The phrase "a tardiness" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a specific instance or condition of being late or delayed.
Example: "The meeting was delayed due to a tardiness in the arrival of the key participants."
Alternatives: "a delay" or "an lateness".
But it also reflects a tardiness in implementing the austerity demanded by the Treasury in London.
A tardiness penalty is incurred to each unit of demand that is not satisfied on time.
You've got a tardiness issue, and it doesn't work with me because you're wasting my time and the time of those around us who are here on time.
An otherwise fairly responsible parent, I was for some reason late to the inoculation party this year, a tardiness for which I had no real excuse, especially amid the Dallas Ebola scare, which sent me and my wife to our iPhones for the latest news when we should have been paying closer attention to more mundane matters of family health.
-- and a justmissed traffic light unmercifully flipping from green to yellow to red might result in the fifth grader being late for school, a tardiness stain on her record, and this parent having to walk her in, hand her over, and walk back to the car alone with a pink slip of shame.
One Japanese newspaper reports on a Tokyo school that had a chronic tardiness problem.
Faculty members also complained repeatedly about in-school ditching and a massive tardiness problem.
I've always had a bit of a problem with tardiness, so it's unsurprising that I joined Twitter, after years of scoffing and griping, just five days ago.
By Elizabeth Minkel June 28, 2010 I've always had a bit of a problem with tardiness, so it's unsurprising that I joined Twitter, after years of scoffing and griping, just five days ago.
This was one case where a star athlete's tardiness was a mark of virtue, not casual disregard.
There were also cartons and cartons of documents and memorabilia, Miss Burns' fifth grade report card from P.S. 44 in Williamsburg (straight A's and no tardiness, what else?) and boxes of publicity photos of Mr. Curtis.
