after a considerable delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after a considerable delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something happens following a significant amount of time that has passed. Example: "The package finally arrived after a considerable delay, much to our relief."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Several weeks later, the same search yielded results, but after a considerable delay.

The New York Times - Travel

Push a button, connect to the mini-Web, scroll through menus and news, sports, stock quotes and even Yahoo's mail, calendar and address book appear on your screen (albeit sometimes after a considerable delay).

Forbes

After a considerable delay, the US finally intervened to broker a deal on Oct 30, which has since been rejected outright by Zelaya and decried by the International community.

Huffington Post

After a considerable delay (≥ 0.25 generations), a second, smaller set of genes (> 400) is then differentially expressed, most for the duration of anaerobiosis.

BMC Genomics

Thus the vasculogenic switch did occur in the absence of the homologous tissue stem cells (TSCs) from the graft but only after a considerable delay (about two weeks).

F1000Research

Interestingly, clinical investigation of phantom limb pain in adolescence shows that children with the earliest amputations do develop phantom pain but only after a considerable delay, of a mean of 7 years (Melzack et al., 1997).

Experimental Neurology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

The waves were also detected to the south in the interior of San Francisco Bay at Alameda, but with a considerable delay (135 minutes after the mainshock), due to the shallow waters of the bay and the shelf surrounding the bay's entrance.

Wikipedia

We do not have data on the time to diagnosis after medical attention was sought, but anecdotally we often and understandably find a considerable delay.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

"Unfortunately, we had a considerable delay reclaiming the account which we then back-billed," says a spokesperson.

The Guardian - Money

At 7.20pm, with a considerable delay, the first balloon floated into the night sky in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

The Guardian

After his first international victory, at an event in Portugal, Hua Tian slowly became aware of a considerable delay to the medal ceremony.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "after a considerable delay", ensure the context clearly indicates what event was delayed and why the delay was significant to the situation you're describing.

Common error

Avoid using "after a considerable delay" without providing context or hinting at the reason for the delay. Readers should understand why the delay occurred and its impact on the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after a considerable delay" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something occurred in relation to a significant lapse of time. Ludwig examples show it introducing events that happen following a period of waiting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

39%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after a considerable delay" is a grammatically correct adverbial phrase used to indicate that an event occurred following a significant period of waiting. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is suitable for various contexts, particularly in science and news media, and its purpose is to emphasize the temporal aspect of a situation. When using the phrase, it's important to provide context regarding the reason for the delay to improve clarity. Alternatives such as "following a substantial waiting period" or "after a long hiatus" can be used to convey a similar meaning. While the phrase is considered to be correct, usage is uncommon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following a substantial waiting period

Emphasizes the duration of the wait more directly.

after a long hiatus

Specifically suggests an interruption or pause before the event.

subsequent to a prolonged wait

Uses more formal language and stresses the extended nature of the waiting.

following an extended period

Focuses on the length of the intervening time.

eventually, after much waiting

Highlights the eventual nature of the occurrence and the effort of waiting.

after a significant lapse of time

Directly states the time that has passed.

in the fullness of time

A more idiomatic way to express that something happened after a long, unspecified duration.

down the line

Informal phrase suggesting a future time, with implications of a long wait.

at long last

Emphasizes the relief or satisfaction that something finally happened after a considerable wait.

after what seemed an eternity

Hyperbolic expression emphasizing the perceived length of the waiting period.

FAQs

How can I effectively use "after a considerable delay" in a sentence?

To effectively use "after a considerable delay", clearly indicate what event was delayed and imply why the delay was noteworthy. This helps the reader understand the impact of the delay. For example, "After a considerable delay, the project finally received funding".

What are some alternatives to using "after a considerable delay"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "following a substantial waiting period", "after a long hiatus", or "subsequent to a prolonged wait" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it better to use "after a considerable delay" or "following a considerable delay"?

Both "after a considerable delay" and "following a considerable delay" are grammatically correct and convey the same meaning. The choice between them often comes down to stylistic preference or the rhythm of the sentence.

What is the difference between "after a slight delay" and "after a considerable delay"?

"After a slight delay" implies a brief pause or postponement, while "after a considerable delay" suggests a much longer or more significant period of waiting.