delayed it until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delayed it until" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to postponing an event or action to a specific time or condition. Example: "The meeting was delayed it until next week due to scheduling conflicts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

The I.A.A.F. was planning to release its decision Thursday, but has delayed it until Saturday to give Pistorius a chance to respond.

The New York Times - Sports

The newish Spanish government delayed it until after local elections in March; it also announced that its deficit target would be 5.8% of GDP, not the 4.4% agreed with European leaders (the compromise was a goal of 5.3%).

The Economist

The Arab League, originally planning a Monday meeting, has delayed it until Wednesday.

The New York Times

The company had originally said it would release Vista in 2005, then delayed it until mid-2006.

The New York Times - Tech

The panel tried hearing the case but delayed it until tomorrow when a judge couldn't be reached.

The New York Times - Sports

My very first book I wrote as an undergraduate, although a printing strike delayed it until a year after I left Oxford - it came out in 1960.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

The company proposed delaying it until July or August.

The New York Times

There is talk now of delaying it until after a budget is passed in December.

The Economist

Should I begin collecting Social Security or should I delay it until she graduates?

The New York Times

They agreed to delay it until early October to give regulators time to review it.

The New York Times - Tech

Pooley still had not told his parents, delaying it until the evacuation was in progress.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider using synonyms such as "deferred it to" or "postponed it until" to maintain a professional tone.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly specifying the new date or condition. For example, instead of saying "They delayed it until later", specify "They delayed it until the following Monday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delayed it until" functions as a temporal marker, indicating that an action or event has been postponed and specifying the future time or condition that must be met before it occurs. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delayed it until" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the postponement of an event or action to a specified future time or condition. As per Ludwig, the phrase enjoys widespread use across various contexts, including News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business communication. While generally neutral in register, it is advisable to use more formal synonyms, such as "deferred it to", in professional settings. By understanding its usage and common errors, one can effectively communicate changes in schedules and plans. It is also important to note that the usage is not limited to general communication but it is perfectly suitable for scientific context as well.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed it to

Replaces "until" with "to", focusing on the action of postponing to a specific point.

deferred it to

Substitutes "delayed" with "deferred", emphasizing a more formal postponement.

put it off until

Uses the phrasal verb "put off" instead of "delayed", creating a more casual tone.

rescheduled it for

Replaces "delayed" with "rescheduled", implying a new specific time has been set.

held it back until

Changes "delayed" to "held back", suggesting a withholding action.

adjourned it to

Replaces "delayed" with "adjourned", typically used in formal or meeting contexts.

shelved it until

Changes "delayed" to "shelved", indicating a temporary removal from consideration.

tabled it until

Substitutes "delayed" with "tabled", commonly used in parliamentary or committee settings.

carried it over to

Replaces "delayed" with "carried over", suggesting continuation to another time.

set it aside until

Changes "delayed" to "set aside", indicating a temporary deferral for later consideration.

FAQs

What does "delayed it until" mean?

The phrase "delayed it until" means that something has been postponed and will not happen before a specific time or condition is met.

What can I say instead of "delayed it until"?

You can use alternatives like "postponed it to", "deferred it to", or "put it off until" depending on the context.

How do I properly use "delayed it until" in a sentence?

Ensure that the sentence clearly indicates what was delayed and the specific time or condition to which it was delayed. For example: "The vote was delayed until next Tuesday".

What's the difference between "delayed it until" and "postponed it to"?

While both phrases indicate postponement, "delayed it until" focuses on the endpoint of the delay, while "postponed it to" emphasizes the new scheduled time or event.