be late for

USAGE SUMMARY

"be late for" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an appointment, meeting, event, or other commitment that the subject arrives at after the expected time. Example: She was late for her doctor's appointment this morning.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"I might be late for work".

The New York Times - Arts

"You will be late for school".

The New Yorker

The children will be late for school.

The New York Times

"You can't be late for Candice".

The New York Times - Magazine

"But let an Alawite officer be late for a day.

The New York Times

"He's going to be late for his next event.

The New York Times

We were going to be late for lunch.

The New Yorker

"We must not be late for il principe," he said.

The New Yorker

"I just... I'm going to be late for bell ringing".

The New Yorker

You will be late for work on Tuesday.

The Guardian

We better get back, we'll be late for lunch.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be late for", ensure the context clearly defines the event or appointment being referenced. For example, specify "be late for the meeting" rather than just "be late" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "late" directly as an adverb modifying a verb. Instead of saying "He late arrived", use "He arrived late" or "He was late for his appointment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be late for" functions primarily as a predicate adjective describing a state of tardiness in relation to a specific event or appointment. Ludwig AI confirms this as grammatically correct and usable, with ample examples available for reference.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be late for" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate tardiness for a scheduled event. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to express a state of not being on time. The phrase maintains a generally neutral register, leaning towards informality in casual contexts, and it frequently appears in news and media, with its usage extending across various scenarios like work, school, and social engagements. To avoid errors, ensure "late" isn't misused as an adverb, and specify the event to which one might be late. By exploring synonyms such as ""arrive late to"" or ""miss the deadline for"", you can enhance your writing and maintain precision, using Ludwig's real-world examples to add clarity and credibility to your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

arrive late to

Focuses on the action of arriving, emphasizing the lateness of the arrival.

not be on time for

A straightforward alternative indicating a failure to meet the scheduled time.

miss the deadline for

Highlights missing a specific deadline, shifting the focus from time to task completion.

not make it on time for

Indicates failure to arrive at the scheduled time, using a more descriptive expression.

be behind time for

Suggests a general state of being behind schedule in relation to a specific event.

be delayed for

Emphasizes the reason for the lateness, suggesting an external factor caused the delay.

run behind schedule for

Highlights the ongoing state of being behind, focusing on the schedule rather than a single event.

fail to be punctual for

Uses a more formal tone, emphasizing the lack of punctuality.

be unpunctual for

A more formal and less common way of expressing lateness.

tarry and miss

This is a colloquial expression of the idea. Is more literary, poetic and less formal.

FAQs

How can I use "be late for" in a sentence?

You can use "be late for" to indicate that someone or something will arrive after the scheduled time. For example, "I don't want to "be late for the meeting"" or "She is always "be late for school"".

What are some alternative ways to say "be late for"?

Alternatives include "arrive late to", "miss the deadline for", or "not be on time for" depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "being late for" is grammatically correct. You might use it in a sentence like, "Being late for the interview cost him the job".

What's the difference between "be late for" and "run late for"?

"Be late for" is a general statement about not being on time. "Run late for" implies that you are already behind schedule and are likely to "be late for" something as a result.