became delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "became delayed" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used in contexts where you want to indicate that something has transitioned into a state of being delayed, but it is more common to use simpler forms. Example: "The train became delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Infanterieregiment, became delayed by flanking fire from Dutch outposts, the position of which had not been correctly determined.

Wikipedia

Although he expected to reach the village by the time the hour had past, Church's force became delayed by stream crossings made more difficult by the receding tide: "But meeting with several creeks near twenty or thirty feet deep, which were very muddy and dirty, so that the army could not get over them, were obliged to return to their boats again".

Wikipedia

Importantly, with inhibition disrupted, the location of the peak firing became delayed occurring 210 ± 26 ms after the stimuli had reached the RF centre.

eLife

Reminiscent of our finding in primary MEFs (Supplementary Figure S3D), immortalized MEFs Esco2 Δ / Δ became delayed in prometaphase/metaphase but showed no enrichment in prophase.

EMBO Journal

The complete division of a budding yeast cell related gene, Sic1, is deferred to be activated since the activation of the transcription factor of Sic1 (i.e., Swi5) became delayed.

BMC Systems Biology

If a melatonin-related SCN oscillator component became delayed well past dawn, perhaps because of sleep loss and use of artificial lighting late at night, then morning light might further delay that component past noon, triggering internal circadian desynchronization or bifurcation.

F1000Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Increasingly, when passengers board a plane that becomes delayed, they are being held, sometimes for hours on end, without basic comforts and necessities.

The New York Times

To solve this problem, new algorithms have been developed to implement a cloudbursting scheduler in which durable cloud-based CPU resources may execute replicas of jobs that have become delayed.

Journal of Cloud Computing

This can be overcome through cloudbursting: the dynamic deployment in real-time of durable (i.e. highly reliable and available) cloud-based CPU resources that execute replicas of jobs that have become delayed.

Journal of Cloud Computing

If some of the tasks become delayed, the completion time of the last job in the batch may be some while after the majority of the jobs have finished, thus seriously affecting the overall completion time of the batch.

Journal of Cloud Computing

In warmer climates, the combined effects of recovery from moulting and ovary maturation mean that spawning can become delayed.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common and natural-sounding alternatives such as "was delayed" or "got delayed". While "became delayed" is technically correct, it can sound slightly awkward to native English speakers.

Common error

Avoid using "became delayed" in informal contexts. Opt for more colloquial alternatives like "got delayed" or "was running late" to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "became delayed" functions as a verb phrase indicating a change of state, specifically transitioning into a state of lateness or postponement. As Ludwig highlights, while grammatically sound, simpler alternatives are generally preferred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

30%

Wiki

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while grammatically sound, the phrase "became delayed" is less common and can sound somewhat awkward. Ludwig AI confirms this observation. Simpler alternatives like "was delayed" or "got delayed" are often preferred, particularly in informal contexts. However, "became delayed" is suitable for expressing the transition into a delayed state in neutral to formal writing, particularly within scientific or news reporting. Therefore, consider the context and audience when choosing between "became delayed" and its more prevalent alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

got delayed

More informal and conversational than "became delayed".

ran late

A simple and common way to describe a delay in timing.

was postponed

Uses 'postponed' to emphasize a deliberate rescheduling, instead of a more general lateness.

experienced a delay

More formal and emphasizes the occurrence of a delay.

was running behind

Describes an ongoing state of being delayed.

was held up

Implies an obstruction or hindrance caused the delay.

encountered a holdup

Similar to 'was held up', emphasizing an obstacle caused the delay.

suffered a setback

Suggests the delay had negative consequences or impacted progress.

became protracted

Highlights that the delay was extended or prolonged.

fell behind schedule

Emphasizes not meeting the planned timeline.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "became delayed"?

More common alternatives include "was delayed" or "got delayed". These options often sound more natural in everyday conversation and writing.

Is "became delayed" grammatically incorrect?

No, "became delayed" is not grammatically incorrect, but it's less frequently used and can sound somewhat formal or stilted. It's generally acceptable but might not be the best choice in all contexts. Ludwig AI explains that the expression is not standard and sounds awkward.

When is it appropriate to use "became delayed"?

You can use "became delayed" when you want to emphasize the process of something transitioning into a state of delay. However, simpler alternatives like "was delayed" are often preferred.

What are some situations where using "became delayed" might sound awkward?

Using "became delayed" in casual conversation or informal writing might sound overly formal. In those contexts, phrases like "got delayed" or "ran late" would be more suitable.