he is late

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'He is late' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this sentence to express that someone has arrived later than expected. For example, "Jim was supposed to arrive at 8pm, but he is late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

He is late with records, too.

The New Yorker

He is late for the ECB's press conference.

The Guardian - Business

Every day that he is late adds $31,640.

The New Yorker

He thinks he is late for school but then he realizes it is Saturday.

The New Yorker

He thinks that he is late to visit his wife, Susan, and their newborn daughter, Claire.

The Guardian

If he is late, I wait up for him to come.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

"He was late," she remembered.

The New York Times

He was late seventies at that point.

The New Yorker

"He's late on some fastballs.

The New York Times - Sports

He was late.

The Guardian

But now he was late.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "He Is Late" when you need a straightforward statement of tardiness. Avoid overly formal or complex language if simplicity is key.

Common error

Avoid using "He Is Late" in overly formal settings where a more professional tone is expected. Alternatives like "He is running behind schedule" may be more suitable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "He Is Late" primarily functions as a statement of fact, indicating that a specific person is not on time. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its direct and declarative use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "He Is Late" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to indicate that someone is not on time. As Ludwig AI confirms, its simple structure and clear meaning make it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While acceptable in most situations, it's important to consider the register; more formal alternatives might be preferable in professional settings. Remember to ensure contextual clarity when using this phrase to avoid any ambiguity. Consider alternative phrasings to add variety to your writing, such as "He didn't make it "on time"" or "He is behind schedule". These nuanced variations can help you convey the same meaning with greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

He is not on time

Directly states the fact of not being punctual or arriving at the scheduled time.

He is delayed

Uses a more passive voice to indicate that something has caused him to be late.

He didn't make it on time

Emphasizes failure to arrive at the expected or scheduled time.

He arrived later than expected

More descriptive, specifying that the arrival was after the anticipated time.

He is running behind schedule

Focuses on the reason of the lateness (schedule) instead of the lateness itself.

He is behind time

Similar to 'running behind schedule' but more generally refers to being late.

He missed the deadline

Implies being late for a specific task or event with a set completion time.

He was unpunctual

States a characteristic of being late rather than a specific instance.

He tarried

Uses a less common, more formal word for delaying or being late.

He is overdue

This suggests that he had a fixed return time and has exceeded it

FAQs

How can I use "He Is Late" in a sentence?

You can use "He Is Late" to indicate that someone has not arrived at the expected or scheduled time. For example, "He is late for the meeting, so we should start without him."

What's a more formal alternative to "He Is Late"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "He is delayed" or "He is running behind schedule". These options sound more professional in business or official contexts.

Is it correct to say "He Is Lated" instead of "He Is Late"?

No, "He Is Lated" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "He Is Late", where 'late' is an adjective describing his current state.

What are some other ways to express that someone is not on time?

Alternatives to "He Is Late" include "He didn't make it "on time"", "He is not on time", or "He is behind schedule" depending on the specific context.