later than expected

USAGE SUMMARY

"later than expected" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it whenever you wish to describe something that is occurring at a later time than was expected or anticipated. Example: The shipment arrived two days later than expected.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This was somewhat later than expected.

Cornell University

Only it's 15 years later than expected.

Independent

It began two hours later than expected, without explanation.

The Guardian

Thus, with expansion ants arrive later than expected as the distance they must travel also expands.

Cornell University

Are higher taxa described earlier or later than expected by chance?

University of California, Berkeley

Jack Bauer will return to save the world on "24" — again — but somewhat later than expected.

The New York Times

Although NOAA's forecast for a G3-magnitude storm ultimately verified, it occurred later than expected.

The Washington Post

In 1999, much later than expected, he won the Nobel prize for literature.

The Guardian - Books

If it seems like your online orders are arriving later than expected, you're not alone.

The Washington Post

Texas completed the first home postseason victory in franchise history, one day later than expected.

The New York Times - Sports

The eclipses of Io occur later than expected when Jupiter is at its most remote position.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "later than expected", ensure the context clearly establishes what the original expectation was. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "later than expected" without clearly stating or implying what the expected time was. The phrase loses its meaning if the reader doesn't understand the initial timeframe.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "later than expected" functions as an adverbial phrase of time, modifying a verb or clause to indicate when something occurs. Ludwig AI examples show it describing deviations from anticipated schedules or timelines.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "later than expected" is a very common way to express that something is delayed beyond an initial anticipation. Grammatically correct and versatile, it appears most frequently in news and media, but also in academic and scientific contexts. Ludwig AI confirms that "later than expected" is a proper and usable phrase in English, suitable for expressing deviations from anticipated timelines. For more formal situations, alternatives such as "more delayed than anticipated" might be more appropriate. When using "later than expected", ensure clarity by referencing the specific timeframe that was initially expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more delayed than anticipated

Replaces "expected" with "anticipated", adding a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing the deviation from the original timeline.

more tardy than foreseen

Substitutes "later" with "tardy" and "expected" with "foreseen", introducing a more sophisticated vocabulary and emphasizing the unforeseen nature of the delay.

protracted beyond anticipation

Replaces the comparative structure with a passive construction, highlighting the state of being protracted and emphasizing the surpassed anticipation.

more behind schedule than initially thought

Specifies the delay in terms of a schedule and uses "initially thought" to emphasize the revised understanding of the timeline.

after the presumed timeframe

Replaces the direct comparison with a description of the event occurring after a "presumed timeframe", offering a more descriptive alternative.

subsequent to the projected date

Replaces the more casual phrasing with formal wording related to project management.

not as timely as forecast

Uses the term "timely" instead of "late" and "forecast" instead of "expected", giving it a slightly different nuance.

past the estimated time

Replaces "expected" with "estimated", focusing on a calculated or predicted timeframe rather than a general expectation.

more overdue than predicted

Emphasizes the sense of being overdue by replacing "expected" with "predicted", which highlights a formal projection.

belated beyond what was anticipated

Uses "belated" for "late" and adds "what was" before "anticipated" to add emphasis on the changed expectation.

FAQs

How can I use "later than expected" in a sentence?

You can use "later than expected" to indicate that something happened or will happen at a time that is beyond the initial anticipation. For instance, "The delivery arrived "later than expected" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What's a more formal way to say "later than expected"?

For a more formal tone, consider alternatives like "subsequent to the projected date" or "more delayed than anticipated". These options offer a more professional and precise way to express the same idea.

Which is correct: "later then expected" or "later than expected"?

"Later than expected" is the correct phrase. "Than" is used for comparisons, while "then" refers to time or consequence. Therefore, always use "than" when comparing something to an expectation.

What are some alternatives to "later than expected" that still convey the same meaning?

You can use alternatives like "more delayed than anticipated", "more tardy than foreseen", or "after the presumed timeframe" depending on the context.