because of a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "because of a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a reason for something not happening on time or being postponed. Example: "The meeting was rescheduled because of a delay in the delivery of the necessary materials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The meeting had been scheduled for April 27 but was postponed because of a delay in processing the company's proxy statement by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The New York Times

The new proposal would clarify the rights of passengers who miss a connecting flight because of a delay.

The New York Times

Fortunately, I've never been too late because of a delay or cancellation, but it's always a stressor.

The New York Times

A government scientist said the disease is out of control because of a delay between discovering the virus's presence and the slaughter of infected and exposed animals.

The New York Times

In April, Akbar said he was being prevented from speaking at a human rights conference in Washington because of a delay processing his application.

The Guardian

"I wasn't going to throw this race away because of a delay on the racetrack, so they can say what they want.

The New York Times - Sports

In July, a United Airlines flight left passengers stranded in Shanghai for three days because of a delay that had started as a mechanical problem.

The New York Times

Gravely ill asylum seeker Hamid Kehazaei was not taken off Manus Island for treatment because of a delay in getting him a visa, medical records of the dead man show.

The Guardian

People suffering the loss of a loved one should not have to endure the added indignity of having their home seized because of a delay in them deciding what to do with it..".

The Guardian

More than that, if the benefits of a treatment are attenuated in a trial, because of a delay introduced by the demands of ethics committees, then the trial gives the wrong answer.

The Guardian - Opinion

Kansas City Southern Industries may delay the spinoff of its mutual funds unit until next year because of a delay in getting a tax ruling from the Internal Revenue Service.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "because of a delay", ensure the sentence clearly indicates what is being delayed and the consequence of that delay.

Common error

Ensure the subject affected by the delay is clearly stated; vague references can confuse the reader. Instead of saying "Things went wrong because of a delay", specify "The project failed because of a delay in funding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "because of a delay" functions as an adverbial phrase or a prepositional phrase indicating the reason or cause for something. It is used to explain why an event was postponed, affected, or otherwise altered, as exemplified by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "because of a delay" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to indicate causality, specifically when something is impacted by lateness or postponement. Ludwig AI affirms its correctness and widespread applicability. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it serves the purpose of explaining why an event was affected, as shown in many examples. For stylistic variation, alternatives like "due to a delay" or "owing to a delay" can be used. When using "because of a delay", ensure clear communication of both the delayed event and its consequences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to a delay

Replaces "because of" with its direct synonym "due to".

owing to a delay

Substitutes "because of" with a more formal "owing to".

as a result of a delay

Emphasizes the consequence using "as a result of".

resulting from a delay

Focuses on the outcome by using "resulting from".

caused by a delay

Highlights the cause using the passive voice "caused by".

on account of a delay

Offers a slightly more archaic alternative to "because of".

attributable to a delay

Suggests the delay is the reason, using "attributable to".

on the grounds of a delay

Indicates a justification or reason based on the delay.

in light of a delay

Presents the delay as a factor influencing a decision or situation.

thanks to a delay

Can be used ironically to indicate a negative outcome from the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "because of a delay" in a sentence?

Use "because of a delay" to explain why something didn't happen on time or as expected. For example, "The meeting was postponed "because of a delay" in the speaker's arrival".

What can I say instead of "because of a delay"?

You can use alternatives like "due to a delay", "owing to a delay", or "as a result of a delay depending on the context.

Which is correct, "because of a delay" or "due to a delay"?

Both "because of a delay" and "due to a delay" are correct and can be used interchangeably. The choice often depends on personal preference or the desired tone of the writing.

What's the difference between "because of a delay" and "because of the delay"?

"Because of a delay" refers to a general instance of lateness, while "because of the delay" refers to a specific, previously mentioned or understood delay. For example, "The project was late because of a delay" (general) vs "The project was late because of the delay we discussed" (specific).