make a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "make a delay" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It can be used when referring to the act of causing a postponement or hindrance in a process or schedule, but more natural alternatives exist. Example: "The unexpected traffic made a delay in our arrival time."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The EC is trying to make a delay look like a scientific issue".

The Guardian

So it is possible, if not likely, that the general price level will fall, or at least not rise so much as to make a delay in investing look unwise.

The New York Times

One top GOP aide said putting that provision into the next draft of a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government was not "at all likely," in part because the party has already decided to make a delay to the mandate a part of their proposal for lifting the debt ceiling in mid-October.

Huffington Post

Insert, wherever you need your program to make a delay: sleep(1000); Change the "1000" to the number of milliseconds you want to wait (for example, if you want to make a 2 second delay, replace it with "2000". Tip: On some systems the value might refer to seconds, instead of milliseconds. So sometimes 1000 isn't one second, but, in fact, 1000 seconds.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They are welcoming, generous spaces that would make a delayed appointment seem far more tolerable.

The Guardian - Arts

Nor would you demand that the windshield wipers make a delayed pass after the wash cycle is over, to pick up stray droplets.

The New York Times

There's no hope that Santa will make a delayed stop.

Huffington Post

Even a government that put more emphasis on efficiency than on equity could be in favour of some positive level of redistribution with an aim to making a delay in the legal retirement age easier.

SERIEs

Leonte, who is six feet one, two hundred and five pounds, and still rangy, made a delayed entrance to the party, accompanied by the song "I Made It".

The New Yorker

A thick, glistening wave made a delayed appearance, but I got to the bar before it did, and hurled myself with an involuntary cry through its harmless, shiny, icy crest.

The New Yorker

Children in Gaza made a delayed return to school on Sunday after the 50-day war with Israel that killed more than 2,100 Palestinians and damaged hundreds of school buildings.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While grammatically sound, consider using stronger, more common alternatives like "cause a delay" or "create a delay" for clearer communication. This will enhance readability and avoid potential awkwardness.

Common error

Avoid using "make a delay" in formal writing such as academic papers or business reports. Opt for phrases such as "cause a delay" or "generate a delay", which are perceived as more professional and polished.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "make a delay" functions as a verb phrase where "make" acts as a causative verb, indicating the action of bringing about or causing a delay. Ludwig indicates that while understandable, the phrase isn't the most common way to express this idea.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While grammatically correct, the phrase "make a delay" is not the most conventional or frequently used way to express the act of causing a postponement. Ludwig's analysis reveals that while understandable, it may sound slightly awkward compared to alternatives like "cause a delay" or "create a delay". Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it's important to consider the register and choose a more common alternative for clarity and impact in formal writing. Therefore, even though "make a delay" isn't incorrect, adopting stronger alternatives improves communication. Ludwig AI suggests it's better to opt for something more natural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause a delay

Emphasizes directly bringing about the delay. It's a more common and natural alternative.

create a delay

Focuses on originating or establishing the delay. This is also more common than the original phrase.

bring about a delay

Implies actively causing the delay, often with intent. More emphatic than simply "cause a delay".

produce a delay

Similar to 'generate', but may imply more direct action in creating the delay.

generate a delay

Suggests the delay arises as a consequence or byproduct. Suitable when the delay isn't directly intended.

effect a delay

A more formal way to say 'cause a delay'.

precipitate a delay

Indicates a sudden or unexpected causation of the delay. More formal and implies a quicker onset.

engineer a delay

Suggests the delay was carefully and deliberately planned or manipulated. Implies some level of expertise or control.

occasion a delay

Suggests that something serves as the reason or cause for a delay. Somewhat formal.

induce a delay

Implies that the delay was caused by influencing someone or something. Suggests indirect causation.

FAQs

What is a more common way to say "make a delay"?

More common alternatives to "make a delay" include "cause a delay" or "create a delay", both of which are more frequently used and sound more natural in most contexts.

Is "make a delay" grammatically incorrect?

While not strictly grammatically incorrect, "make a delay" is an uncommon phrasing. Using alternatives such as "cause a delay" is preferable for clarity and adherence to standard English usage.

How does the context affect the choice between "make a delay" and its alternatives?

The context can influence which phrase is most appropriate. For formal or professional settings, "cause a delay" is generally better. "Make a delay" might be acceptable in informal speech, but alternatives are still more polished.

What's the difference between "make a delay" and "cause a delay"?

The difference is primarily in frequency and naturalness. "Cause a delay" is the more common and natural choice for most situations. "Make a delay" isn't inherently wrong but sounds less idiomatic.