briefly delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "briefly delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something is postponed for a short period of time. Example: "The train was briefly delayed due to signal issues, but it resumed its schedule shortly after."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

The ceremony was briefly delayed by a disagreement over protocol.

The Guardian

Inbound flights were briefly delayed while the investigation was underway.

Independent

Now we meet to assert a unified will". The ceremony was briefly delayed by a disagreement over protocol.

The Guardian

The show was briefly delayed as Dyfan Dwyfor got ready to step in and take over the role.

The New York Times

In both of his first two years in office, Obama briefly delayed his vacation to remain in Washington while Congress completed its business.

The Washington Post

Dempsey's nomination for a new term as chairman was even briefly delayed in the Senate last month after pro-war senators demanded fuller advice about Syria.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

Some fuzes briefly delay detonation of a bomb's high-explosive charge.

The New York Times

In the suburb of Circumflegrea, protesters dumped trash onto the railroad tracks, briefly delaying a train.

The New York Times

Briefly delaying the departure of abusers gives victims a chance to leave court safely and reach transportation.

The Washington Post

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio spoke on Friday about the "terrible tragedy" that had occurred, briefly delaying a family vacation to Italy due to the situation.

The Washington Post

The incident occurred down the rails from where two other anti-nuclear protesters had earlier chained themselves to the track, briefly delaying the train.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve readability, use synonyms of "briefly delayed" when you need to avoid repetitions in your text. For example you can consider to replace "briefly delayed" with "momentarily postponed", "temporarily suspended" or "slightly adjourned", depending on the context.

Common error

Avoid using "briefly delayed" without specifying what caused the delay or providing an estimated resumption time. Omitting this information can leave the audience wondering about the severity and impact of the delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "briefly delayed" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It describes the state of something that has been temporarily postponed or interrupted. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard phrase in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Sports

16%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "briefly delayed" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate a short postponement or interruption. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is perfectly correct. It is most frequently found in news, sports, and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the cause and expected duration of the delay, and consider context-appropriate synonyms like "momentarily postponed" or "temporarily suspended" to enrich your writing. Avoiding these common mistakes and following best practices will ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

momentarily postponed

Replaces "delayed" with "postponed" and "briefly" with "momentarily", indicating a temporary interruption.

temporarily suspended

Substitutes "delayed" with "suspended" and "briefly" with "temporarily", suggesting a short-term cessation.

slightly adjourned

Replaces "delayed" with "adjourned" and "briefly" with "slightly", implying a short break or postponement.

shortly interrupted

Changes "delayed" to "interrupted" and "briefly" to "shortly", suggesting a quick disturbance.

quickly put off

Replaces "delayed" with "put off" and "briefly" with "quickly", indicating a fast postponement.

promptly held up

Substitutes "delayed" with "held up" and "briefly" with "promptly", suggesting a fast interruption.

for a moment disrupted

Replaces "briefly delayed" with "for a moment disrupted", indicating a very short disturbance.

fleetingly hindered

Substitutes "delayed" with "hindered" and "briefly" with "fleetingly", suggesting a short-lived obstruction.

for a short time postponed

Replaces "briefly delayed" with "for a short time postponed", making the phrase more descriptive.

intermittently slowed down

Replaces "delayed" with "slowed down" and "briefly" with "intermittently", suggesting a non continuous slowdown.

FAQs

How can I use "briefly delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "briefly delayed" to describe a situation where something is postponed for a short period. For example, "The meeting was briefly delayed due to a technical issue".

What are some alternatives to "briefly delayed"?

Alternatives include "momentarily postponed", "temporarily suspended", or "slightly adjourned", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "slightly delayed" instead of "briefly delayed"?

Yes, "slightly delayed" is a valid alternative. While both phrases indicate a short delay, "slightly delayed" might suggest an even shorter or less impactful delay than "briefly delayed".

What is the difference between "briefly delayed" and "indefinitely delayed"?

"Briefly delayed" indicates a short, temporary postponement, while "indefinitely delayed" suggests that the delay has no known end time. Using one or the other depends on the information available about the length of the delay.