delay the selection

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delay the selection" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to postponing a decision or choice in various contexts, such as hiring, project decisions, or any situation where a selection process is involved. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to delay the selection of candidates for the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Mr. Wolfowitz also defended a decision by L. Paul Bremer III, the new civilian administrator, to delay the selection of an interim civilian Iraqi authority until security improved and American officials took more time to vet Iraqi representatives.

The New York Times

Mr. Soros, who has contributed to Mr. Obama but has no formal campaign role, refused, a spokesman, Michael Vachon said, adding, "George Soros does not support holding another primary in Michigan, because he believes doing so will further delay the selection of a Democratic candidate for November".

The New York Times

County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke said MTA directors "are fairly close" to making a decision and did not want to delay the selection another month in order to give Hahn a role in the process.

Los Angeles Times

In line with such a notion, the addition of target features to a compound stimulus may delay the selection process, thereby increasing the SN time window [17].

Plosone

Currently there is great interest in using combination interventions with distinct modes of action as management strategy, not only to control resistant mosquitoes but to delay the selection of novel resistance, which indicates a potential role for fungi with other categories of insecticide.

Plosone

Interestingly, knock down of the Drosophila fwe gene (dfwe) was found to inhibit or delay the selection process, resulting in reduced clonal expansion of dMyc overexpressing epithelial cells (Rhiner et al., 2010).

DMM Disease Models and Mechanisms

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

BAGHDAD — The Iraqi Parliament delayed the selection of a new speaker on Sunday as Sunni lawmakers squabbled over which Sunni faction should get the post.

The New York Times

Real estate executives competing for both the PepsiCo site and the commercial parcel have complained that the bickering among government officials has delayed the selection of developers for months.

The New York Times

There is some support for more voices to be heard by delaying the selection of a two-strong shortlist to be voted on by party members until after the Conservative annual conference in October.

The Guardian

Disputes about the scope of the job delayed the selection process, as several candidates questioned the degree of authority they would have and wondered whether they would come under the same White House fire as Holbrooke had.

The Washington Post

This is because the way users identify resources influences everything from enabling mobility, to delaying the selection of the best resource for a given client, to adding flexibility to how routes are selected, to controlling what resources are private and what resources are publicly accessible.

MIT Technology Review

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delay the selection", be clear about the reason for the delay to avoid confusion or mistrust. Providing a timeline for when the selection will resume is also helpful.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you will "delay the selection" without providing any context or reasoning. This can lead to speculation and anxiety among those involved. Always explain why the delay is necessary and when you expect the selection process to continue.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay the selection" functions as a verb phrase where "delay" is the verb indicating the action of postponing and "the selection" is the noun phrase acting as the direct object. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delay the selection" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate the postponement of a choosing process. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for written English. It finds frequent usage in both News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, be sure to provide context and reasoning to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternative phrases such as "postpone the selection" or "defer the selection" to vary your language. The phrase holds a neutral tone suitable for both professional and general communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone the selection

Replaces "delay" with a direct synonym, maintaining the exact meaning.

defer the selection

Similar to "postpone", offering another synonym for "delay" with minimal semantic shift.

put off the selection

Another phrasal verb synonym for "delay", indicating a postponement to a later time.

hold off the selection

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the idea of temporarily stopping the selection process.

suspend the selection

Suggests a temporary halt to the selection, implying a possible resumption later.

stall the selection

Implies a deliberate action to slow down or stop the selection, often with a negative connotation.

table the selection

Suggests setting aside the selection for future consideration, often indefinitely.

adjourn the selection

Formally postpones the selection, often used in official or meeting contexts.

prolong the selection

Focuses on extending the duration of the selection process, not necessarily stopping it.

slow down the selection

Emphasizes reducing the pace of the selection process, rather than halting it completely.

FAQs

What does "delay the selection" mean?

The phrase "delay the selection" means to postpone or put off the process of choosing or selecting something or someone. It indicates that the decision or choice will not be made at the initially planned time but at a later date.

What can I say instead of "delay the selection"?

You can use alternatives like "postpone the selection", "defer the selection", or "put off the selection", depending on the context.

Is it better to "delay the selection" or "cancel the selection"?

Whether to "delay the selection" or cancel it depends on whether there is a possibility or intention to resume the selection process at a later time. If there is, delaying is more appropriate. If the selection will not happen at all, cancel is the correct term.

What are some reasons to "delay the selection"?

Reasons for delaying a selection can include needing more time to evaluate candidates, unforeseen circumstances affecting the selection process, waiting for additional information, or a lack of resources to complete the selection at the planned time.