a significant delaying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant delaying" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an incorrect construction, as "delaying" is typically used as a verb or gerund, and should be paired with a noun form like "delay." Example: "There was a significant delay in the project timeline due to unforeseen circumstances."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

These observations indicate overall a significant delaying effect of CCII on storage protein catabolism in stored tubers, as observed above with OCI in lines K52 and K53.

BMC Plant Biology

Co-resident boarders and lodgers had a significant delaying effect on the birth interval for the third parity, but shortened the birth interval for the fourth and fifth parity.

Human Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And almost all are released at a significant delay.

The New York Times

For instance, Companies House data is free but there's a significant delay of 12 18 months.

The Guardian

Acute HCV infection is characterized by a significant delay in the onset of T cell response24.

Nature

In WT mice, OT-I cells induced a significant delay in tumor growth.

Nature

Company officials have said for months that a significant delay would effectively kill the project.

The Washington Post

TS patients exhibit both cardiac arrhythmia and a significant delay in the activation of the hair cycle.

Stanford University

In 2006, high winds toppled cranes at the construction site, causing a significant delay.

The New York Times

While Day was able to get up after a significant delay and medical attention and close out a round of even-par 70, he was in obvious distress.

The Guardian

Monthly admissions numbers (actual bums on seats) always arrive after a significant delay, and the ones for July were recently released: 14.32 million.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Favor the noun form "delay" after "a significant" for grammatical correctness. For example, "There was a significant delay in the project timeline."

Common error

Avoid using "delaying" directly after "significant". The adjective "significant" should modify a noun, not a gerund. Instead, replace "a significant delaying" with "a significant delay".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant delaying" functions as an adjectival phrase attempting to modify a noun, but it does so incorrectly. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form typically involves using "delay" as a noun rather than "delaying" as a gerund in this context.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "a significant delaying" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the proper construction involves using "delay" as a noun. While the intention is to describe something causing a notable postponement, the incorrect grammar hinders effective communication. Instead, use "a significant delay" or alternatives like "a considerable delay". Although examples exist across science and news media, its infrequent and incorrect usage impacts its overall authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a considerable delay

Emphasizes the extent of the delay, similar to "significant" but with a slightly different connotation.

a marked delay

Highlights that the delay is easily noticeable or prominent.

a substantial delay

Focuses on the size or importance of the delay.

a major delay

Indicates a delay of considerable importance or impact.

an extensive delay

Implies that the delay is prolonged or lengthy.

a protracted delay

Suggests the delay is stretched out or prolonged, often undesirably.

a notable delay

Highlights the delay as being worthy of attention or easily observed.

a consequential delay

Emphasizes that the delay has important results or effects.

an appreciable delay

Suggests that the delay is large enough to be noticed or measured.

a critical delay

Indicates that the delay is crucial and could have serious consequences.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use the word "significant" with "delay"?

The grammatically correct phrase is "a significant delay", where "delay" is a noun. Avoid using "delaying" in this context.

Can I use "delaying" after other adjectives like "major" or "substantial"?

No, the pattern remains the same. Use the noun "delay" after adjectives such as "major" or "substantial". For example, "a major delay".

Are there situations where "delaying" is grammatically correct?

Yes, "delaying" is correct when used as a verb or part of a verb phrase. For instance, "The storm is delaying our flight" is grammatically sound.

What are some alternative ways to describe a notable postponement without using the word "significant"?

You could use phrases such as "considerable delay", "marked delay", or "substantial delay" to convey a similar meaning.