casual delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"casual delay" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a delay that is informal or not serious in nature. Example: "The meeting started with a casual delay of about ten minutes." Alternative expressions include "minor delay" and "slight delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Only on four occasions did 2 patients not receive a CT scan every 3 months, and this was due to casual delay.

Chinese Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Pediatricians are reminded again and again not to be casual about delays in speech and language — not to shrug and say boys just talk later than girls, or younger siblings talk later than older siblings.

The New York Times - Health

"With all due respect to critics like Mr. DeLay, casual use of impeachment would disserve not only the federal judiciary but also the constitutional principles that have seen the United States through its worst crises," Justice Ginsburg said.

The New York Times

Management repeatedly emphasized that Crispani was part of an overall "evening strategy" geared to serve the Panera customer desiring to avoid the dinnertime delay at casual diners.

Forbes

The rain was enough to cover tee boxes and the corners of greens with casual water, leading to a rain delay of 2 hours 36 minutes.

Los Angeles Times

Nightmare is a term too casually used to retain its emotional impact; in casual conversation, it's tossed around to describe delayed train journeys or prolonged waits in airport departure lounges.

The Guardian - Opinion

SMPD3 is shown to be genetically casual for developmental defects, including dwarfism and delayed puberty (Stoffel et al. 2005).

Genome Biology and Evolution

Those who were employed, had casual work or were studying had a shorter delay than those not in employment (19 vs 39 days, p = 0.02).

BMC Infectious Diseases

While a potential delay of the decision might seem nonsensical to casual sports fans, the runners' thinking about a potential runoff is understandable.

The New York Times

The delay also affected providers' ability to pay their casual employees who were not on government's payroll.

Health Economics Review

That allows recording extremely reliable information about the user's opinion without distortion of results for the reasons of delay in time, location, emotional status, different context and other casual circumstances.

Energy, Sustainability and Society

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing delays in project timelines or schedules, use "casual delay" to indicate a minor, non-critical postponement that does not significantly impact the overall progress. This implies flexibility and understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "casual delay" in highly formal or professional reports where precision and seriousness are paramount. Opt for more neutral terms like "minor delay" or "slight postponement" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "casual delay" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "casual" modifies the noun "delay". It describes the type or nature of the delay, indicating it is not serious or formal. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "casual delay" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a minor or unimportant delay. Ludwig AI confirms that it is usable in English. While it appears primarily in news and scientific contexts, its informal tone may not be appropriate for highly formal settings. When using "casual delay", ensure the context aligns with its relaxed connotation and consider alternatives like "minor postponement" or "slight interruption" for more formal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

minor postponement

Replaces "delay" with a more formal synonym and "casual" with "minor" to indicate a slight, unimportant delay.

slight interruption

Substitutes "delay" with "interruption" to emphasize the temporary disruption caused; "slight" maintains the casual nature.

informal adjournment

Replaces "delay" with the more formal "adjournment", but modifies it with "informal" to retain a relaxed tone.

unhurried break

Emphasizes the lack of urgency or pressure associated with the delay, focusing on a relaxed pace.

relaxed suspension

Highlights the relaxed and unforced nature of the pause or delay.

unplanned respite

Focuses on the unexpected nature of the delay as a welcome break.

easygoing pause

Conveys a sense of nonchalance about the delay, implying it's not a cause for concern.

insignificant holdup

Highlights the lack of importance or impact of the delay.

trifling setback

Indicates that the delay is a small and easily overcome obstacle.

nonchalant deferment

Emphasizes a dismissive or indifferent attitude toward the postponement.

FAQs

How can I use "casual delay" in a sentence?

You can use "casual delay" to describe a minor, unimportant delay. For example, "The meeting started with a casual delay of about ten minutes because some attendees were running late".

What is a good synonym for "casual delay"?

Alternatives to "casual delay" include "minor postponement", "slight interruption", or "informal adjournment", each conveying a similar meaning of a brief and non-critical delay.

Is "casual delay" appropriate for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "casual delay" may be too informal for formal writing. In such contexts, consider using phrases like "minor delay" or "slight postponement" to maintain a more professional tone.

What does "casual delay" imply?

"Casual delay" implies that the delay is not serious, unexpected, or likely to cause significant problems. It suggests a relaxed attitude towards the timing of events.