it may be delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

'it may be delayed' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to show that something might not happen at the expected time. For example: The shipment was scheduled to arrive on Thursday, but it may be delayed due to the inclement weather.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Apple also announced that its MacBook Pro is shipping, despite speculation that it may be delayed until April, and with faster-than-expected Intel processors.

Forbes

The start of the school year has been pushed back to October, and it may be delayed even further.

The New York Times

However large or sweeping a civil action, it may be delayed by an investigation being conducted by the Manhattan district attorney's office for a possible criminal indictment.

The New York Times

In spite of recent talk of a possible write-off, Mr. O'Neill says success in Brazil is still assured, though it may be delayed.

The New York Times

David Moyes described that deal as "done and dusted", but it may be delayed for a week as the youngster plans to switch agents to Paul Stretford's Proactive Sports group.

The Guardian - Sport

The Clinton administration and both the Clintons went further; they put a lot of time and effort into installing a political structure in Northern Ireland that will work, however long it may be delayed by local malice.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

However, if it fails, assessment may be delayed until inflammation or pain subsides.

WikiHow

Two county legislators have proposed bills to would enact it, but a vote may be delayed until the state law is amended to assure the full 10percenttaxax break.

The New York Times

When it does occur, it often presents subacutely, and diagnosis may be delayed.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection

"It just means that publishing may be delayed until the intellectual property considerations have been dealt with adequately," he says.

Science Magazine

Justice may be delayed but it will always arrive as it did a couple of days for Pervez Musharraf who has warrant out for his arrest in connection with the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it may be delayed", specify the reason for the potential delay to provide context and clarity. For instance, "The shipment may be delayed due to inclement weather" provides more information than simply saying "It may be delayed."

Common error

Ensure that the "it" in "it may be delayed" clearly refers to a specific subject in the preceding context. Ambiguous pronoun references can confuse readers. For example, instead of writing "The project is facing challenges; it may be delayed", specify: "The project is facing challenges; the deadline may be delayed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it may be delayed" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or likelihood that something will happen later than expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is used to indicate potential postponement. The modal verb "may" softens the statement, indicating uncertainty.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it may be delayed" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to express the possibility that something will happen later than expected. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is widely applicable and serves the purpose of informing about potential schedule changes. While versatile, clarity is crucial; always ensure the pronoun "it" has a clear reference. As evidenced by the contexts provided by Ludwig, "it may be delayed" is most frequently found in news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources, indicating its broad applicability across various registers. Alternatives like "it could be postponed" and "it might be deferred" offer nuanced ways to express similar ideas, depending on the specific context and desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it could be postponed

Indicates a possible future delay, placing emphasis on the possibility.

it might be deferred

Suggests a more formal or official postponement, emphasizing a planned delay.

it is subject to postponement

Implies a higher degree of uncertainty, highlighting that a delay is possible.

it is liable to be held up

Suggests a delay is likely due to unforeseen issues or hindrances.

it is at risk of being pushed back

Highlights the possibility of a delay in a more informal tone, indicating uncertainty.

its schedule is tentative

Emphasizes that timing is not firm and that delay could happen.

the timing is uncertain

Focuses on the uncertainty of the time element but hints at possible delays.

the deadline is flexible

Indicates the ability to accept delays while still achieving the end goal.

it is not happening as planned

Expresses a deviation from initial expectation, not necessarily implying a delay but hinting at a rescheduling possibility.

it may encounter setbacks

Indicates that there might be a pause or delay.

FAQs

How to use "it may be delayed" in a sentence?

Use "it may be delayed" when you want to indicate that something is possibly going to happen later than originally scheduled. For example, "The flight may be delayed due to bad weather".

What can I say instead of "it may be delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "it could be postponed", "it might be deferred", or "it is subject to postponement" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "it may be delay" instead of "it may be delayed"?

No, "it may be delay" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "it may be delayed", where "delayed" is the past participle form of the verb, functioning as an adjective.

What is the difference between "it may be delayed" and "it will be delayed"?

"It may be delayed" indicates a possibility of a delay, while "it will be delayed" expresses a certainty. The first suggests uncertainty, while the second indicates a confirmed change in schedule.