have been delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"have been delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event that was expected to occur but happened later than anticipated. For example, "The trains have been delayed due to the heavy snowfall."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Proceedings have been delayed.

The Economist

(Those plans have been delayed).

The New York Times - Arts

Both works have been delayed.

The New York Times - Arts

But the regulations have been delayed repeatedly.

The Washington Post

Other nominees have been delayed as well.

The New York Times

Parliamentary elections have been delayed by wrangling.

The Guardian

Even officers' salaries have been delayed.

The Guardian - Sport

Public hearings have been delayed repeatedly.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Andrews, meanwhile, had been delayed.

The New York Times

Every movie has been delayed.

The New York Times

Completion of the factory has been delayed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have been delayed" when referring to events, plans, or processes that were expected to occur at a specific time but are now happening later. Be sure to provide context or reason for the delay if possible.

Common error

Avoid using "have been delayed" interchangeably with phrases like "have been cancelled" or "have been terminated". "Have been delayed" implies a postponement, whereas "have been cancelled" means the event will not occur, and "have been terminated" means the process has ended.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have been delayed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence has experienced a delay. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have been delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that something has been postponed. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate in a wide variety of contexts. Analysis of sources reveals its prevalence in news and media, but it also shows up in science-related publications, signaling the phrase's versatility. When using "have been delayed", it's important to ensure that it aligns with the intended meaning and to avoid similar-sounding phrases that indicate cancellation or termination.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have been postponed

Replaces 'delayed' with 'postponed', implying a more formal rescheduling.

have been put off

Uses the phrasal verb 'put off', suggesting a less formal postponement.

have been rescheduled

Emphasizes the act of moving something to a later time.

have been held back

Indicates something is being actively prevented from progressing.

have been deferred

Suggests a postponement to a later, unspecified time.

have been adjourned

Suggests a temporary suspension, often in a formal setting like a meeting or legal proceeding.

have been suspended

Implies a temporary cessation, often due to specific circumstances.

are running late

Focuses on the current state of being behind schedule.

are behind schedule

States the project or event is not on time.

are not on time

Simple and direct way of saying something is late or not happening as planned.

FAQs

How do I use "have been delayed" in a sentence?

Use "have been delayed" to indicate that something that was supposed to happen at a certain time is now happening later. For example, "The flight plans "have been delayed" due to bad weather".

What's the difference between "have been delayed" and "have been postponed"?

While both indicate something is happening later than planned, "have been postponed" implies a rescheduling to a specific future time, while "have been delayed" may not have a new time set yet. The meaning of both expressions is extremely similar.

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

"Have been delayed" is used when referring to something that started in the past and continues to be delayed in the present. "Was delayed" refers to a single instance of delay in the past.

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

You can use alternatives like "have been postponed", "have been put off", or "have been rescheduled" depending on the context.