be greatly delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

'be greatly delayed' is a correct phrase that can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation in which something is taking longer than expected or anticipated, usually because of circumstances outside of anyone's control. For example, "Due to the snow storm, our flight was greatly delayed and we didn't reach our destination until late in the evening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Weeks earlier the court had announced the transfer of Ms Mota to a civil court; the cases she was handling will be greatly delayed.

The Economist

JP Morgan Chase overlord Jamie Dimon fears that the public anger will torpedo the schemes the banks are running, saying, '"if you let them vilify us too much, the economic recovery will be greatly delayed".

Huffington Post

Although cell death will occur inevitably in persistent starvation conditions, this process can be greatly delayed in autophagy-competent cells, which survive by stopping growth and cell division.

Current Opinion in Cell Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Yet another page on its site said "order processing is greatly delayed at this time.

The Washington Post

Crystallographic texture strongly affected fatigue crack initiation life, which was greatly delayed in TD loading compared with RD loading.

International Journal of Fatigue

Since 1975, the mapping process in Staten Island and other other parts of the state had been greatly delayed by insufficient resources, said Ms. Ash, the regional director.

The New York Times

In an oxidative environment, the first reaction of PU is greatly delayed by the PDA coating, but once the reaction begins, it becomes accelerated.

Combustion and Flame

The recovery of synaptic transmission after depletion of neurotransmitter by high-frequency stimulation was greatly delayed.

Duke University

While the carrier is figuring out a way to manually check in customers, flights are greatly delayed.

TechCrunch

We confirm that library expansion was robustly related to urbanization and greater ethnic (immigrant) diversity and to institutional innovations and that it was greatly delayed in southern states.

Johns Hopkins University

The benefits of doing this sort of research are greatly delayed, but that is the nature of much of science.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be greatly delayed", consider specifying the cause of the delay to provide context and clarity for your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "be greatly delayed" when a simple "be delayed" suffices. Overusing "greatly" can dilute its impact, so reserve it for situations where the delay is truly significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be greatly delayed" functions as a passive construction indicating that an action or event is experiencing a significant postponement. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is considered correct and is found across different sources.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "be greatly delayed" correctly indicates a significant postponement due to unforeseen circumstances or external factors. Although Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its frequency of usage is relatively rare, appearing mostly in news, scientific and academic contexts. When composing texts, use "be greatly delayed" to communicate substantial postponements, and remember to specify the reasons for the delay to add more clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experience significant delays

Emphasizes the experience of delay, implying a more direct impact.

be subject to substantial postponement

Highlights the possibility of a considerable postponement.

encounter major setbacks

Focuses on the hindrances causing the delay, rather than the delay itself.

face considerable holdups

Indicates the existence of obstacles that cause the delay.

undergo extensive deferment

Highlights the formal aspect and extent of the delay.

be significantly protracted

Emphasizes the extended duration caused by the delay.

suffer prolonged interruptions

Highlights the nature of the delay as a series of interruptions.

be severely impeded

Focuses on the hindrance that results in the delay.

see considerable retardation

Emphasizes the slowing down effect caused by the delay.

be severely hampered

Highlights the restrictive impact that results in the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "be greatly delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "be greatly delayed" to describe situations where something is taking much longer than expected. For example, "The project will "be greatly delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "be greatly delayed"?

Alternatives include "experience significant delays", "be subject to substantial postponement", or "encounter major setbacks", depending on the context.

Is it more appropriate to say "greatly delayed" or "significantly delayed"?

Both "greatly delayed" and "significantly delayed" are acceptable, but "greatly delayed" implies a more substantial impact on time, while "significantly delayed" indicates a noteworthy or considerable postponement. Choose the one that best reflects the severity of the delay.

What causes something to "be greatly delayed"?

Things may "be greatly delayed" because of unforeseen circumstances, lack of resources, or significant logistical challenges.