it was belatedly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was belatedly" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action or response that occurred later than expected or after a delay. Example: "It was belatedly acknowledged that the project required more resources than initially planned."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

It was belatedly founded in 1990.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It was belatedly picked up by IFC Films, which plans to show it at an unspecified time this year.

The New York Times

The Reading diver had his spleen removed after it was belatedly discovered he ruptured it performing a dive during the Youth Olympic Festival in January 2009.

Independent

However, once it was (belatedly) agreed that she was at the "end of life" we were provided with well-coordinated NHS support.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Last week, it was belatedly disclosed that the government of Italy paid Morgan Stanley $3.4 billion to terminate derivatives contracts that had been in place since the 1990s.

Huffington Post

After a number of unsuccessful attempts to stage The Bartered Bride in France it was belatedly premiered at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in 1928, sung in French as La Fiancée vendue.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

And the IAAF's arguments – that it was among the first to introduce biological passports, that it has ramped up out-of-competition testing, that it chases drug cheats with more vigour than some other sports, that it is belatedly investing in more complex testing methods – hold some water.

The Guardian - Sport

The LTA points to its schools programmes, to an Allplay campaign designed to encourage use of park courts, to variants of the game such as its "cardio-tennis" fitness regime and some recent improvement in participation figures to claim it is belatedly making progress.

The Guardian - Sport

It's belatedly testing China's homegrown 3g network.

Forbes

In vacuum cleaners it is belatedly joining the industry trend favoring cheap models (nowadays more reliable).

Forbes

Hoge's plan relied on the South Koreans reforming and offering some resistance, and although a rearguard of 2,500 men was belatedly established it was in no condition to fight.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was belatedly" to convey that an action or realization occurred later than it should have or was expected, often implying a sense of regret or missed opportunity. For example, "It was belatedly acknowledged that the project required more resources than initially planned".

Common error

Avoid using "it was belatedly" when you mean to say something happened briefly or quickly. "Belatedly" indicates a delay, whereas "briefly" indicates a short duration. Saying "it was briefly acknowledged" has a very different meaning from "it was belatedly acknowledged".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was belatedly" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates when an action occurred, specifically that it happened later than expected or desired. Ludwig shows examples across diverse contexts, confirming its adverbial function.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Encyclopedias

17%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was belatedly" serves as an adverbial modifier, indicating that an action or realization occurred later than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and showcases its use in diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it carries a neutral register, its usage often implies a sense of delay or regret. For alternatives, consider phrases like "it was late" or "it was eventually".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was belatedly recognized

Emphasizes recognition or acknowledgement as the action that was delayed.

it was recognized tardily

Substitutes "belatedly" with "tardily", offering a slightly more formal or archaic tone.

it was acknowledged late

Focuses on the lateness of the acknowledgement, offering a more direct and simple phrasing.

it was late in being

Simplifies the phrasing to emphasize the lateness of the action or state.

it was eventually discovered

Highlights the eventual discovery of something, implying a passage of time before the finding.

it was slow to be

Focuses on the slowness with which something happened or came into being.

it was realized after a delay

Explicitly states the presence of a delay before the realization occurred.

it was understood in retrospect

Shifts the focus to understanding something with the benefit of hindsight.

it was postponed indefinitely

Implies that action was intentionally set to occur in the future but with no definite time/date.

it was procrastinated

Procrastinated can be the consequence of something happening later than expected.

FAQs

How can I use "it was belatedly" in a sentence?

Use "it was belatedly" to indicate that something happened or was realized later than expected. For example, "It was belatedly discovered that the initial data was flawed".

What are some alternatives to "it was belatedly"?

Alternatives include "it was late", "it was eventually", or "it was tardily", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "it was belated" grammatically correct?

While "belated" can be used as an adjective (e.g., "a belated birthday wish"), "it was belated" is not a common or standard construction. "It was belatedly" is the more typical and grammatically sound way to express that something happened late.

What's the difference between "it was belatedly" and "it was subsequently"?

"It was belatedly" implies a delay or lateness, whereas "it was subsequently" simply means that something happened after something else, without necessarily implying a delay. Belatedly adds a connotation of tardiness or being overdue.