after a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "after a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something occurred following a period of waiting or postponement. Example: "The train arrived after a delay of thirty minutes due to technical issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

"After a delay, the second attack was harder than the first.

BBC

A delayed recall is taken after a delay of 30 minutes filled with other nonverbal tests.

Behavioral and Brain Functions

85 min: Ekedo, after a delay for treatment, comes on for Bodipo.

The Guardian - Sport

After a delay of 3 hours 5 minutes, the decision was made to resume Friday evening.

The New York Times - Sports

After a delay of six minutes, the Yankees were back on the field.

The New York Times - Sports

After a delay of several minutes, he got back to his feet and made a bogey.

The Guardian

The plane took off after a delay of about three hours.

The New York Times

Slovakia was admitted to NATO this month, after a delay of several years.

The New York Times

After a delay of eight minutes while debris was cleared, the performance resumed, the Met said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

After a delay of about 15 min, there is an additional free recall trial (delayed recall).

Diabetes Care

But the drive fizzled after a delay-of-game penalty and two holding calls.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "after a delay" to clearly indicate that an event occurred later than initially expected. This is particularly useful in reports, news articles, or any context where timing is important.

Common error

Avoid using "after a delay" without providing context or reason for the delay when it's pertinent to the reader. Providing the reason clarifies the situation and prevents confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "after a delay" primarily functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when an action occurred in relation to a period of postponement. It specifies the temporal relationship between the delay and the subsequent event. Ludwig's examples illustrate its use in various contexts to provide timing information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "after a delay" is a grammatically correct and commonly used prepositional phrase that functions adverbially to indicate that an event occurred following a period of postponement. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, it's frequently used in news, science, and business contexts to provide temporal context. To use the phrase effectively, specify the reason for the delay when it adds clarity, and consider alternatives like "following a waiting period" or "subsequent to an interval" for stylistic variation. Although the phrase is deemed accurate and valuable for indicating events happening later than scheduled, remember to provide adequate details to ensure your message is as clear and helpful as possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following a waiting period

Emphasizes the duration of the wait before the event.

subsequent to an interval

Highlights the intervening time between two events.

later than scheduled

Focuses on the deviation from the original timeline.

after some time has passed

Stresses the elapsed time before the action occurs.

eventually

Indicates something happens at an unspecified later time.

in due course

Suggests something will happen when the time is right or appropriate.

at a later stage

Highlights the sequential order of events.

down the line

Informal way of saying something will happen further into the future.

in the fullness of time

Emphasizes that something will happen when the time is fully ripe.

at a subsequent time

Formally indicates something happening at a later point.

FAQs

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

You can use "after a delay" to indicate that something happened later than expected, as in, "The meeting started "after a delay" due to the speaker's late arrival."

What are some alternatives to saying "after a delay"?

Alternatives include phrases like "following a waiting period", "subsequent to an interval", or "later than scheduled", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it necessary to specify the length of the delay when using "after a delay"?

While not always necessary, specifying the length of the delay (e.g., "after a delay of 30 minutes") can provide more clarity and context to your statement.

What's the difference between "after a delay" and "delayed"?

"After a delay" is a prepositional phrase indicating the occurrence of an event subsequent to a period of waiting, while "delayed" is an adjective describing something that has been postponed or slowed down. For example, "The train arrived "after a delay"," versus "The train was delayed."