has been a slight delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been a slight delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to inform someone about a minor postponement or hold-up in a process or schedule. Example: "We apologize for the inconvenience, but there has been a slight delay in the delivery of your order."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The original estimated shipping schedule for sending the kits was July 2014 so Alex concedes there has been a slight delay in fulfilling orders.

TechCrunch

The original estimated shipping schedule for sending the kits was July 2014 so Alex concedes there has been a slight delay in fulfilling orders.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

A spokesman for Albatros said there had been a slight delay in the Czech translation because the translator has been ill.

The New York Times

Dr. Arnold Monto, a professor of epidemiology at the University of Michigan, said that there might have been a slight delay in disclosing the emergence of the virus in people, since the Chinese government had already calculated the entire genetic sequence of the virus before announcing it.

The New York Times

When Nokia unveiled the 620, at the LeWeb conference in Paris in December, it said the device would ship in January to Asia-Pac, Middle East and Africa first, with Europe and Canada following "soon thereafter" — so there may have been a slight delay in its schedule.

TechCrunch

There has been a slight improvement.

The New York Times - Sports

It seems there's been a slight delay to address some last minute technical issues.

TechCrunch

The delay has been an expensive one.

The New York Times

Murray has left the court for a bathroom break, so there will be a slight delay before the beginning of the third set.

The New York Times

So when, at Ballasalla, a guard came through the train announcing: "There'll be a slight delay... of 30 minutes," everyone in the carriage was having such a nice time that no one even tutted.

The Guardian - Travel

There was a slight delay.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has been a slight delay", ensure you provide context regarding the cause and expected duration, even if approximate. This helps manage expectations and maintain transparency with your audience.

Common error

Avoid using "has been a slight delay" as a standalone statement without explaining the reason or impact. This can leave the audience uninformed and potentially frustrated. Always provide additional details for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been a slight delay" functions as an informative statement, typically used to announce a minor postponement or setback. Ludwig confirms this with real-world examples where the phrase is used to provide explanations or updates.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "has been a slight delay" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to inform an audience about a minor postponement. As noted by Ludwig, it is suitable for various contexts, particularly news, academia, and business. While versatile, it's crucial to provide context regarding the reason and expected duration of the delay to ensure clarity and manage expectations. Related phrases such as "there's been a minor setback" or "a small postponement" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas. Avoiding overuse without context is also advised.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there's been a minor setback

Replaces "slight delay" with "minor setback", indicating a small problem or hindrance.

there has been a small postponement

Substitutes "slight delay" with "small postponement", emphasizing the act of delaying.

we've encountered a minor holdup

Uses "minor holdup" instead of "slight delay", suggesting a temporary interruption.

a small hitch has occurred

Replaces the original phrase with a more concise expression indicating a minor problem.

there is a marginal delay

Substitutes "slight" with "marginal", indicating a minimal degree of delay.

we are experiencing a small setback

Similar to "there's been a minor setback", but uses "experiencing" to convey the current state.

a brief delay is expected

Shifts the focus to expectation rather than occurrence, indicating a forthcoming delay.

the schedule is running a bit behind

Expresses the delay in terms of the schedule's progress.

progress is slightly slower than anticipated

Indicates a delay by highlighting that progress isn't meeting expectations.

things are moving a little slower than planned

Similar to the previous one, but more informally expresses a deviation from the planned pace.

FAQs

How can I use "has been a slight delay" in a sentence?

You can use "has been a slight delay" to inform someone about a minor postponement. For example, "We apologize, but there "has been a slight delay" in shipping your order".

What's a more formal way to say "has been a slight delay"?

A more formal alternative would be "There has been a minor postponement" or "A marginal delay has been encountered".

What can I say instead of "has been a slight delay" if I want to emphasize the inconvenience?

If you want to emphasize the inconvenience, you could say "We regret to inform you that there "has been an unavoidable delay"" or "Unfortunately, we've experienced a slight setback".

Which is the correct, "there has been a slight delay" or "there is a slight delay"?

"There has been a slight delay" indicates that the delay has already occurred. "There is a slight delay" implies the delay is ongoing or about to happen.