a significant lag

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a significant lag" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a noticeable delay or difference in time, performance, or progress in various contexts, such as technology, project timelines, or data analysis. Example: "The software update caused a significant lag in system performance, affecting user experience."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

49 human-written examples

(Until then, a team of translators labored to do this, with a significant lag time).

The New Yorker

The average vehicle fleet takes about 20 years to renew, creating a significant lag between technological advancement and safer roads.

The Guardian

A month into the recent campaign, fund officials have noted a significant lag in donations compared to those at the same point last year.

The New York Times

But as a recent paper by economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco explains, the disinflationary force comes on a significant lag.

The Economist

By James Surowiecki October 24, 2008 One of the things that has made the impact of government action during this crisis hard to evaluate is that there has been a significant lag between the time the government has announced it was going to intervene and when it actually has intervened.

The New Yorker

"It feels as if there's a significant lag factor between the economic indicators and what it means for real people in their real lives," says Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, whose advisers see two million people with debt problems each year.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

11 human-written examples

Empirical results indicate that the whole electronics industry is facing a significant lagged currency exposure, but the appreciation of RMB is not harmful to all of the companies, with a few of them benefited from it.

Systems Engineering Procedia

This difference is shown in Figure 4 (right panel) and yielded a significant lag-by-content interaction (F 4,48) = 3.3, p < 0.018).

BMC Biology

From this 10-lag significant cumulative-effect model, we reduced the total number of individual lags by back-eliminating the nonsignificant longer lags (e.g., lag 10), one lag at a time until a significant individual lag was identified (lag 7 in this report).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Plus, there is a significant time lag between the receipt of the payment and the delivery of the goods.

The New York Times

Because most mutual funds disclose their complete holdings only twice a year and with a significant time lag, he said, "I don't know what they own or how they make decisions".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a significant lag", specify the units of measurement for the lag time (e.g., seconds, days, years) to provide clarity and context.

Common error

Avoid assuming that "a significant lag" between two events implies a direct causal relationship. Investigate other potential factors contributing to the observed delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a significant lag" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates the existence of a notable delay or interval between two events or processes. Ludwig provides examples from various sources that show the phrase being used to describe delays in economic indicators, scientific processes, and technological advancements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

48%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a significant lag" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that denotes a noticeable delay or interval. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for formal writing and is commonly found in scientific, news, and business contexts. When employing this phrase, remember to specify the units of measurement and avoid assuming causation solely based on the observed lag. Alternatives include "a notable delay" and "a considerable time gap". The phrase's widespread usage and clear meaning make it a valuable tool for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a notable delay

Replaces "significant" with "notable", emphasizing the delay's prominence.

a considerable time gap

Substitutes "lag" with "time gap" and "significant" with "considerable", highlighting the temporal aspect of the delay.

a marked postponement

Uses "postponement" instead of "lag" and "marked" instead of "significant", indicating a noticeable delay in an event or process.

a substantial waiting period

Replaces "lag" with "waiting period" and "significant" with "substantial", focusing on the duration of the delay.

a pronounced interval

Employs "interval" instead of "lag" and "pronounced" instead of "significant", suggesting a clear and distinct separation in time.

a noticeable setback

Utilizes "setback" to replace "lag", shifting the focus to the hindering effect of the delay.

a distinct hiatus

Replaces "lag" with "hiatus" and "significant" with "distinct", indicating a clear break or interruption.

a tangible pause

Substitutes "lag" with "pause" and "significant" with "tangible", emphasizing the perceivable nature of the interruption.

a prominent deferral

Uses "deferral" in place of "lag" and "prominent" instead of "significant", highlighting the act of delaying something.

a consequential lull

Employs "lull" instead of "lag" and "consequential" instead of "significant", suggesting a period of inactivity with important repercussions.

FAQs

How can I use "a significant lag" in a sentence?

You can use "a significant lag" to describe a noticeable delay or gap between two events or processes. For example, "There was "a significant lag" between the introduction of the policy and its measurable effects".

What's the difference between "a significant lag" and "a slight lag"?

"A significant lag" implies a considerable or important delay, while "a slight lag" suggests a minor or negligible delay. The choice depends on the magnitude of the delay you're describing.

What can I say instead of "a significant lag"?

You can use alternatives like "a notable delay", "a considerable time gap", or "a marked postponement" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "a significant lag" in formal writing?

Yes, "a significant lag" is appropriate for formal writing. It is a clear and professional way to describe a notable delay or interval, as evidenced by its use in academic, scientific, and business contexts.