delayed a

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delayed a" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe something that has been postponed or is behind schedule, but it lacks context to be usable. Example: "The project was delayed a week due to unforeseen circumstances."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

The tavern's owner said yesterday that the reopening would likely be delayed a month.

The New York Times

Her outburst delayed a flight.

The New York Times

The agency has delayed a decision on the medicine twice.

The New York Times

"We have delayed a floor vote until September.

The New York Times

Gulf leaders this week delayed a decision on the proposals.

The Guardian

For one thing, it was delayed a night.

The New Yorker

The race had been delayed a day because of rain.

The New York Times - Sports

Sunday's start was delayed a half-hour because of frost.

The New York Times - Sports

It has been delayed a number of times.

The New York Times

"I have delayed a vote for three weeks.

The New York Times

Clemson delayed a basketball game against Georgia Tech.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing delays, be specific about the duration and reason. For example, instead of saying "The meeting was "delayed a" week", say "The meeting was delayed by a week due to unforeseen circumstances".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "delayed a" without specifying what the delay pertains to. For example, instead of "delayed a", clarify with phrases like "delayed by", "delayed for", or "delayed until".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delayed a" functions as a verb phrase, typically acting as part of a larger predicate. While grammatically questionable as per Ludwig AI, it's frequently used to indicate that something has been postponed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Sports

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "delayed a" appears frequently in various sources, particularly in News & Media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. It's often used to communicate that something has been postponed, but it lacks the necessary context to be fully correct. Therefore, it's advisable to use more precise alternatives such as "delayed by", "delayed for", or "delayed until" to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy. Despite its common usage, prioritizing grammatical correctness will enhance the professionalism and clarity of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed a

Replaces "delayed" with "postponed", emphasizing a decision to move something to a later time.

deferred a

Using "deferred" instead of "delayed" suggests a more formal or official postponement.

put off a

"Put off" is a more informal way to say "delayed", implying a less serious postponement.

rescheduled a

Focuses on the act of scheduling something for a later time after a delay.

put on hold a

Indicates a temporary suspension or postponement, often with the expectation of resuming later.

adjourned a

"Adjourned" specifically refers to postponing a meeting or session.

tabled a

"Tabled" is often used in formal contexts to indicate that a discussion or decision has been postponed.

held back a

Implies that something was prevented from happening or progressing at its intended time.

slowed down a

Implies that the progress of something has been hindered, resulting in a delay.

shelved a

Suggests that something has been postponed indefinitely, possibly with no intention of revisiting it.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the word "delayed" in a sentence?

To use "delayed" correctly, specify the extent or reason for the delay. For instance, say "The flight was "delayed by an hour"" or "The project was "delayed due to rain"".

What phrases can replace "delayed a"?

Alternatives include "postponed by", "held up for", or "rescheduled for", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "delayed a"?

The phrase "delayed a" is grammatically incomplete. It needs a preposition or further specification to indicate the extent or reason for the delay. For example, "delayed by a week" or "delayed until further notice".

What's the difference between "delayed a week" and "delayed for a week"?

"Delayed a week" is not grammatically correct. The proper phrasing is "delayed for a week" or "delayed by a week", both indicating the duration of the delay. "Delayed until next week" indicates the new expected time.