fallen behind schedule

USAGE SUMMARY

"fallen behind schedule" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a situation in which something has taken longer than expected to complete. For example, "We have fallen behind schedule on our project and now need to make up for lost time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the negotiations have fallen behind schedule.

The New York Times

It had fallen behind schedule and was far over budget.

The New York Times

But thanks to Zanu-PF's delaying tactics this has fallen behind schedule.

The Economist

His signature policy, a plan to liberalise the electricity industry, has plainly fallen behind schedule.

The Economist

But the weak economy is not the only reason that Cohen Brothers has fallen behind schedule.

The New York Times

The central government's own deficit-cutting plans have fallen behind schedule, as a deepening recession has eroded tax receipts.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

They were supposed to move into a $585,000 duplex apartment in June 2008, but the developer fell behind schedule.

The New York Times

Mr. Rabeca says maintenance workers are so consumed with restringing stolen lines that expansion of electrical service to rural Mozambique risks falling behind schedule.

The New York Times

But although WinFS was originally intended to be part of Microsoft's forthcoming Windows Vista operating system, formerly known as Longhorn, it was dropped as an integral element when development fell behind schedule.

The Economist

In the next month, the production began falling behind schedule.

Wikipedia

Not surprisingly, work quickly fell behind schedule.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "fallen behind schedule", clearly state the reason for the delay to provide context and transparency.

Common error

Avoid using "falling behind schedule" when you mean something has already happened. "Fallen behind schedule" indicates a completed action, whereas "falling behind schedule" suggests it's currently in the process of happening.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fallen behind schedule" functions as a predicate adjective phrase. It describes the state of a noun (project, plan, etc.) indicating that it is delayed or not progressing as planned. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Wiki

12%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Science

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fallen behind schedule" is a commonly used phrase to indicate that a project, plan, or activity is delayed or not progressing as expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, with neutral register, making it suitable for various communications. While the phrase is appropriate for many situations, ensure it aligns with the intended tone of your writing. For alternative phrasings, consider "lagged behind schedule" or "off schedule". When using this phrase, providing context about the reasons for the delay enhances clarity and transparency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

lagged behind schedule

Uses a different verb to convey the same meaning of not meeting the expected timeline.

fallen behind timetable

Replaces "schedule" with "timetable", offering a synonym with similar connotations.

off schedule

A shorter, more direct way to express that something is not proceeding as planned.

behind on time

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of the delay.

delayed

A general term for something that is not happening on time.

running late

Suggests that the process is still ongoing but not on time.

slipping schedule

Indicates that the schedule is gradually being missed.

behind the curve

Implies being behind in progress or development compared to expectations.

not on track

Suggests the project is deviating from the planned course.

set back

Implies that something caused a delay.

FAQs

How can I use "fallen behind schedule" in a sentence?

You can use "fallen behind schedule" to indicate that a project, plan, or activity is delayed or not progressing as planned. For example: "The project has "fallen behind schedule" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to saying "fallen behind schedule"?

Instead of "fallen behind schedule", you can use phrases like "lagged behind schedule", "off schedule", or "running late" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "fall behind schedule" or "fallen behind schedule"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they have different uses. "Fall behind schedule" describes a future or potential event, while "fallen behind schedule" describes a past or completed event. For instance, "We don't want to fall behind schedule" versus "We have "fallen behind schedule"."

What's the difference between "fallen behind schedule" and "falling behind schedule"?

"Fallen behind schedule" indicates that something is already delayed, while "falling behind schedule" suggests that something is in the process of becoming delayed. For example, "The project has "fallen behind schedule"" versus "The project is "falling behind schedule" due to ongoing issues."