delay the shipment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delay the shipment" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to postponing the delivery of goods or products. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to delay the shipment of your order until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Last month, the Tokyo-based company said it will delay the shipment of its head mount display to fall 2016 because of difficulty sourcing some components.

TechCrunch

"If the damage is disruptive to fab-operations for much more than a week then many Taiwanese device makers would likely delay the shipment of new equipment," Fitzgerald added.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On May 9th, the Department of Energy agreed to delay the shipments, and hearings will start on the governor's lawsuit on June 13th.The Savannah River site, built in the early 1950s to make most of the plutonium used in America's nuclear weapons, already has 37m gallons of liquid high-level nuclear waste stored in underground storage tanks.

The Economist

On Wednesday, the Pentagon delayed the shipment of four F-16 fighter jets to the Egyptian Air Force to signal the administration's displeasure with the chaotic situation in Egypt.

The New York Times

Diplomats suspect he is delaying the shipment of chemical weapons out of the country, agreed under a deal in September, as a way of ensuring that he keeps a role.

The Economist

The ensuing ten-day shutdown delayed the shipment of more than $12 billion worth of goods, just as retailers were gearing up for the holiday season.

Forbes

He has not forgotten that in 2002 a port strike on the West Coast delayed the shipment of important tools needed at a factory in Ohio for the launch of the Honda Element.

Forbes

I would estimate the time this theoretical setback would delay the production schedule, then the shipment schedule.

Vice

Sounds good, except they've been delaying the first shipments for a good 8 months now, and competitors like Zeo are eating up the market.

TechCrunch

A wrong HS code may delay the custom clearance of your shipment.

WikiHow

Already, the United States is considering a delay in the shipment of Apache attack helicopters and repair kits for tanks.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When communicating a delay, be proactive in informing all stakeholders involved, including customers, suppliers and internal teams. Provide a clear reason for the delay and an estimated revised delivery date to manage expectations effectively.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you will "delay the shipment" without explaining why. Transparency builds trust. Provide a concise reason for the delay, such as "due to unforeseen logistical issues" or "pending quality control checks."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delay the shipment" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It indicates an action—the act of postponing or delaying—applied to a specific object: the shipment. The Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "delay the shipment" is a common and grammatically correct way to communicate a postponement of a delivery. According to Ludwig, it's most frequently found in news and media contexts, though also appears in science and general references. When using the phrase, be sure to provide a clear explanation for the delay and manage expectations by offering a revised delivery date. Alternatives such as "postpone the delivery" or "hold up the consignment" offer similar meanings. Always strive for transparency and avoid simply stating the delay without giving a reason.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone the delivery

Replaces 'shipment' with 'delivery', focusing on the act of delivering rather than the shipping process itself.

hold up the consignment

Uses 'hold up' implying a temporary stop, and 'consignment' specifies the goods being shipped.

defer the dispatch

Replaces 'delay' with 'defer', indicating a more formal postponement, and 'dispatch' refers to sending goods.

reschedule the transport

Focuses on rescheduling the transportation, implying a change in the planned schedule.

suspend the freight

Suggests a temporary halt to the freight, emphasizing a pause in the shipping process.

put off the shipping

Informal alternative using phrasal verb 'put off' and focusing on the 'shipping' aspect.

adjourn the forwarding

A more formal term where 'adjourn' indicates a temporary suspension and 'forwarding' refers to the act of sending onward.

slow down the distribution

Indicates a reduction in the speed of distribution, rather than a complete stop.

impede the transit

Focuses on hindering or obstructing the transit process, suggesting difficulties.

stall the movement of goods

Implies a halting or slowing of the movement of goods, emphasizing the physical items being transported.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to saying "delay the shipment"?

You can use alternatives such as "postpone the delivery", "hold up the consignment", or "defer the dispatch" depending on the specific context.

How do I use "delay the shipment" in a sentence?

You can use "delay the shipment" in a sentence like: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have to delay the shipment until next week" or "The strike at the port may delay the shipment of goods."

What is the difference between "delay the shipment" and "cancel the shipment"?

"Delay the shipment" means to postpone the shipment to a later date. "Cancel the shipment" means to completely stop the shipment from happening. The former implies a temporary hold, while the latter implies termination.

What causes companies to "delay the shipment"?

Companies might delay shipments due to various reasons, including logistical issues, supply chain disruptions, quality control problems, or unforeseen events like natural disasters or political instability.