delay in

USAGE SUMMARY

"delay in" is a perfectly acceptable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to refer to a delay in something happening or being completed, such as in the following example: We apologize for the delay in responding to your inquiry.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"There was a delay in the arrest.

BBC

Was there a delay in diagnosis?

The Guardian - Opinion

This meant a delay in publishing.

The Guardian

Unfortunately, delay in this city is expensive.

The New York Times

Apologies for the delay in my updates.

The Guardian - Sport

Hence the delay in naming her daughter.

The Guardian

The delay in an indictment seemed curious.

The New Yorker

There is a delay in displaying the screen.

The Guardian - Tech

"The delay in processing and releasing him is inexcusable.

The Guardian

The delay in screenings obviously has health implications for women.

The New York Times

On the contrary, he regrets this delay in its publication.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delay in", ensure the noun following 'in' clearly specifies what is being delayed. For example, "delay in processing", "delay in delivery", or "delay in response".

Common error

Don't use "delay in" without specifying the action or event being delayed. Saying "there's a delay in things" is vague. Be specific: "There's a delay in the project's timeline."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay in" functions as a noun phrase followed by a preposition, typically modifying another noun or verb to indicate a postponement or slowing down of an event, process, or action. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a grammatically acceptable construct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "delay in" is a versatile and commonly used expression for indicating a postponement or slowdown. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides ample examples of its use across varied contexts. When using "delay in", ensure you clearly specify what is being delayed to avoid vagueness. While alternatives like "postponement of" or "slowdown of" exist, "delay in" maintains a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal communication. Its frequency is very common, appearing often in news, science, and business domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponement of

Focuses on the act of delaying something to a later time.

deferment of

Implies a formal or official delay to a later date.

retardation of

Emphasizes the slowing down of a process or progress.

hold-up in

Suggests an interruption or obstacle causing a delay.

interruption of

Highlights the breaking of continuity leading to a delay.

setback to

Indicates an unexpected problem causing a delay in achieving a goal.

slowdown of

Refers to a reduction in speed or activity.

hiatus in

Implies a temporary gap or pause.

suspension of

Suggests a temporary stopping of something.

cessation of

Indicates a complete stop or end to something.

FAQs

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

Use "delay in" to describe a situation where something is being postponed or slowed down. For example: "We apologize for the "delay in shipping" your order."

What are some alternatives to "delay in"?

You can use alternatives such as "postponement of", "deferment of", or "slowdown of" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a delay of" instead of "delay in"?

While "a delay of" is grammatically correct, "delay in" is typically used when you want to specify the area in which the delay is occurring (e.g. "delay in processing"). "A delay of" is often used to quantify the length of the delay (e.g. "a delay of two hours").

What's the difference between "delay in" and "late in"?

"Delay in" refers to the postponement or slowing down of something, while "late in" indicates that something is occurring after the expected or usual time. They are not interchangeable.