact effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "a severe delay of" when a simple "delay" suffices. Overstating the severity can diminish the impact when a genuinely critical delay occurs later.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a severe delay of" functions as a noun phrase describing the extent of the delay. This phrase is often followed by the specific item or event being delayed, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a severe delay of" is a noun phrase used to denote a significant and impactful postponement. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness, although its usage is relatively rare. The phrase typically appears in scientific and news contexts to emphasize the seriousness of a delay. When writing, ensure that the context warrants the use of "severe", as overstating the delay can diminish the impact of future critical situations. Consider using alternatives like "a significant postponement of" or "a critical setback for" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a significant postponement of

Emphasizes the act of postponing rather than the delay itself.

a critical setback for

Highlights the negative impact and hindrance caused.

a substantial holdup in

Focuses on the interruption or obstruction of progress.

a major impediment to

Highlights the obstacle hindering progress or completion.

a serious disruption of

Emphasizes the interruption and disorder caused by the delay.

a grave retardation of

Indicates a slowing down or hindering of progress, often with serious implications.

a marked deceleration in

Highlights a reduction in speed or progress.

a considerable deferral of

Focuses on the action of postponing to a later time.

a pronounced lag in

Emphasizes the gap or interval caused by the delay.

a significant protraction of

Focuses on the lengthening or extension of time needed.

FAQs

How can I use "a severe delay of" in a sentence?

You can use "a severe delay of" to describe significant postponements. For instance, "The project experienced "a severe delay of" several months due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "a severe delay of"?

Alternatives include "a significant postponement of", "a critical setback for", or "a major impediment to depending on the context".

Is it always necessary to specify "severe" when describing a delay?

No, specifying "severe" is only necessary when the delay has significant consequences or impact. Otherwise, a simple "delay" or "postponement" may suffice.

What distinguishes "a severe delay of" from "a slight delay of"?

"A severe delay of" indicates a substantial and impactful postponement, while "a slight delay of" suggests a minor and inconsequential one. The choice depends on the magnitude and consequences of the delay.