he has delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "He has delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence when you want to express that an action or process has been postponed or held back. For example: "He has delayed filing his tax return until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

He has delayed by several months an education vision statement each principal has to hand in.

The New York Times

But to preserve his own authority, he has delayed his decision.

The Economist

However, he has delayed the start date by a year until April 2006.

The Guardian - Business

Foster revealed he has delayed surgery on his thumb to play the final six months of the campaign.

Independent

Aides say he has delayed the plan pending further engineering studies and a review of other options.

The New York Times

He has delayed sentencing until a higher court rules on whether whole-life tariff sentences can be lawfully handed down.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

He said he had delayed the use of tear gas until the National Guard arrived.

The New York Times

He had delayed a decision between the sports for several weeks.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'll stand on what I said". Couldn't he have delayed his trip?

The New York Times

Judge Conahan did not explain why he had delayed the procedure.

The New York Times

The Welsh rider said he had delayed his holidays in the hope of getting a place.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he has delayed", ensure that the reason for the delay is clear from the context, or explicitly state it to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid phrasing like "the decision has been delayed by him"; opt for the active voice "he has delayed the decision" for clearer and more direct communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he has delayed" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates an action of postponing or deferring something that started in the past and has relevance to the present. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Wiki

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he has delayed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the present perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively conveys the postponement of an action with present relevance. Predominantly found in "News & Media", it maintains a neutral register suitable for various contexts. When using this phrase, clarity regarding the reason for the delay is crucial. Consider alternatives like "he postponed" or "he deferred" depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Avoid overusing the passive voice for direct communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he postponed

Focuses specifically on rescheduling something to a later time.

he put off

Suggests a more informal or less definite postponement.

he deferred

Implies a more formal or official postponement, often with a specific reason.

he held back

Suggests restraining or preventing something from happening immediately.

he suspended

Implies a temporary cessation or interruption.

he tabled

Suggests postponing discussion or consideration of something.

he shelved

Implies putting something aside, potentially indefinitely.

he impeded

Focuses on hindering or obstructing progress.

he slowed down

Emphasizes reducing the pace or progress of something.

he held up

Suggests causing a delay, often due to unforeseen circumstances.

FAQs

What does "he has delayed" mean?

The phrase "he has delayed" means that a person has postponed or put off something until a later time. It implies that the action or event was scheduled or expected but has been intentionally deferred.

What can I say instead of "he has delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "he postponed", "he put off", or "he deferred" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "he delayed" or "he has delayed"?

"He delayed" (simple past) refers to a completed action in the past. "He has delayed" (present perfect) suggests the action has relevance to the present, such as the consequences of the delay still being felt. The choice depends on the intended nuance.

How to use "he has delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "he has delayed" in a sentence like: "He has delayed the meeting until next week due to unforeseen circumstances", or "He has delayed making a decision on the project".