late arrivals

USAGE SUMMARY

"late arrivals" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
For example, you might write: "The late arrivals to the meeting caused a disruption of the agenda."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Late arrivals were fined $25.

The New York Times

Late arrivals sit on the floor.

The New Yorker

Some late arrivals hurried into position.

The New York Times

Both my parents were late arrivals.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Remember Robespierre, Lenin, Khomeni were all late arrivals.

The New Yorker

The late arrivals were pensive at the evening's end.

The New Yorker

Dicker stood and craned his neck, looking for late arrivals.

The New Yorker

But some judges cannot abide his penchant for late arrivals, frequent postponements and courtroom filibusters.

The New York Times

At the helicopter circled, tipped, and landed atop a dune, we speculated about the late arrivals.

The New Yorker

With both films late arrivals in the race, however, Young never made up the distance.

The Guardian - Film

Oddly enough, one of the late arrivals was Manager Art Howe, who had a valid excuse.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal event planning, use the phrase to describe a policy or a specific area designated for those arriving after a performance has begun.

Common error

Do not use "lately arrivals". While "lately" is an adverb meaning recently, it cannot modify the noun "arrivals". Stick to the adjective "late" to describe the timing of the event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "late arrivals" functions as a noun phrase consisting of the adjective "late" and the plural noun "arrivals". In the sentences provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the subject of a sentence (e.g., ""late arrivals" sit on the floor") or as the object of a preposition (e.g., "fined $25 for "late arrivals""). Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically standard and highly versatile.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Social Media

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "late arrivals" is a robust and essential phrase in the English language, supported by extensive data from Ludwig. It is most frequently employed in News & Media to describe participants at events and in Science to describe data latency or late-migrating species. Ludwig AI classifies the phrase as Correct, noting its high utility in both literal and figurative contexts. Whether you are managing a business meeting, analyzing network traffic, or writing for a major publication, "late arrivals" provides a clear and professional way to denote unpunctuality or delay. Writers should favor this phrase for its precision and neutral tone, while being mindful not to confuse it with the adverbial form "lately".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

latecomers

A single-word, slightly more informal noun used to describe people who arrive late.

tardy arrivals

Uses a more formal adjective that specifically denotes unpunctuality.

delayed participants

Shifts focus to the cause of the lateness and specifies the role of the individuals.

stragglers

Suggests people who are trailing behind the main group, often arriving intermittently.

behind-schedule attendees

A more descriptive, business-oriented phrase emphasizing the schedule violation.

overdue arrivals

Implies that the arrival is expected and now causing concern or a breach of terms.

last-minute arrivals

Refers to those arriving at the very end of a window, not necessarily past it.

belated entries

Usually used for records or submissions rather than people.

delayed entrants

Common in competition or formal organizational contexts.

after-hours arrivals

Refers to arrivals that occur specifically after the official closing time.

FAQs

How to use "late arrivals" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object, for example: "The meeting was interrupted by several "late arrivals"." or "The airline attempted to minimize "late arrivals" by adjusting the flight schedule."

What can I say instead of "late arrivals"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "<a href="/s/latecomers" target="_blank" rel="alternative">latecomers", "<a href="/s/tardy+arrivals" target="_blank" rel="alternative">tardy arrivals", or "<a href="/s/stragglers" target="_blank" rel="alternative">stragglers".

Is "late arrivals" plural or singular?

It is plural. If you are referring to a single person or event, use "late arrival".

Can "late arrivals" be used in a scientific context?

Yes, in data processing and networking, it often refers to information packets that arrive outside of the expected window, as seen in journals like the <a href="/s/Journal+of+Big+Data" target="_blank" rel="alternative">Journal of Big Data.