delays occurred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "delays occurred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that interruptions or holdups took place in a process or timeline. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, delays occurred in the delivery of the project."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Most delays occurred before presentation to medical services.

British Medical Journal

Fifteen trains were delayed up to 30 minutes, and sporadic delays occurred throughout the evening.

The New York Times

Delays occurred as a result, Mr Hoon said.

Independent

Openreach says the delays occurred because the builder failed to get in touch early enough.

The Guardian - Money

Delays occurred because too many Vatican departments demanded consultation, he said.

The New York Times

Officials of the New York Thruway Authority, however, said they expected construction-related traffic conditions to be "much improved" over last year, when lengthy delays occurred.

The New York Times

But delays occurred because of a variety of problems, including soil contaminated with petroleum and the disqualification of the original contractor because of suspicions of mob ties.

The New York Times

Similar delays occurred last Saturday, when a powdery substance was found on soda cans in the galley of a plane flying to Houston from Minneapolis.

The New York Times

Pasquale DiFulco, a Port Authority spokesman, said the worst delays occurred early in the evening, for arrivals and departures scheduled between 6 and 8 p.m.

The New York Times

Further delays occurred when the new turnstiles repeatedly jammed, and as crowds of sub way riders attempted to force their way through the two‐way turnstiles.

The New York Times

Furthermore, blocks in which delays occurred were less liked than blocks without delays, suggesting that delays may affect the emotional state.

International Journal of Human-Computer Studies

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "delays occurred", be specific about the cause of the delays to provide context and clarity. For example, "Delays occurred due to unforeseen weather conditions."

Common error

Don't simply state "delays occurred" without explaining the impact or providing specifics. For instance, instead of saying "delays occurred", specify how long the delay was or what the consequences were, such as "delays occurred, pushing the project deadline back by two weeks".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "delays occurred" functions as a statement indicating that interruptions or postponements have taken place. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used. Examples show it often introduces explanations of the reasons or consequences of these delays.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "delays occurred" is a grammatically sound and very common expression used to report that interruptions or postponements have happened. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and correctness in written English. Predominantly found in scientific and news-related contexts, it serves to inform and often precedes an explanation of the causes or effects of these delays. While versatile, clarity is key: specify the nature and impact of the delays rather than simply stating their occurrence.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponements happened

Replaces "delays" with "postponements" and "occurred" with "happened", emphasizing the act of postponing.

impediments occurred

Replaces "delays" with "impediments", highlighting the obstructions encountered.

hold-ups took place

Uses "hold-ups" instead of "delays", suggesting a more disruptive interruption, and "took place" instead of "occurred".

holdups occurred

Uses the less formal term "holdups" instead of "delays", maintaining the original verb.

interruptions arose

Focuses on the act of interrupting the process, using "arose" to indicate the beginning of the problem.

setbacks emerged

Emphasizes negative progress, suggesting impediments have come up using "setbacks" and "emerged".

complications ensued

Highlights that difficulties developed as a result of the process, using "ensued" to emphasize the consequence.

disruptions materialized

Focuses on the disruptions becoming apparent or real, using "materialized" to indicate this.

hindrances arose

Highlights the obstructions that came into being, using "hindrances" to point out the impediment.

retardations happened

Emphasizes the slowing down of progress, using "retardations" to indicate this.

FAQs

How can I use "delays occurred" in a sentence?

You can use "delays occurred" to indicate that something was held up or postponed. For example, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, "delays occurred" in the delivery of the project".

What are some alternatives to saying "delays occurred"?

Alternatives include "postponements happened", "setbacks emerged", or "interruptions arose", depending on the specific context you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "delays occurred"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. "Delays" is a plural noun, and "occurred" is the past tense of the verb "occur", so they agree in number and tense.

What is the difference between "delays occurred" and "a delay occurred"?

"Delays occurred" indicates multiple instances of delay, while "a delay occurred" indicates a single instance of delay. The choice depends on whether you're referring to one specific delay or multiple delays.