he was delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "he was delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone arriving late because of an external factor, such as traffic, a missed connection, etc. For example: "John was delayed in arriving due to unexpected traffic on the highway."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

He was delayed in learning language, because she talked to him so little.

The New Yorker

The guard announces he was delayed due to signalling problems at Cooksbridge – never heard of it.

The Guardian

Mejia said he was surprised he was delayed, because he went through the same process last year.

The New York Times

A student of mine came to class an hour late yesterday morning and announced that he was delayed because "the Q train blew up".

The New York Times

At 6 30 a.m. they drove to Dave's barracks, but then he phoned his mother to say that he was delayed by an unspecified snafu.

The New York Times - Magazine

I call him again and he says he was delayed because his landlord – from whom he rents a grass-thatched hut – had visitors.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

Mr. Fields told colleagues in a business plan review meeting that he was delaying a product introduction.

The New York Times

In the poll, 51percentt said they thought that the he was delaying its construction for political or ideological reasons.

The New York Times

This week, as Mr. Obama announced he was delaying strikes, the decision seemed to catch Mr. Erdogan by surprise.

The New York Times

But because of his actions and he was delaying to get back in, and he kept complaining about the pitch, I told him it was time to go".

The New York Times - Sports

Sunil had secured two tire locks on the second run, but tonight, as on most nights, he was delaying his trade.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he was delayed", specify the reason for the delay to provide more context and clarity for the reader. For example, "he was delayed due to traffic".

Common error

Avoid using "he was delay" as it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "he was delayed", using the past participle of the verb 'delay'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was delayed" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (he) experienced a delay caused by an external factor. It's used to report that someone's progress or arrival was hindered. Ludwig AI confirms this through its numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

14%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he was delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase indicating that a male individual experienced a hindrance or setback. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Analysis of real-world examples reveals its prevalent use in news and media, wiki, and formal business contexts. While the phrase itself is generally neutral, the specific reason for the delay often provides additional context. When writing, it's useful to specify the cause of the delay for improved clarity. Alternatives such as "his arrival was postponed" or "he encountered a problem" can be used for variation or to convey a slightly different nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

his arrival was postponed

Focuses on the change in arrival time.

he ran behind schedule

Emphasizes a deviation from the planned timetable.

his progress was impeded

Emphasizes the slowing down of progress.

he experienced a setback

Focuses on a general hindrance or obstacle.

he had an unforeseen issue

Stresses the unexpected nature of the cause.

his journey was interrupted

Stresses the break in the continuity of the journey.

he got held up

Uses a more conversational tone to describe the reason of the delay.

he encountered a problem

Highlights the specific obstacle that caused the delay.

he faced an unexpected holdup

Uses more informal terms to describe delay.

he missed his connection

Highlights the reason for the delay, specifically missing a connecting transport.

FAQs

How can I use "he was delayed" in a sentence?

Use "he was delayed" when referring to a male individual who experienced a setback or lateness in arriving or completing something, like "he was delayed due to traffic".

What's a formal alternative to "he was delayed"?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases such as "his arrival was postponed" or "he experienced a setback" to convey a similar meaning with increased formality.

What does it mean when someone says "he was delayed"?

Saying "he was delayed" indicates that someone experienced a setback, causing them to be late or held up from reaching a destination or completing a task on time. The cause of delay could vary and usually requires further explanation.

Is "he was late" the same as "he was delayed"?

While both indicate a failure to be on time, "he was late" simply states the fact of lateness, while "he was delayed" implies an external cause prevented him from being on time. They are similar, but not perfectly interchangeable, for example "he ran behind schedule" means that he has to catch up on time, which isn't perfectly equal to "he was delayed".