had delays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had delays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something was postponed or took longer than expected in the past. Example: "The project had delays due to unforeseen circumstances, which pushed back the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

He said no flights that arrived on Wednesday had delays of longer than three hours, however.

The New York Times

Stansted had delays and four cancellations, and Birmingham had 60 flights delayed.

Independent

And the ones that were working had delays in their pay".

The New York Times

The company has also had delays and cost overruns on a military project in Canada.

The New York Times

We had delays getting to the continent, delays getting to camp – it only makes sense that we'd have delays leaving.

The New York Times

"I had delays this morning coming up here," Mr. Becka said, "coming out of Washington and out of Philadelphia.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

Summer rain had delayed production.

The New York Times

Insecurity had delayed proceedings several times before.

The Economist

He said Mr. Sharon had delayed his departure by two hours.

The New York Times

Violent clashes between opposing fans had delayed the kick-off.

The Guardian - Sport

The council had delayed a response.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had delays" to clearly indicate that something was postponed or took longer than expected in the past. Be specific about the cause of the delays to provide more context.

Common error

Avoid using "had delays" when referring to ongoing delays. Use "is having delays" or "are experiencing delays" to indicate a current situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had delays" functions as a verb phrase, specifically using the past tense of the verb 'have' to indicate that something experienced postponements or took longer than expected. As noted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is commonly used to describe situations where timelines were not met.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

38%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had delays" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe past postponements or extended durations. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides numerous examples across various contexts, including news and media, science, and general writing. While the register is generally neutral, it can be adapted for more formal situations. When writing, ensure to specify the causes of the delays for clarity and avoid using it for ongoing situations. Alternatives such as "experienced delays" or "encountered delays" can provide nuanced variations in meaning. Overall, "had delays" is a reliable and versatile phrase for conveying past delays.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

experienced delays

Uses a different verb to convey the experience of delays.

encountered delays

Emphasizes the unexpected nature of the delays.

faced delays

Focuses on the act of dealing with delays.

met with delays

Highlights the encounter with the delays.

suffered delays

Highlights the negative impact of the delays.

were delayed

Changes the sentence structure to passive voice.

ran into delays

Implies unforeseen issues causing the delays.

were set back

Emphasizes the setback caused by the delays.

were held up

Informal way of saying something was delayed.

were postponed

Indicates a rescheduling of events.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "had delays"?

You can use alternatives like "experienced delays", "encountered delays", or "faced delays" depending on the context.

How do I use "had delays" in a sentence?

Use "had delays" to indicate that something was postponed or took longer than expected in the past. For example, "The project had delays due to unforeseen circumstances".

What's the difference between "had delays" and "experienced delays"?

While both phrases are similar, "experienced delays" often implies a more direct or personal involvement with the delays, whereas "had delays" is a more general statement.

Which is correct, "had delays" or "have delays" when referring to the past?

"Had delays" is the correct past tense form. "Have delays" is present tense. For example, "The shipment had delays last week" is correct.