always being late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "always being late" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a habitual action or characteristic of someone who consistently arrives after the expected time. Example: "Her colleagues are frustrated with her always being late to meetings."

✓ Grammatically correct

Wiki

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Clifton, the milkman, played by Mr. Chappelle, jokingly chastises the Niggars for always being late with their payments.

The New York Times - Arts

Ruggles may have been a true voice in the wilderness, but the contemporary composer Lukas Foss has suffered from the perception of always being late to the party.

The New Yorker

If they frustrate you with no shows, always being late, or making you chase them at every step, it's a bad sign.

WikiHow

Let them know that always being late for nearly everything is annoying, by buying them a watch so next time they're late you can ask them whats wrong with the watch i got you?

WikiHow

Always being late or not showing up at all is the quickest way to get on a teacher's bad side.

WikiHow

Always being late for meetings or appointments is not only annoying to everyone else who has to wait for you or who's attention you're disrupting, but it's disrespectful to those who managed to get there on time or early.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Congress has almost always been late in passing farm bills," he said.

The New York Times

And of course I've always been late for everything, so I'd be late for class.

The New Yorker

One of many reasons you'll always be late!

Huffington Post

Or if they are going to always be late, find some acceptance for who you chose".

Huffington Post

In fact, they are giving themselves permission to always say the wrong thing or always be late.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "always being late" to describe a characteristic or a tendency rather than an isolated incident. It highlights a pattern.

Common error

Avoid using "always being late" when referring to a singular event of tardiness. The phrase is most effective when describing a recurring habit or pattern of behavior. Instead, use 'being late' for isolated incidents.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "always being late" functions as a gerund phrase, acting as a noun. It typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence, describing a continuous or habitual action. Ludwig's examples showcase its descriptive capabilities.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Wiki

40%

News & Media

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "always being late" is a grammatically sound gerund phrase that describes a consistent pattern of tardiness. Ludwig's analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and highlights its usage across various contexts, including wikis, news media, and scientific articles. Though not extremely common, its meaning is clear. For alternative phrasing, consider "habitually tardy" or "consistently late". The key is to reserve this phrase for describing ongoing habits rather than isolated incidents.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

consistently late

Uses an adverb to highlight the consistent occurrence of lateness.

chronically late

Highlights the long-term and persistent nature of lateness.

regularly late

Indicates that lateness happens with a consistent frequency.

habitually tardy

Replaces the verb phrase with an adjective emphasizing the habitual nature of lateness.

frequently late

Indicates that lateness happens often.

invariably late

Indicates that lateness happens without exception.

perpetually late

Emphasizes the continuous and seemingly endless nature of being late.

incurably late

Suggests that the lateness is a fixed characteristic that cannot be changed.

is always behind schedule

Shifts the focus to falling behind scheduled times, rather than the state of being late.

cannot be on time

Focuses on the inability to adhere to schedules or appointments.

FAQs

What does "always being late" mean?

It describes a consistent and habitual pattern of arriving after the scheduled or expected time. It implies that the person is frequently tardy.

What can I say instead of "always being late"?

You can use alternatives like "habitually tardy", "consistently late", or "chronically late", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "always being late"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Always" modifies the gerund phrase "being late", creating a descriptive phrase about a recurring action.

How do I use "always being late" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a habit or characteristic. For example, "Her colleagues are frustrated by her "always being late" to meetings" or "His excuse for "always being late" was traffic, but no one believed him".