create a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "create a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of intentionally causing a postponement or a hold-up in a process or event. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we may need to create a delay in the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

That would just create a delay and not help anybody".

Independent

GAZETTE: But wouldn't that create a delay in the investigation?

Harvard University

That would create a delay in payouts or the fund might have to close.

The Guardian - Money

Slippage, originating in both the gear train and the soft tires (in contact with the floor), would create a delay in our system that eventually drove it to instability.

Cornell University

Mr. McDonald said union leaders had some remaining questions about the paper's finances before negotiations began, but he declined to say what they were and indicated that they were unlikely to create a delay.

The New York Times

Gibraltar's Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said Spanish border officers were "just trying to create a delay by pretending to search" vehicles.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

"It's a lobbying ploy to create a delaying mechanism by making a lot of noise," said Bob Wright, NBC's president.

The New York Times

Control nests fledged at normal age (11 to 12 days), whereas enclosed nests prevented young from leaving for 3 days after fledging naturally to create a delayed fledge age.

Forbes

These circuits create a delayed and phase-rotated version of the outgoing signal that is subtracted to the incoming one, aiming at tracking and simulating the effect of the channel [15].

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Similarly, CMS subtests assessing recognition for verbal information (i.e., Stored Delayed Recognition & Word Pairs Delayed Recognition) were combined to create a "Delayed Verbal Recognition" composite.

Child Neuropsychology

That switch, says the historian Douglas Brinkley, created a delay that allowed Martin Luther King Jr. to emerge as a leader.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, specify the type of delay you're creating (e.g., "create a project delay", "create a processing delay").

Common error

Avoid using "create a delay" too frequently in formal writing. Opt for more precise and professional alternatives like "cause a postponement" or "result in a setback" to maintain a sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "create a delay" functions as a verb phrase where 'create' acts as the verb, 'a' is an article, and 'delay' is a noun functioning as the object. It expresses the action of causing a postponement or hindrance. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "create a delay" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for describing the act of causing a postponement. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to scientific discussions. While versatile, opting for more formal alternatives like "cause a postponement" may be preferable in professional settings. Remember to clearly specify the type of delay being created for better clarity and avoid overuse in formal contexts to maintain a sophisticated writing style. Ludwig's examples showcase its relevance across diverse scenarios, highlighting its practical applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause a postponement

Focuses on the action of causing something to be moved to a later time.

generate a hold-up

Emphasizes the act of generating an obstruction or impediment.

induce a standstill

Highlights the action of bringing something to a complete stop.

precipitate a setback

Stresses the causing of a negative development or reversal.

bring about a moratorium

Focuses on initiating a temporary prohibition of an activity.

establish a deferral

Highlights the act of formally setting up a postponement.

engender a protraction

Emphasizes the action of causing something to last longer.

prompt a retardation

Stresses the causing of a slowing down or hindering.

initiate a lag

Focuses on starting a period of time between one event and another.

foster a holdup

Highlights promoting or encouraging a hindrance.

FAQs

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

You can use "create a delay" to describe the act of intentionally or unintentionally causing something to be postponed. For example, "The new regulations may "create a delay" in the project's completion."

What are some alternatives to "create a delay"?

Alternatives include "cause a delay", "lead to a delay", "result in a delay", or "generate a delay", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "make a delay" instead of "create a delay"?

While "make a delay" might be understood, ""create a delay"" is the more standard and grammatically accepted phrasing.

What's the difference between "cause a delay" and "create a delay"?

While both phrases are similar, ""cause a delay"" often implies an unintentional consequence, whereas ""create a delay"" can suggest a more deliberate action, though it's not always the case.