flight was delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "flight was delayed" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where a flight was postponed or pushed back from its scheduled departure time. Example: The flight was delayed due to bad weather conditions, causing frustration among the passengers.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That flight was delayed.

The New York Times

The flight was delayed, however.

The Economist

So that flight was delayed indefinitely.

The New York Times

With storms over New Jersey, the flight was delayed.

The New York Times - Travel

A thunderstorm rolled in, and the flight was delayed.

The New York Times - Magazine

Our flight was delayed with mechanical problems, delayed again, and again, and then canceled.

Harvard University

That's when an app he'd begun using, Google Now, told him his flight was delayed.

MIT Technology Review

But when Wednesday evening came, the family's flight was delayed for almost four hours.

The New York Times

My BA flight was delayed by five hours because of the adverse weather.

The Guardian - Money

My flight was delayed, so when I arrived at Goldcar the office was closing.

The Guardian - Money

If the flight was delayed at all, I don't think the passengers even knew it.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "flight was delayed", specify the reason for the delay if known. Providing context helps the reader understand the situation better.

Common error

Avoid using the present tense when describing a past event. Instead of "the flight is delayed", use "the flight was delayed" when referring to a past occurrence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "flight was delayed" primarily functions as a statement indicating that a scheduled flight's departure time has been pushed back. It's a passive construction, with 'flight' as the subject and 'was delayed' as the verb phrase. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

6%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "flight was delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe a situation where a flight's departure is postponed. As evidenced by Ludwig's numerous examples, it appears most commonly in News & Media and Academic contexts. The phrase is generally neutral in tone and serves the purpose of informing someone about a change in flight schedule. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is correct and provides various alternatives for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

flight experienced a delay

Emphasizes the flight as the subject experiencing the delay, rather than being acted upon.

flight faced a setback

Replaces "delayed" with a more general term for an impediment.

flight encountered a hold-up

Substitutes "delayed" with another term indicating an obstruction to progress.

flight was running behind schedule

Focuses on the flight's deviation from its planned timetable.

flight's departure was postponed

Specifically refers to the departure being pushed to a later time.

flight was held up

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the meaning of being delayed.

flight schedule was disrupted

Shifts the focus to the disruption of the flight schedule.

flight had a late start

Highlights the lateness of the initial departure.

flight's timing was affected

A more general way of saying that the flight's timing was impacted.

flight was behind time

Directly states that the flight did not adhere to its schedule.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "flight was delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "flight experienced a delay", "flight faced a setback", or "flight was running behind schedule" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the flight is delayed"?

Yes, "the flight is delayed" is correct if you're referring to a current delay. If you're talking about something that happened in the past, use "the flight was delayed".

What are common reasons why a "flight was delayed"?

Common reasons include bad weather, mechanical issues, air traffic control delays, and crew availability.

What should I do if my "flight was delayed"?

Check with the airline for updates and rebooking options. You may also be entitled to compensation depending on the length and reason for the delay.