expect a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'expect a delay' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you anticipate a disruption or interruption to a plan or schedule of events. For example, "We are expecting a delay in the arrival of our flight, so I suggest that you plan to arrive at the airport earlier than usual."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Expect a delay of at least 2-3 weeks, possibly longer over summer.

University of California, Berkeley

We might expect a delay but this doesn't feel like the predictable lag between the time when an uplift in the private sector ripples out into the public.

The Guardian - Opinion

Friday's sold-out performance of Rafta, Rafta... failed to start on schedule at 7.30pm and we were told to expect a delay of half an hour because of unspecified technical problems backstage.

The Guardian

Expectancy may occur, for example, when a subject has come to expect a delay between the first and second stimulus, meaning the subject will be relatively unprepared should the second arrive earlier than usual.

Encyclopedia Britannica

While private economists had expected the Fed's first rate hike to occur in September, the recent standoff on Greek debt and the sharp plunge in Chinese stock prices which emerged after the Fed's June gathering have prompted many analysts to expect a delay until the end of the year.

The Guardian - Business

Newly admitted international students should expect a delay in their first quarter's stipend check and should bring sufficient personal funds to cover expenses in the meantime.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

We estimate these costs at 12% of sales revenue, but expect a delayed occurrence - that is, we will sell maintenance contracts starting in February, but do not expect to actually perform maintenance on computers guaranteed under them for the first few months.

Bplans

The plane, a 50-seat regional jet operated by Northwest Airlink, pushed back from the gate at 12 24, a minute early, expecting a delay until 12 30.

The New York Times

"We expected a delay in the emotional reactions of people as the tragedy set in," said Dr. Poag, who counseled a group of emergency rescue workers on Wednesday who had narrowly escaped death.

The New York Times

The Dow and Standard & Poor's 500-stock index fell yesterday after Boeing said it expected a delay in deliveries of its Dreamliner jet and early corporate results prompted concern about the outlook for profits.

The New York Times

But he vowed to finish the building, saying that he expected a delay of no more than two to three months, with completion of the building in June or July next year instead of the original plan of finishing it in April.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "expect a delay", provide context regarding the cause and estimated duration of the delay to manage expectations effectively.

Common error

Avoid presenting "expect a delay" as an absolute certainty when there's a chance the delay can be mitigated or avoided entirely. Use phrasing that acknowledges the possibility of on-time performance if appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "expect a delay" functions as an expression of anticipation. It's used to inform someone that a particular event or process is likely to be postponed or take longer than initially planned. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness for expressing anticipation of a future event.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "expect a delay" is a grammatically correct and usable expression for indicating that something is likely to be postponed or take longer than anticipated. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. It's commonly found in news, scientific, and academic writing, making it suitable for a variety of contexts. When using the phrase, providing context and estimated duration helps manage expectations effectively. Related phrases include "anticipate a delay" and "foresee a delay". While "expect a delay" is generally appropriate, avoid presenting it as an absolute certainty when mitigation is possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

anticipate a delay

This alternative uses "anticipate", which is a more formal synonym for "expect".

foresee a delay

The word "foresee" suggests predicting a delay based on current circumstances.

predict a delay

This uses "predict", implying a strong belief that a delay will occur.

count on a delay

Using "count on" suggests relying on the delay as a certainty.

anticipate lateness

Replaces "delay" with "lateness", focusing on the state of being late.

prepare for a delay

This phrase emphasizes readiness for the consequences of the delay.

foresee postponement

Similar to foresee a delay, but uses "postponement" for formal contexts.

brace for a delay

Suggests getting ready for an unpleasant delay and its effects.

predict a setback

Conveys that the delay is more than just timing; it's a hindrance.

look forward to a delay

Expresses anticipation, though typically not with positive connotation as "delay" is usually undesirable.

FAQs

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

You can use "expect a delay" to inform someone about a likely postponement or hold-up, such as, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we "expect a delay" in the project's completion."

What can I say instead of "expect a delay"?

You can use alternatives like "anticipate a delay", "foresee a delay", or "predict a delay" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "expect a delay" or "anticipate a delay"?

Both ""expect a delay"" and "anticipate a delay" are correct. "Anticipate" is generally more formal than "expect".

What's the difference between "expect a delay" and "foresee a delay"?

"Expect a delay" generally means you believe a delay is likely, whereas "foresee a delay" means you can predict the delay based on current information or events.