cause for delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"cause for delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to explain why something is taking longer for an expected outcome. For example, "The meeting was postponed due to a cause for delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The cause for delay?

Independent

The terror attacks and the military campaign in Afghanistan should not be cause for delay in peace talks, Mr. Arafat said.

The New York Times

issued a statement Thursday evening calling on Boehner to bring the Senate-passed farm bill to a vote, noting that "Republican incompetence" should not be a cause for delay in assistance to rural areas.

Huffington Post

MDTs were felt to be a cause for delay and 'a tick-box' exercise (oncologists) and a missed opportunity for patient advocacy (palliative care).

BMC Health Services Research

Downplaying the significance of breast related symptoms seems to represent a major cause for delay, whereas fear and difficulties in scheduling an appointment appear to play a minor role in this context.

British Journal of Cancer

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The judge overseeing the case, Justice Gustin L. Reichbach of State Supreme Court, has told prosecutors to show good cause for delaying prosecution of the case, and has already dismissed the charges against another man, John Sinagra, because of the delay.

The New York Times

So what's the cause for delays this time around?

TechCrunch

According to Kyla Evans, a spokeswoman for Eurocontrol, the Brussels-based air navigation safety organization, airspace and taxiway congestion are the main cause for delays in Europe.

Forbes

A major cause for delays is the training time required for engineers and other personnel to acquire the necessary skills to complete software tasks.

Computers & Industrial Engineering

Changes made in building projects during their design and execution are a major cause for delays, cost overruns and deviations from performance requirements.

Automation in Construction

"Disbursement delay" was the most commonly cited cause for delayed implementation.

Globalization and Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cause for delay", ensure the context clearly identifies what is being delayed. For example, specify "cause for delay in project completion" for clarity.

Common error

Avoid assuming that a preceding event is necessarily the "cause for delay". Always verify a direct causal link rather than a mere correlation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cause for delay" functions as a noun phrase that identifies the reason or source of a delay. It serves to pinpoint the specific factor or event that is responsible for something being late or postponed. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cause for delay" is a grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the reason something is not happening on time. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability across different registers. The phrase is found most commonly in scientific and news contexts, but its general applicability makes it a valuable tool for clear communication. Remember to clearly identify what is being delayed for maximum impact. While "cause of delay" is a more frequent variation, "cause for delay" is a valuable phrase to include in your vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reason for the delay

Replaces "cause" with "reason", emphasizing the explanation behind the delay.

explanation for the delay

Focuses on providing an account or justification for why something is late.

source of the delay

Highlights the origin or starting point of the delay.

factor contributing to the delay

Emphasizes one of several elements that collectively led to the delay.

what caused the delay

Directly asks about the reason behind the delay.

grounds for the delay

Suggests a justification or acceptable basis for the delay.

impediment to progress

Focuses on the obstruction that slowed down the progress.

trigger for the delay

Emphasizes the event or condition that initiated the delay.

root of the delay

Indicates the fundamental or core reason for the delay.

the reason why it's delayed

Simple rewording with focus on the state of being delayed and why.

FAQs

How can I use "cause for delay" in a sentence?

You can use "cause for delay" to explain what's making something late. For instance, "The weather was the primary "cause for delay" in the shipment's arrival".

What's a more formal way to say "cause for delay"?

A more formal alternative to "cause for delay" could be "reason for the postponement" or "factor contributing to the delay", depending on the context.

Is "cause of delay" the same as "cause for delay"?

While similar, "cause of delay" is generally more common. "Cause for delay" is also correct, but it subtly emphasizes the justification for the delay, whereas "cause of delay" simply identifies the reason.

What phrases are similar to "cause for delay"?

Similar phrases include "reason for delay", "source of the delay", or "explanation for the delay", which all communicate the reason something is being held up.