be substantially delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "be substantially delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something will experience a significant delay. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the project may be substantially delayed."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

Under a global temperature rise of 0.006°C/yr, these phenomena will be substantially delayed.

Chemical Engineering Science

We know now that mutation penetrance (the percentage of subjects bearing a mutation who express the phenotype) is highly variable and may be substantially delayed or incomplete.

Cardiovascular Research

Surgery could then be substantially delayed, not because of the patient's health status, but for the lack of adequate communication and information sharing between the various services involved.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

In particular, NPIs become even more relevant in the context of emerging infectious diseases when the availability of a vaccine may be substantially delayed.

BMC Infectious Diseases

A growing body of evidence from several intervention (dietary/lifestyle, pharmacological, and surgical) weight management studies supports the notion that the onset of type 2 diabetes can be substantially delayed, and even prevented, by weight reduction in high-risk patients with impaired glucose tolerance.

Diabetes Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

But there is a risk: if one flight is substantially delayed and you miss your onward journey, you're on your own.

The Guardian - Travel

Bott and Co, a firm of solicitors specialising in compensation claims, said about 2.3 million passengers a year are substantially delayed due to aircraft faults.

The Guardian - Business

Only an institution with the financial resources and well-stocked repertoire of the National, however, could take such a gamble, as there was a possibility that, depending on the outcome of the phone-hacking trial, Great Britain might have been substantially delayed or never staged at all.

The Guardian

However, these specialists are not always present in the emergency department of district hospitals and very often their attendance is substantially delayed due to other duties.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Bromide breakthrough was substantially delayed for concentrations below 0.10 M and was delayed to a greater extent in the presence of a divalent cation (Mg2+) than in the presence of a monovalent cation (K+).

Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Moreover, the efficiency of attentional orienting towards a target was mirrored in the Posterior Contralateral Negativity (PCN), with PCN latencies being substantially delayed (by ∼70 ms) with local, versus global, targets.

Neuropsychologia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "be substantially delayed", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the reason, if known. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "be substantially delayed" merely as a dramatic embellishment. Ensure the delay truly represents a significant impact, not just a minor inconvenience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be substantially delayed" primarily functions as a passive construction used to indicate that something is undergoing a significant postponement. As Ludwig AI shows, it's common in scientific and formal contexts to describe holdups.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "be substantially delayed" is a grammatically correct phrase that indicates a significant postponement, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. While not extremely common, it is frequently used in scientific, news, and formal business contexts. When writing, make sure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and avoid using it as a vague intensifier. Alternatives such as "be significantly postponed" or "experience significant delays" can be used to convey similar meanings. Ensuring precise and clear communication is crucial when using this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be significantly postponed

Replaces "delayed" with "postponed" and "substantially" with "significantly", indicating a notable rescheduling.

be considerably deferred

Substitutes "delayed" with "deferred" and "substantially" with "considerably", suggesting a significant putting off.

encounter a major setback

Changes the structure to indicate the delay as a setback, highlighting the negative impact.

experience significant delays

Transforms the phrase to an active voice, emphasizing the experience of delays.

be seriously held up

Uses a more informal idiom to convey a significant delay.

face a considerable holdup

Similar to 'be seriously held up' but uses "holdup" as a noun, indicating a significant delay.

be greatly protracted

Replaces "delayed" with "protracted" and "substantially" with "greatly", emphasizing the lengthening of time.

be notably retarded

Substitutes "delayed" with "retarded" and "substantially" with "notably", suggesting a slowing down or hindrance.

be extensively prolonged

Replaces "delayed" with "prolonged" and "substantially" with "extensively", emphasizing the extended duration of the delay.

undergo a lengthy deferral

Turns the phrase into a noun-based construction, focusing on the long-term postponement.

FAQs

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

You can use "be substantially delayed" to describe a significant postponement or deferral of an event, process, or action. For example: "The project may "be substantially delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "be substantially delayed"?

Alternatives include "be significantly postponed", "be considerably deferred", or "experience significant delays". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "substantially delayed" or "significantly delayed"?

Both "substantially delayed" and "significantly delayed" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice often comes down to stylistic preference, although "substantially" may imply a slightly larger degree of delay.

What does it mean for something to "be substantially delayed"?

When something is "be substantially delayed", it means that its progress or occurrence has been postponed by a considerable amount of time, creating a significant impact on timelines or expectations.