extraordinary delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extraordinary delay" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It refers to a significant or unusually long delay in a process or event. Example: The construction project has faced an extraordinary delay due to unforeseen weather conditions, pushing back the completion date by several months.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Schuelke has declined to comment on or provide any explanation for the extraordinary delay in producing his findings.

The New Yorker

Nigel Farage's defeat was the worst blow of the long night, made all the more frustrating by an extraordinary delay in counting the votes.

Independent

Saturday Live interviewed the creator (around the 33rd minute) who humbly and rather embarrassedly admitted that the extraordinary delay in the hunt's resolution bothers him: I'm not proud of it.

The Guardian - Tech

That day, regional heads of state were meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, to confront Zimbabwe's crisis, set off by the government's extraordinary delay in releasing the results of the March presidential election.

The New York Times

MPs are expected to express anger and frustration on Thursday when they debate the extraordinary delay in the publication of the Chilcot report on the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The Guardian

Lawyers for both sides said the extraordinary delay in bringing the case to a close resulted from the complex web of cases brought in state and federal court that needed to be resolved before the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court, would take up appeals from both sides.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

"Petitioner's flight, whatever his motivations, and his failure to take responsibility for his crimes is at the heart of the extraordinary delays in this case".

The New Yorker

Because of the extraordinary delays in the American election, the meeting never took place, but Mr. Bush sent a congratulatory message to Mr. Fox on the day of his inauguration.

The New York Times

Extraordinary delays in grand jury proceedings on Army Private Bradley Manning, suspected of providing government secrets to WikiLeaks, and Julian Assange, who ran that website, are said to have come from a protracted attempt to secure a legal hold against one or both potential defendants within the limits of a barbarous and almost dormant law.

Huffington Post

"We are going to monitor wait times very closely just to make sure there aren't any extraordinary horrid delays".

The New York Times

Judge Videla agreed, ruling in February that Mr. Azam should not be penalized for "the extraordinary administrative delays" that stalled his father's application for so long.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "extraordinary delay", ensure the context clearly establishes what is being delayed and why the delay is considered unusual or significant. This provides clarity and emphasizes the impact of the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "extraordinary delay" when a simple "delay" would suffice. The term should be reserved for situations where the delay is genuinely exceptional in duration or consequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extraordinary delay" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "extraordinary" modifies the noun "delay". It describes a delay that is exceptional or unusual in its extent or impact. Ludwig AI confirms this usage pattern.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "extraordinary delay" refers to a delay that is notably unusual or significant. As highlighted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and used to emphasize the severity or impact of a delay. While not extremely frequent, it is commonly found in news and media, encyclopedias, and scientific sources. To ensure clear communication, reserve this phrase for delays that genuinely warrant the "extraordinary" descriptor and be sure the context clarifies what is being delayed and why this matters.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unusual postponement

Replaces "delay" with "postponement" and "extraordinary" with "unusual", emphasizing the unexpected nature of the delay.

remarkable holdup

Substitutes "delay" with "holdup" and "extraordinary" with "remarkable", highlighting the unexpected interruption.

exceptional lag

Replaces "delay" with "lag" and "extraordinary" with "exceptional", stressing the atypical nature of the delay's duration.

significant deferment

Substitutes "delay" with "deferment" and "extraordinary" with "significant", underscoring the importance and length of the delay.

considerable waiting period

Rephrases the concept with a focus on the extended "waiting period", replacing "extraordinary" with "considerable".

prolonged intermission

Emphasizes the interruption with "intermission", replacing "extraordinary" with "prolonged".

uncommon respite

Highlights the pause with "respite" and replaces "extraordinary" with "uncommon".

extended suspension

Focuses on the interruption with "suspension" and replaces "extraordinary" with "extended".

abnormal protraction

Replaces "delay" with the more formal "protraction" and "extraordinary" with "abnormal".

notable stall

Substitutes "delay" with "stall" and "extraordinary" with "notable", emphasizing the unexpected interruption.

FAQs

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

You can use "extraordinary delay" to describe a situation where a delay is unusually long or significant. For example, "The project experienced an extraordinary delay due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "extraordinary delay"?

Alternatives include "unusual postponement", "remarkable holdup", or "exceptional lag", depending on the context.

Is "extraordinary delay" a formal or informal phrase?

"Extraordinary delay" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, such as news reports, business communications, and academic papers. However, it might sound slightly exaggerated in very informal conversations.

What distinguishes "extraordinary delay" from a typical delay?

The term "extraordinary" implies that the delay is not just a routine occurrence but something unexpected, significant, and beyond the normal range of delays. It suggests that the delay has had a notable impact or consequence.