delayed for too long

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'delayed for too long' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something has gone on for a length of time that is too long. For example: "The government has delayed making a decision on this issue for too long."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Mallon believes Trimble has delayed for too long in setting up the institutions.

The Guardian

Many of them say New York has already delayed for too long, and is paying a price.

The New York Times

Obama said "the Palestinian people deserve a state of their own" and that vision had been delayed for too long.

The Guardian

The top brass, including Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez, the commander of American operations in Iraq, delayed for too long sending prison guards to Abu Ghraib to deal with the swelling number of prisoners.

The Economist

She may have only 8,000 of the 836,000 doctors in the country on her side, but at least she has started a dialogue that has been delayed for too long.

The New York Times - Science

Those who helped organize the protests said that such an investigation had been delayed for too long, but was a first step toward making politicians accountable and ending the widespread idea that the dignity of the office gave the president immunity.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

First United sweep the length of the pitch - Fletcher finding Scholes, who dinks it to Van Nistelrooy, who delays for too long and has his shot blocked.

The Guardian - Sport

Its immediate sequel [13] and their application to the Dirichlet problem [14] were originally planned in 2015 as part of the present paper but separated in order not to delay for too long the propagation of the main result, Theorem 1.2 and its ramifications.

Bulletin of Mathematical Sciences

However, for the 815 million people who do not have access to sufficient food, including some 300 million children left to their sad fate, it is not acceptable to delay for too long the initiatives needed to achieve the objective set by the World Food Summit in 1996.

FAO

He also delayed taking note, for too long, the contact made by the Ravens' secondary against 49ers receivers in the end zone on Kaepernick's incomplete pass.

The New York Times - Sports

I worried that I had delayed the dream for too long, that time was against me.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delayed for too long", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the negative consequences of that delay. This adds impact to your statement.

Common error

Avoid repeating "delayed for too long" multiple times within a single paragraph. This can make your writing sound repetitive and less impactful. Instead, vary your language using synonyms such as "protracted unnecessarily" or "deferred unduly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delayed for too long" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate that an action or event has been postponed or protracted for an unreasonable duration. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delayed for too long" is a grammatically correct and commonly used adverbial phrase to express that something has been postponed excessively. Ludwig AI validates this point. Its use spans across various contexts including news, science, and business, reflecting its versatility. While the phrase is suitable for neutral and professional settings, it's important to avoid overuse and vary language by utilizing synonyms like "postponed excessively" for improved writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed excessively

Emphasizes the act of postponing to an unreasonable extent.

protracted unnecessarily

Highlights the unnecessary lengthening of something.

deferred unduly

Focuses on the inappropriateness of the delay.

lingered excessively

Suggests a prolonged stay or continuation past an acceptable point.

held off for an unreasonable time

Highlights the extended period of inaction.

remained undone for too long

Focuses on the lack of completion due to the delay.

left pending for an extended period

Emphasizes the state of being unresolved for a significant time.

shelved for far too long

Implies that something has been intentionally put aside and neglected.

kept waiting unnecessarily long

Highlights the prolonged waiting experienced by someone or something.

put off indefinitely

Indicates a delay without a specified end point, suggesting excessive postponement.

FAQs

What does it mean when something is "delayed for too long"?

When something is described as "delayed for too long", it means that it has been postponed or put off for an unreasonable or excessive amount of time, often leading to negative consequences or missed opportunities.

What are some alternatives to saying something has been "delayed for too long"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "postponed excessively", "deferred unduly", or "held off for an unreasonable time".

Is it grammatically correct to say something was "delayed for too long"?

Yes, the phrase "delayed for too long" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to express that something has been postponed excessively.

How can I use "delayed for too long" in a sentence?

You can use "delayed for too long" to express dissatisfaction or concern about a prolonged postponement. For example, "The decision on the new policy has been delayed for too long, and the consequences are now being felt."