leading to a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leading to a delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where one event or action causes another event or action to be postponed or take longer than expected. Example: "The unexpected technical issues were leading to a delay in the project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

48 human-written examples

They indicated that hypercortisolism may lead to masking of symptoms and signs of infection, at times leading to a delay in the diagnosis, which contributes to the high mortality rate [ 10].

BMC Endocrine Disorders

The authors concluded that there was an inverse relationship between the amount of lead to which the fetuses were exposed and the size and weight of the animals, and that lead interferes with normal development since the very early stages, leading to a delay in bone development.

BioMed Research International

Diagnosis can be challenging, leading to a delay in treatment.

Annals of Vascular Surgery

Chambers had to change his damaged right glove at the start of the 10th, leading to a delay.

The New York Times - Sports

Krt17 acts as a regulator of skin immune responses and loss of Krt17 promotes reduced cell proliferation, leading to a delay in skin tumour onset6.

Nature

This suggests that synapse pruning in the mutants' brains was diminished, causing the connections to mature more slowly than they normally would, leading to a delay in the development of brain circuitry.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

12 human-written examples

By contrast, oversedation promotes drugs tolerance and withdrawal leading to a delayed recovery.

Annals of Intensive Care

We hypothesize that psychiatric disorders and/or associated psychoactive medications could lessen symptoms leading to a delayed research on the somatic disease and finally to admission to the ICU patients with advanced forms of their disease.

Annals of Intensive Care

These results indicate that solid tissues are more difficult to penetrate by mAb and the "binding site barrier" could restrict the distribution of mAb, leading to a delayed pharmacological effect in the tissues.

Protein & Cell

G194D mutation was also associated with a significant change in the fruit rind color leading to a delayed fruit yellowing (Figure 2K).

Plosone

The new edge Cyclin B1 →AKT supported special activation of RPS6 via PI3K signalling, leading to a delayed drug response.

BMC Systems Biology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "leading to a delay", ensure the causal relationship is clear and direct. Avoid ambiguity by specifying what caused the delay and the specific aspect that was delayed.

Common error

Avoid using "leading to a delay" without explicitly stating the cause. For example, instead of saying "The situation was leading to a delay", specify what aspect of the situation was causing the delay: "The lack of resources was leading to a delay in the project completion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leading to a delay" functions as a causal connector, linking an action or situation to its consequence—a postponement or slowdown. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. Examples show it used to explain causes of delays in various situations.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

62%

News & Media

27%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leading to a delay" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship resulting in a postponement or slowdown. Ludwig AI confirms this, and it's use spans across diverse fields like science, news, and formal communication. While straightforward, clarity is key: always specify the cause and the delayed aspect. Alternatives such as "resulting in a delay" or "causing a delay" offer similar meanings. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively communicate the reasons behind delays in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

resulting in a delay

Changes the verb from "leading" to "resulting", emphasizing the outcome.

causing a delay

Uses "causing" instead of "leading", highlighting the direct action.

contributing to a delay

Implies a partial cause rather than the sole cause.

bringing about a delay

More formal and emphasizes the act of causing the delay.

giving rise to a delay

Similar to "bringing about" but slightly more literary.

precipitating a delay

Suggests a sudden or hastened delay.

triggering a delay

Indicates a specific event that initiates the delay.

prompting a delay

Suggests the delay was a direct response to something.

generating a delay

Emphasizes the creation or production of the delay.

inducing a delay

A more formal way of saying causing or bringing about a delay.

FAQs

How can I use "leading to a delay" in a sentence?

You can use "leading to a delay" to show a cause-and-effect relationship where something results in a postponement or slowdown. For example, "The unexpected technical issues were "leading to a delay" in the project timeline."

What are some alternatives to "leading to a delay"?

Alternatives include phrases like "resulting in a delay", "causing a delay", or "contributing to a delay". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "leading to a delay" or "resulting in a delay"?

Both "leading to a delay" and "resulting in a delay" are grammatically correct and often interchangeable. "Leading to a delay" emphasizes the progression towards the delay, while "resulting in a delay" emphasizes the delay as an outcome. Choose the one that best fits the context.

What's the difference between "leading to a delay" and "delaying" something?

"Leading to a delay" describes the cause of a delay, while "delaying" describes the action of postponing something. For example, "The storm was "leading to a delay" in the shipment", versus "The storm was delaying the shipment".