massive delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"massive delay" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or event that has been significantly delayed. For example, "The train has been subject to a massive delay due to a track fault."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

She would wear what was in fashion – but the fashion would arrive after a massive delay, like the music.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

6.02pm BST 118th over: Sri Lanka 401-6 (Mathews 74, Kulasekara 0) There's a massive delay before Broad's final ball while the field is jigged, rejigged, unjigged and jigged again.

The Guardian - Sport

That's what I'm left with.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"You either have no delays or you have massive delays".

The New York Times - Tech

On top of that, security had been ramped up, leading to massive delays.

The Guardian

"The track record of new reactor projects in Finland and France is massive delays and budget overruns.

The Guardian

Reynolds describes the parlous state of the American railroad system, subject to massive delays and heavily subsidised by the government.

The Guardian - Arts

The cause in both cases: massive delays at America's West Coast ports.Cargo is piling up inside the terminals.

The Economist

DPA reported massive delays in the city's public transportation system after both train stations were quickly evacuated and trains no longer stopped there.

The Guardian

"Everywhere you look, there are warnings of massive delays, e-mails going around companies, things in the press — it's a whole lot of scaremongering".

The New York Times

However, planning errors, cost overruns, and mismanagement led to massive delays in the completion of Berlin Brandenburg, and the airport's opening was pushed back to late 2017.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the impact of a "massive delay", be specific about the consequences. For example, instead of just saying "the project suffered a massive delay", elaborate on how it affected the timeline, budget, or overall goals.

Common error

Avoid attributing a "massive delay" to a minor or trivial cause. Ensure the reason provided is proportionate to the scale of the delay described.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "massive delay" functions as a noun phrase, where "massive" modifies the noun "delay". Ludwig confirms that this is a correct and usable phrase. It describes a situation where something is postponed significantly.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "massive delay" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that describes a significant postponement. According to Ludwig, the phrase functions as a noun phrase and serves to emphasize the severity of the delay. It frequently appears in News & Media, Science and Encyclopedias, indicating its versatility across different registers. When using "massive delay", consider alternatives such as "significant delay" or "substantial delay" to provide a more nuanced description.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

huge delay

Replaces "massive" with "huge", indicating a very large delay.

significant delay

Replaces "massive" with "significant", indicating a noteworthy delay but potentially less severe.

substantial delay

Substitutes "massive" with "substantial", emphasizing the considerable extent of the delay.

major delay

Uses "major" instead of "massive", highlighting the importance or impact of the delay.

extensive delay

Replaces "massive" with "extensive", focusing on the prolonged nature of the delay.

considerable delay

Uses "considerable" in place of "massive", suggesting a delay that is worthy of attention.

lengthy delay

Substitutes "massive" with "lengthy", emphasizing the long duration of the delay.

protracted delay

Replaces "massive" with "protracted", highlighting the extended duration of the delay.

extreme delay

Uses "extreme" instead of "massive", suggesting an unusually large or severe delay.

terrific delay

Substitutes "massive" with "terrific", conveying the magnitude of the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "massive delay" in a sentence?

You can use "massive delay" to describe situations where something is significantly postponed, such as "The project experienced a massive delay due to unforeseen circumstances" or "There was a massive delay in the arrival of the shipment".

What are some alternatives to "massive delay"?

Some alternatives include "significant delay", "substantial delay", or "major delay". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it more appropriate to say "massive delay" or "significant delay"?

"Massive delay" implies a larger scale or impact than "significant delay". Use "massive" when the delay is exceptionally large or has far-reaching consequences. Otherwise, "significant" may be more appropriate.

What causes are commonly associated with a "massive delay"?

Common causes of a "massive delay" include unforeseen technical issues, natural disasters, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory hurdles. The severity of these causes typically aligns with the magnitude of the delay.