experienced a slight delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "experienced a slight delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a minor postponement or hold-up in a process, event, or schedule. Example: "The flight experienced a slight delay due to bad weather conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Larvae exposed to 10 ppb atrazine + S-metolachlor experienced a slight delay in both FLE (p = 0.055) and TR (although not statistically significant, p > 0.05).

Environmental Health Perspectives

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Note: You may experience a slight delay for the Calendar pop up.

Stanford University

We're working hard to get your orders to you asap, but some may experience a slight delay in arriving".

The Guardian - Business

If you choose to dial 911 you might experience a slight delay (approximately 5-7 secofds of complete silence) as your call gets transferred – do not hang up.

Columbia University

Crystal Davis, a spokeswoman for Sprint, said in an e-mail message, "Customers did experience a slight delay in making and receiving calls in the hour or two immediately following the earthquake".

The New York Times

After you erase your entire Google Web History, you may experience a slight delay with accessing Web pages you may have visited in the past.

WikiHow

You may experience a slight delay when using the remote computer, as commands need to be sent through the internet in order to reach it.

WikiHow

They also experienced a slight reduction in blood pressure.

The New York Times - Health

The population in Nassau County in recent years has shown a slight decline, while Suffolk County has experienced a slight increase.

The New York Times

The deciduous forests experienced a slight reduction in the canopy around 3500 cal.

Journal of Archaeological Science

Like the BBC, newspaper websites experienced a slight drop in traffic on Tuesday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing delays, consider the audience and context to select the most appropriate synonym for "delay". In technical contexts, "lag" may be suitable, while in informal settings, "hiccup" could be preferred.

Common error

Avoid using "experienced a slight delay" when the delay is negligible or has no real impact. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact when a genuine delay occurs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "experienced a slight delay" functions as a verb phrase indicating that something was subjected to a minor postponement. Ludwig AI indicates that it's correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "experienced a slight delay" is a grammatically sound and versatile expression used to indicate a minor postponement or hold-up. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and its prevalence across diverse sources like news outlets, academic papers, and scientific journals demonstrates its broad applicability. While it is suitable for neutral and even formal contexts, it's essential to avoid overstating the significance of a delay. Consider alternative phrases like "encountered a minor setback" or "faced a brief holdup" for nuanced communication. This phrase serves as a practical way to convey temporary setbacks in a clear, understandable manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

encountered a minor setback

Replaces "delay" with "setback" and "slight" with "minor", altering the overall tone slightly.

faced a brief holdup

Substitutes "delay" with "holdup" and "slight" with "brief", making the phrase more informal.

had a small postponement

Replaces "delay" with "postponement" and "slight" with "small", changing the emphasis to scheduling.

underwent a marginal interruption

Uses more formal synonyms like "marginal" and "interruption", increasing the formality of the phrase.

met with a short disruption

Employs "disruption" instead of "delay", indicating a temporary disturbance.

was subject to a minimal lag

Utilizes "lag" in place of "delay", often used in technical contexts.

ran into a temporary hiccup

Replaces "delay" with the more colloquial term "hiccup", making the phrase more informal.

was briefly held up

Focuses on the action of being held up, emphasizing the cause of the delay.

saw a fleeting interruption

Uses the adjective "fleeting" to emphasize the short duration of the interruption.

observed a momentary pause

Substitutes "delay" with "pause", suggesting a brief cessation or halt.

FAQs

What does "experienced a slight delay" mean?

It means there was a minor postponement or hold-up in something. The delay was not significant or long-lasting.

What can I say instead of "experienced a slight delay"?

You can use alternatives like "encountered a minor setback", "faced a brief holdup", or "had a small postponement" depending on the context.

Is "experienced a slight delay" formal or informal?

The phrase "experienced a slight delay" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, the specific context and audience should always be considered when choosing the most appropriate language.

How can I use "experienced a slight delay" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a minor postponement or hold-up in various situations. For example, "The flight experienced a slight delay due to bad weather", or "The project experienced a slight delay due to unforeseen circumstances".