belated

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "belated" is a word that is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that is happening late or after the expected time. For example: I am sending my belated birthday wishes to apologize for not being able to attend your party.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bit belated this but, apropos of Rebekah Brooks's appearance at the Leveson inquiry the other week, are Peter Pan collars now over?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

So the Financial Times's splash is headlined Cameron builds on Right to Buy in effort to regain the edge from Miliband and its leading article, unimpressed with Labour's financial pledges, is headlined Miliband's belated vow to do his fiscal homework.

The Guardian

Mr McGuinness, who is also the education minister at Stormont, denied IRA disarmament was a belated response to the changed international climate towards terrorism after the September 11 attacks by on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.

The Guardian

The African Union was belated in responding but realised it was not only a Nigerian problem but a regional problem".

The Guardian

"Whenever I made speeches, I used to hear Eric growling behind me: 'Remember Alex – when Scotland goes, Liverpool's coming with you!'" Independence, he said, would offer northern England and Liverpool "a catalyst to secure real political power, to allow determination of the future, not the long wait for belated scraps from the Westminster table".

The Guardian

This is somewhat belated, for which many apologies, but via the always-brilliant Jezebel.com come scans from the Dianetics and Scientology festive gift catalogue.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

But the biggest change to Lee's circumstances has been his belated success.

The Guardian

A belated but entirely seasonal mention to a charity quiz night hosted by the pub landlord Al Murray in the runup to Christmas.

The Guardian

Mr Justice Kerr pointed out that in an earlier application to the courts this week - the day before Mr Trimble's belated election as first Mminister - the secretary of state, John Reid's, lawyers had accepted he was under an obligation to call an election.

The Guardian

The move, authorised by a special ministerial committee that is meeting weekly to try to stop the NHS tipping into a full-blown winter crisis, is seen as belated recognition in government that social care is an integral part of the health system.

The Guardian

That 14 people were arrested and fined shows a belated willingness to punish.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When offering "belated" wishes or apologies, acknowledge the delay directly to show sincerity. For instance, say "Please accept my belated condolences; I was deeply saddened to hear about..."

Common error

Avoid using "belated" when you mean "regretful". "Belated" refers to timing, while "regretful" refers to feelings of remorse. For example, it's correct to say "belated birthday wishes," but not "regretful birthday wishes" if you simply mean 'sorry I missed your birthday'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "belated" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is happening or being offered later than expected or desired, as Ludwig examples show.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "belated" functions as an adjective to denote lateness, commonly used in neutral contexts such as offering "belated" apologies or "belated" birthday wishes. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use across diverse domains like News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. When using "belated", it's important to acknowledge the delay directly to demonstrate sincerity. The word should not be confused with "regretful", which expresses remorse rather than simply indicating lateness. Alternatives such as "late", "tardy", and "overdue" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

late

This is a more general term for not being on time, lacking the specific connotation of an action being overdue.

overdue

This emphasizes that something should have happened earlier, often with a sense of obligation.

tardy

This alternative emphasizes a simple lateness, without necessarily implying apology or regret.

tardy

Highlights the lateness, similar to 'late', but with a slightly more formal tone.

delayed

This focuses on the postponement of an event or action, highlighting the fact that it was not on time.

behind schedule

This describes a situation where progress is slower than planned, implying a deviation from an expected timeline.

long-delayed

This emphasizes the extent of the delay, suggesting that the event or action has been waited for a long time.

after the fact

This highlights the time as after the critical moment when action would have been most effective or relevant.

untimely

This suggests something is happening at an inappropriate or unfortunate time, deviating from when it should have happened.

retrospective

This emphasizes looking back at past events, rather than the timing of a specific action.

FAQs

How to use "belated" in a sentence?

"Belated" is typically used before a noun to describe something that is delayed or late. For example, "belated birthday wishes" or "belated apologies".

What can I say instead of "belated"?

You can use alternatives like "late", "tardy", or "overdue" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "belated thank you"?

Yes, it is correct to say "belated thank you" to express gratitude for something after a delay. This indicates that you are thanking someone later than you intended.

What's the difference between "belated" and "untimely"?

"Belated" refers to something happening later than it should have, while "untimely" refers to something happening at an inappropriate or unfortunate time. "Belated" focuses on the timing, whereas "untimely" focuses on the appropriateness of the timing.