delayed a bit

USAGE SUMMARY

"delayed a bit" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or action that was postponed or slowed down. For example, "We had to wait a while longer than expected because the train was delayed a bit."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

The fact that things are delayed a bit doesn't mean a thing because Charlie came up all the way from Maiden Lane to take a walk with her.

The New Yorker

The couple's departure was delayed a bit when Mrs. Reagan's diamond ring became enmeshed in the tutu of a dancer, Marguerite Porter, but it was freed and Prince Charles and Mrs. Reagan walked into Damrosch Park for the day's climax, a formal ball.

The New York Times

Expanding on the former prime minister's comments at the news conference here, his brother, Shahbaz, also an experienced politician, said he was confident that the mood against the Musharraf government had turned so sour that the two main opposition parties would win the election, even if it was delayed a bit.

The New York Times

Our DJI Mavic Pro review will be delayed a bit.

TechCrunch

Dushnitsky agrees that business models for Web startups can be delayed a bit.

Forbes

The release was delayed a bit, and things turned out to be a bit differently than advertised.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

"The book was never banned, but its release was delayed a wee bit – that's all," Tariq Al Khajah, owner of distributor Zain Al Ma'ani, told the Gulf News.

The Guardian - Books

"Of course," he added with a sigh, "I have Hilton Hotel expenses from a conference in January here on my desk to file with the university, so that e-mail filtering may be delayed a little bit".

The New York Times - Tech

"He is a very strong player mentally so seeing him working – and we delayed a little bit his return to the first team – I think he is without any problems and he is working 100% with normality.

The Guardian - Sport

So that means that even if the political climate change debate is delayed a little bit, that's not going to slow things down on energy prices, resource depletion, or population growth.

The Guardian

Some are delayed a little bit longer, but it's infinitely better than the delay we've all endured for months now.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "delayed a bit" to soften the impact of a delay announcement, making it seem less severe. For example, "The flight is "delayed a bit", but we expect to depart soon."

Common error

While "delayed a bit" can soften news, avoid using it excessively. Overuse can undermine your credibility and appear evasive if the delay is significant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delayed a bit" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating the extent or degree of the delay. Ludwig AI confirms that it is a correct and usable phrase for describing events that are postponed or slowed down.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "delayed a bit" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to indicate a slight postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity. It functions as an adverbial phrase to soften the impact of a delay and is most frequently found in news and media contexts. While acceptable in most situations, it may be prudent to use more formal language in academic or professional settings. Related phrases include "slightly postponed" and "pushed back a little".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly postponed

Focuses specifically on the act of postponing and adds a degree of mitigation, similar to "a bit".

postponed briefly

Emphasizes the temporary nature of the postponement.

pushed back a little

Uses a more casual, phrasal verb construction indicating a small adjustment in schedule.

a minor delay

Replaces the verb with a noun phrase, highlighting the delay itself.

held up briefly

Similar to "pushed back", but focuses more on the impediment causing the delay.

set back slightly

Indicates a small, adverse effect on progress due to the delay.

rescheduled shortly

Implies a new schedule was quickly established.

slowed down marginally

Shifts the focus to the slowing of progress rather than a complete stop.

temporarily hindered

Highlights the temporary obstruction affecting progress.

deferred briefly

A more formal synonym for "postponed", indicating a temporary deferral.

FAQs

How can I use "delayed a bit" in a sentence?

You can use "delayed a bit" to describe a slight postponement or slowing down of an event or action. For example, "The project is "delayed a bit" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's a less formal way to say "delayed a bit"?

Less formal alternatives include "pushed back a little" or "held up briefly".

Is it appropriate to use "delayed a bit" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "slightly postponed" or "temporarily hindered" for professional contexts.

What does "delayed a bit" imply about the length of the delay?

"Delayed a bit" suggests that the delay is relatively short and not expected to cause significant disruption.