delays

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'delays' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe when something is not happening as quickly as expected. Example sentence: The delays in the southbound train service have caused major disruption to commuters this morning.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

What a nightmare!" There had been delays involving Clapham Junction earlier in the rush hour due to a lineside fire which caused hold-ups to services on London Overground.

The Guardian

Polymetal - lifted in recent days by talk of a possible merger with Polyus Gold - lost 22p to £10.88 as it warned there was a chance it could miss its production target of 1.2m troy ounces of gold in 2013 due to delays at a Russian plant.

The Guardian - Business

Passengers affected by rail delays are now able to receive cash compensation instead of vouchers, in a major change to policy by operators.

The Guardian

National Grid announced it was close to signing up three power stations to help fill the gap left by closures, breakdowns and delays, and said the cost to consumers of paying for extra capacity and for companies to adjust their consumption if necessary will be about £1 per household.

The Guardian - Business

East Coast had a reduced service from Edinburgh to Newcastle, with possible delays.

The Guardian

The number of instances of "bed-blocking" was the same as the last week, with 4,000 hospital beds unavailable for incoming patients because of delays in transfers of occupants to care elsewhere.

The Guardian

Rush-hour passengers on a trouble-hit commuter route in the south of England have faced more disruption, with delays and cancellations because of a broken rail.

The Guardian

As season ticket-holders came to terms with increases of up to 2.5%, passengers on a main London to Scotland route endured delays throughout the rush hour.

The Guardian

Cameron has been facing questions about delays and redactions to the Chilcot report as US and UK intelligence agencies come under increasing scrutiny over the methods they use to prevent terrorism.

The Guardian

"We have let a lot of people down," he said and blamed the delays to the engineering works at King's Cross on equipment breakdown.

The Guardian - Business

He added: "I'm deeply sorry for the delays, upset and upheaval caused today to passengers impacted by our overrunning improvement work outside King's Cross.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about "delays", be specific about the cause and impact of the delay. Provide context to help the reader understand the significance of the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "delays" in vague statements. Instead of simply stating there were "delays", specify what was delayed and what caused the delay. For example, instead of "There were delays", write "The project experienced delays due to unforeseen circumstances."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "delays" is as a noun, typically used in the plural form to denote instances of something being postponed or slowed down. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is correct and applicable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "delays" is a common noun phrase used to describe situations where progress is slower than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and broad applicability in written English. As evidenced by the examples, the term is very frequently used in news and media, formal business contexts, and science. When writing about "delays", it's essential to specify the cause and effect to provide adequate context for the reader. Alternatives include "hold ups", "postponements", and "time lags", each offering slightly different nuances. Understanding these nuances will help you to use "delays" effectively in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold-ups

This term refers specifically to events or situations that cause something to be slowed or stopped.

postponements

This term indicates a decision to delay an event or activity until a later time or date.

time lags

This term describes a period of time between two related events or phenomena.

disruptions

This term refers to interruptions or disturbances that cause a deviation from the normal course of events.

setbacks

This term describes problems that delay or prevent progress, or make things worse than they were.

deferrals

This term signifies the act of postponing or delaying something until a later time.

slippages

This term refers to instances where deadlines or schedules are not met, leading to a postponement.

arrears

This term indicates that something is overdue or behind schedule, leading to a delay.

impediments

This term denotes obstacles or hindrances that cause a delay in progress or movement.

bottlenecks

This term refers to points of congestion or obstruction that cause delays in a process or system.

FAQs

How to use "delays" in a sentence?

You can use "delays" to describe situations where something is not happening as quickly as expected. For example: "The construction project faced unexpected "setbacks" and "slippages"."

What are some synonyms for "delays"?

Synonyms for "delays" include "hold ups", "postponements", and "time lags", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct: "delay" or "delays"?

"Delay" is the singular form, while "delays" is the plural form. Use "delay" when referring to a single instance and "delays" when referring to multiple instances. For example, "There was a delay" versus "There were delays".

What causes "delays"?

"Delays" can be caused by various factors, such as technical issues, unforeseen circumstances, "bottlenecks" in processes, or "impediments" in operations.