mildly delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"mildly delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that was slightly late, or not quite on time. For example: "The bus arrived mildly delayed, but still on schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

Dental maturation has been shown to be mildly delayed in some short-statured children of specific causes [9, 16 20].

Progress in Orthodontics

Early postsurgical CF (A) showed mildly delayed transit of iodinated contrast through the GJS (arrowhead), with fluid level in the gastric remnant.

Insights into Imaging

Developmental milestones were mildly delayed: he sat at 9 months, crawled at 10 months and walked at 15½ months.

Plosone

Boys had lower DQ scores (mean total DQ 101 and 106, respectively; p<0.001) and the proportion of mildly delayed development was higher among male infants.

Plosone

Mean total DQ score was slightly lower in MC twins than in DC twins (mean TDQ 103 and 104, respectively, p = 0.423), which was mainly due to the higher proportion of mildly delayed hearing and speech development in MC twins.

Plosone

There were no differences between uncomplicated MC and DC twins, with exception of a significantly higher incidence of mildly delayed development of hearing and language in uncomplicated MC twins.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Although AESs were reported to mildly delay endothelialization in a rabbit iliac artery injury model [ 25], no difference was observed in a porcine coronary model.

BioMed Research International

Interestingly, depletion of USP8, a DUB that has recently been proposed as a positive regulator of Parkin-mediated mitophagy, also promoted CCCP-induced and PINK1-dependent PARP cleavage, whilst mildly delaying TIMM44 degradation (Supplementary Fig S5A D) [ 17].

EMBO Reports

This is important since IST1 phospho-mutant phenotypes do not mimic ULK3 phenotypes, with ULK3 overexpression only mildly delaying abscission, but the IST1 4showinging strong effects on abscission and multinucleation.

eLife

In contrast, repression of PGAM5, Pink1 or Parkin has no effect on necroptosis induction, and Drp1 knockdown only mildly delays TNF-induced necroptosis.

Cell Death and Disease

One daughter is learning disabled, another has post-traumatic stress disorder, a third is mildly speech delayed, and her son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and suffers from depression.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing developmental milestones, use "mildly delayed" to indicate a deviation from the norm that isn't severe. This provides a nuanced and informative assessment.

Common error

Avoid using "mildly delayed" when the delay is significant or has serious implications. In such cases, use more accurate and descriptive language to reflect the true nature of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mildly delayed" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun. It typically describes a process or development that is progressing slower than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

70%

News & Media

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mildly delayed" is a versatile and commonly used expression, particularly in scientific and medical contexts. As Ludwig AI indicates, its grammatical structure is correct and functions as an adjectival phrase. It serves to describe a situation where something is progressing slower than expected, without being severely impacted. Primarily found in the fields of science, news and media, and formal business, "mildly delayed" is best used to provide accurate and nuanced assessments. When writing, consider alternatives such as "slightly behind schedule" or "somewhat late" to vary your phrasing. However, avoid using this phrase when a more serious delay is present. Be precise about the true circumstances. Overall, "mildly delayed" is a valuable phrase for achieving precision in descriptive writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly behind schedule

Focuses on a timetable deviation rather than a general developmental delay.

somewhat late

Emphasizes tardiness in a broader sense.

moderately postponed

Highlights the act of postponing something, with a degree of moderation.

partially deferred

Implies a formal postponement to a specific later time.

a bit slow

A more informal way to express a slight delay in progress or development.

slowed down a little

Highlights the action of slowing, suggesting a process that isn't as fast as expected.

somewhat protracted

Emphasizes the extended duration of something, indicating a delay.

belated to some extent

Focuses specifically on the lateness and its degree.

a touch tardy

A more subtle way to indicate a minor lateness.

gradually adjourned

Refers to a progressive postponement, usually in a formal setting.

FAQs

How can I use "mildly delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "mildly delayed" to describe something that is slightly late or behind schedule, for example: "His speech development was "mildly delayed", but he caught up by age four."

What is a good alternative to "mildly delayed"?

Depending on the context, alternatives to "mildly delayed" include "slightly behind schedule", "somewhat late", or "a bit slow".

Is it appropriate to use "mildly delayed" in formal writing?

Yes, "mildly delayed" is appropriate for formal writing, especially in scientific or medical contexts. It provides a precise and neutral way to describe a slight deviation from the norm.

What does "mildly delayed" mean in the context of child development?

In the context of child development, "mildly delayed" indicates that a child is achieving developmental milestones somewhat later than expected, but the delay is not severe enough to warrant significant concern or intervention initially.