delay in doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"delay in doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it in a sentence when referring to a person's delay in taking some sort of action. For example, "There has been a delay in doing something about the problem."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

His delay in doing so, however, had caused considerable consternation.

The Guardian

The delay in doing so was "inexcusable", he said.

The Guardian

Dr. Frieden said the delay in doing so was part of an effort to avoid giving people inaccurate information.

The New York Times

Every year's delay in doing something about climate change will take far more than a year to put right.

The Economist

Trump has disavowed such support from Duke, although in February a delay in doing so caused controversy.

The Guardian

Meanwhile, at a Fussypuss session with his old boss (the party disaster obviously hasn't been held against him), Josh discusses tactics for proposing to Raquel, who has been increasingly frustrated by his delay in doing so.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

But now I know my darling wife that it is right to do what I have delayed in doing".

The New York Times - Arts

And if we delayed in doing that, why aren't we doing that now?

The New York Times

For several weeks after its official launch on October 1, 2013, visitors were unable to use the site or experienced long delays in doing so.

Encyclopedia Britannica

His party has repeatedly called for a repeal of the Musharraf-era powers, and Mr. Zardari's delays in doing so could turn Mr. Sharif against him, making Mr. Zardari's resignation all but inevitable.

The New York Times

And in 2005 EADS Sodern, a French maker of satellites' control and positioning systems and subsidiary of the Franco-German company EADS, said it would start to phase out its American supplier base.Meanwhile, American components and satellites are suffering because of the cost and delays in doing business with the firms that make them.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "delay in doing" when you want to emphasize the act of postponing or putting off a specific action. Ensure the context makes it clear what action is being delayed.

Common error

Avoid using "delay in doing" in overly convoluted sentences where it can make the sentence difficult to parse. Sometimes, simplifying the sentence structure or choosing a more direct verb can improve clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay in doing" functions as a noun phrase describing the action of postponing something. It typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence, as seen in Ludwig's examples, like "The delay in doing so was 'inexcusable'."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "delay in doing" is a grammatically sound way to describe the postponement of an action. While not exceedingly common, it appears in diverse contexts ranging from news reports to scientific literature. As confirmed by Ludwig, the phrase is correct and useful. When using "delay in doing", ensure your sentence structure remains clear and that the context emphasizes the specific action being delayed. Consider alternative phrases like "postponement of action" or "holding off on acting" to tailor your writing to different situations. Despite its correctness, strive for simplicity and precision in your wording to avoid any potential ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponement of action

Replaces "delay" with "postponement" and uses "action" instead of "doing" for a more formal tone.

deferral of execution

Substitutes "delay" with "deferral" and "doing" with "execution", suggesting a more official or technical context.

holding off on acting

Uses a more colloquial expression, replacing "delay" with "holding off" and "doing" with "acting".

procrastination in performing

Emphasizes the volitional aspect of delaying, replacing "delay" with "procrastination" and "doing" with "performing".

hesitation in proceeding

Highlights uncertainty or reluctance, substituting "delay" with "hesitation" and "doing" with "proceeding".

slowness to act

Focuses on the speed of action, using "slowness" instead of "delay" and "act" instead of "doing".

retardation of implementation

Suggests a hindrance or obstruction, replacing "delay" with "retardation" and "doing" with "implementation".

lag in execution

Highlights a gap or interval, substituting "delay" with "lag" and "doing" with "execution".

suspension of activity

Indicates a temporary cessation, replacing "delay" with "suspension" and "doing" with "activity".

putting off the deed

Uses a more figurative expression, replacing "delay" with "putting off" and "doing" with "the deed".

FAQs

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

You can use "delay in doing" to describe a situation where someone is postponing or taking longer than expected to complete an action. For example, "The "delay in implementing" the new policy has caused confusion".

What are some alternatives to "delay in doing"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "postponement of action", "deferral of execution", or "holding off on acting", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "delay in doing" imply?

The phrase "delay in doing" implies that there is an expected action that is not being carried out promptly. It suggests a deviation from the expected timeline and can carry a negative connotation, depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "delay in doing" and "delay of doing"?

While both phrases are related, "delay in doing" is generally more common and natural-sounding. "Delay of doing" is less frequently used and might sound slightly awkward in certain contexts.