enormous delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"enormous delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a significant period of time between two events. For example, "Due to an enormous delay, the train arrived two hours after its scheduled time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The best you can really hope for is to get back any direct financial losses, probably offset by heavy legal fees, after enormous delay, stress and uncertainty.

The Guardian

However, many patients are sent with enormous delay and or not even sent to hydrocephalus specialists.

Fluids and Barriers of the CNS

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"To be clear," Mr. Liu wrote, "the record with CityTime is one of enormous delays and cost overruns.

The New York Times

Since Sept. 11, each has been the site of enormous delays, some stretching more than four hours, as customs and immigration agents have intensified searches.

The New York Times

Another issue with peer review, aside from the enormous delays it causes, is its anonymity.

TechCrunch

"The time to avoid meaningful climate change is passed," because of the enormous time delays involved in climate processes.

Huffington Post

Thus there is a huge financial price to be paid for drawing Social Security benefits early and an enormous payoff for delaying the decision to claim benefits.

The New York Times

And even a 5percentt or 10percentt drop in traffic can cause an enormous reduction in delays, which makes everyone better off in the end.

The New York Times

Such notions of intergenerational equity underpin the 2006 Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change, a British study that marked a turning point in the debate, stressing the enormous cost of delaying preventive action.

The New York Times

It reached its enormous size by delaying its time of onset of maturity by three to four years compared with other varanids.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

The cost of the delay was enormous".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "enormous delay", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the impact of the delay. For example, instead of just saying "There was an enormous delay", specify "The project faced an enormous delay due to unforeseen circumstances".

Common error

Avoid using "enormous delay" when a simple "delay" would suffice. Overusing strong adjectives can weaken your writing. Reserve "enormous" for truly significant delays with substantial consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "enormous delay" functions as a noun phrase, where "enormous" modifies the noun "delay". It highlights the significance and magnitude of the delay. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "enormous delay" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a significant postponement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While relatively rare in occurrence, it effectively conveys the magnitude and impact of the delay. It is most commonly found in news media and scientific contexts. Related phrases include "substantial postponement" and "significant deferral", offering alternative ways to express the same concept. When using "enormous delay", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the consequences of said delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantial postponement

Replaces "delay" with a more formal synonym and "enormous" with a synonym indicating significant size.

significant deferral

Uses synonyms for both "enormous" and "delay", implying a formal or official postponement.

considerable holdup

Replaces "delay" with a more informal term suggesting an obstruction.

extreme lateness

Focuses on the aspect of not being on time due to the delay.

lengthy lag

Uses a more concise term for "delay" implying a gap in time.

extensive waiting period

Focuses on the experience of waiting caused by the delay.

protracted interruption

Emphasizes the interruption aspect of the delay, suggesting a longer duration.

severe disruption

Emphasizes the disruptive nature of the delay.

major setback

Highlights the negative impact of the delay, framing it as a problem.

inordinate amount of time

Rephrases the idea using a more descriptive and less direct expression.

FAQs

How can I use "enormous delay" in a sentence?

You can use "enormous delay" to describe a significant postponement, such as "The shipment experienced an "enormous delay" due to weather conditions" or "The project suffered an "enormous delay" because of technical issues".

What are some alternatives to "enormous delay"?

Some alternatives to "enormous delay" include "substantial postponement", "significant deferral", or "considerable holdup", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "large delay" or "enormous delay"?

"Enormous delay" implies a greater magnitude and impact than "large delay". Use "enormous delay" when you want to emphasize the significance and consequences of the delay.

What causes are frequently associated with an "enormous delay"?

An "enormous delay" is often caused by unforeseen circumstances, technical difficulties, logistical problems, or regulatory hurdles. The specific cause depends on the context in which the delay occurs.