delay explanation

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delay explanation" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to an explanation that is postponed or not provided in a timely manner. For example: "The delay explanation was necessary to clarify the situation." Alternative expressions include "postponed explanation," "deferred explanation," and "held-back explanation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

(Albeit, he said delay explanations have been less forthcoming since last October's deadline came and went).

TechCrunch

However, students may not be satisfied with their instructors' delayed explanations to their questions, and may not feel that the instructor is approachable, and/or feel at ease in collaborating with their peers with asynchronous communication (Summers et al. 2005).

International Journal of STEM Education

Delay Without Explanation The confluence of those problems was evident in Mr. Ragland's case.

The New York Times

So, without further delay or explanation, we present some of those awesome stories, our editors' selections for the best Science Careers stories of 2010, presented in chronological order.

Science Magazine

You need to provide evidence against this synaptic delay alternative explanation.

eLife

Sure enough, as I wait for a connection I see that direct train was delayed: no explanation given.

The Guardian

Last night, the President was supposed to address the nation at 10 30, but his speech was delayed without explanation.

The New Yorker

It is Buzz Drumer's shame, perhaps, that delays the explanation for his missing little-finger joint — noticed when Pearl meets him on page 22 — until page 156.

The New Yorker

By Blake Eskin May 2, 2011 Last night, the President was supposed to address the nation at 10 30, but his speech was delayed without explanation.

The New Yorker

The results in Sunday's presidential election were delayed without explanation today, and Ivoirians expressed fears that the military government was trying to manipulate the outcome.

The New York Times

Since the publication of the story in The Times, he said, he had heard from "quite a number of people" who had faced the same sort of delays without explanation.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the compound noun "delay explanation" when brevity is required, such as in headlines, subject lines or technical documentation.

Common error

Avoid using "delay explanation" when you actually mean an explanation that was delivered late; in that case, "delayed explanation" is the correct choice to ensure the adjective modifies the timing of the explanation itself.

Linguistic Context

In the phrase "delay explanation", the word "delay" functions as a noun adjunct (or attributive noun) that modifies the head noun "explanation". This structure is a standard compound noun formation in English, similar to "bus stop" or "project plan". While Ludwig indicates this specific bigram is less common than its prepositional counterparts, it serves as a compact way to categorize a specific type of statement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

25%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Social Media

5%

Informal Speech

3%

Fiction

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "delay explanation" is a grammatically correct compound noun used to describe the reasoning behind a postponement. Analysis from Ludwig reveals that while the exact bigram is less frequent than the prepositional phrase "explanation for the delay", it is widely understood and used in authoritative journalistic and scientific contexts. It is particularly effective in technical writing or headlines where conciseness is valued. However, writers should be careful not to confuse it with "delayed explanation", which specifically refers to the timing of the delivery of the information rather than its content. Overall, it is a professional and functional term suitable for news reporting, scientific analysis and business documentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

explanation for the delay

Most standard and widely used prepositional form

reason for the delay

Focuses on the underlying cause rather than the statement itself

delayed explanation

Uses an adjective to describe an explanation that arrived late

rationale for the postponement

More technical and formal terminology

justification for the wait

Implies a more formal defense of the time elapsed

cause of the delay

More direct identification of the source of the lag

account for the delay

A verb-based alternative implying a comprehensive report

clarification on the delay

Suggests resolving confusion regarding the timing

deferred explanation

Formal way to describe an explanation that has been put off

belated explanation

Adds a descriptive tone regarding the lateness of the message

FAQs

How to use "delay explanation" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object, for example: "The technical team provided a comprehensive delay explanation after the system outage".

What can I say instead of "delay explanation"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/explanation+for+the+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">explanation for the delay", "<a href="/s/reason+for+the+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">reason for the delay" or "<a href="/s/justification+for+the+wait" target="_blank" rel="alternative">justification for the wait".

Which is correct, "delay explanation" or "delayed explanation"?

Both are correct but have different meanings. "Delay explanation" refers to the reason for a delay, while a "<a href="/s/delayed+explanation" target="_blank" rel="alternative">delayed explanation" is an explanation that was provided late.

Is "delay explanation" too informal for business?

It is not informal, but it is concise. In professional correspondence, "<a href="/s/explanation+for+the+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">explanation for the delay" is generally perceived as more polite and articulate.