had been delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been delayed" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when describing an event or situation that happened in the past. For example, "The train had been delayed, so we arrived late to our destination."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Andrews, meanwhile, had been delayed.

The New York Times

Nationalists repeatedly claimed it had been delayed.

Independent

On this occasion he had been delayed.

The Economist

My train had been delayed.

The Guardian

They had been delayed, that was all.

The Guardian - Books

Around 2,700 flights had been delayed.

The Guardian

Several others had been delayed or rerouted.

The Guardian

It said that school textbooks and stationery had been delayed.

The Guardian

He said the vote had been delayed long enough.

The New York Times

Three federal suits had been delayed for the talks.

The New York Times

It then transpired my flight to Madrid had been delayed.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been delayed", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the delay and the timeframe involved for better clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been delayed" when referring to a future event. Instead, use "will be delayed" or "is expected to be delayed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been delayed" functions as a passive perfect pluperfect verb phrase, indicating that an action (being delayed) was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples of its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been delayed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to indicate that something was postponed before a specific time in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing with "had been delayed", ensure the timeline is clear and avoid misusing it for future events. Consider alternatives like "was postponed" or "was held up" for variety. Remember to specify the reason for the delay to improve clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was postponed

Focuses on the act of officially rescheduling an event to a later time.

was held up

Implies that something caused the delay, preventing forward progress.

was put off

Similar to postponed, but may suggest a less formal rescheduling.

was rescheduled

Highlights the act of changing the schedule to a later time.

was set back

Suggests that the delay caused a setback or hindered progress.

encountered a setback

Emphasizes the experience of facing an impediment that resulted in the delay.

experienced a delay

Focuses on the experience of the delay itself, rather than the cause.

was deferred

Suggests a formal postponement, often to a specific later date.

suffered a delay

Highlights the negative impact of the delay.

was kept waiting

Implies that someone or something was in a state of expectation during the delay.

FAQs

How to use "had been delayed" in a sentence?

Use "had been delayed" to describe an event or action that was postponed or experienced a setback before a specific point in the past. For example, "The flight "had been delayed" due to bad weather, and passengers were frustrated".

What can I say instead of "had been delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "was postponed", "was held up", or "was rescheduled" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been delayed" or "was delayed"?

"Had been delayed" indicates a delay that occurred before a specific time in the past, while "was delayed" simply states that a delay occurred in the past. The choice depends on the specific context and the timeline you want to convey.

What's the difference between "had been delayed" and "has been delayed"?

"Had been delayed" refers to a past delay relevant to another past event, while "has been delayed" refers to a delay that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present. For example, "The meeting "had been delayed" before I arrived," versus "The meeting "has been delayed" until further notice".