miss a deadline

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "miss a deadline" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe when someone fails to complete something by the appointed time, or when someone fails to meet a required timeline. For example, "I have been very busy this week and I'm afraid I'm going to miss the deadline for the report."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

'I never miss a deadline.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

One party may miss a deadline.

Harvard University

Miss them, and you might miss a deadline.

The New York Times - Sports

All the extracurricular activity could become a distraction, but Muhly is furiously prolific and never seems to miss a deadline.

The New Yorker

Images can come back under- or overexposed; a lab may miss a deadline, causing the photographer to do the same.

The New York Times

What will really happen if you miss a deadline or if that traffic jam makes you an hour late.

The New York Times - Health

(If I were vaporized by aliens tomorrow, my family would miss me, but the 1,100 journalists of The New York Times would not miss a deadline).

The New York Times - Magazine

"When you miss a deadline, the planner is also notified and can nudge you to help hold you accountable," she added.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

But they were handed handed a double demotion a year later after missing a deadline to pay creditors.

BBC

We haven't yet missed a deadline.

The Guardian - Tech

Gould stalled, missed a deadline, and was rejected, twice.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use project management tools or calendar apps with reminders to proactively prevent missing deadlines.

Common error

Don't assume that if you anticipate missing a deadline, an extension will be automatically granted. Always communicate proactively with stakeholders and obtain written confirmation of any agreed-upon extensions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "miss a deadline" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating a failure to complete an action within a specified timeframe. It commonly appears in sentences expressing concern, accountability, or consequences related to not meeting project milestones. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically correct phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Academia

9%

Formal & Business

4%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "miss a deadline" is a common and grammatically correct way to express a failure to complete a task by the specified time. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms this, and examples show its widespread use across news, academic, and business contexts. While acceptable in most situations, more formal alternatives like "fail to meet the deadline" may be preferable in some professional or academic settings. Remember to communicate proactively if you anticipate missing a deadline and always seek formal confirmation for any extensions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fail to meet the deadline

Replaces "miss" with "fail to meet", emphasizing the lack of achievement.

be late with submission

Focuses on the lateness of the submission, implying a missed deadline.

fall behind schedule

Highlights the deviation from the planned timeline.

not deliver on time

Emphasizes the failure to provide the expected output within the agreed timeframe.

exceed the time limit

Focuses on surpassing the allocated time, thus missing the deadline.

run out of time

Highlights the exhaustion of available time before completion.

be unable to finalize by due date

Formally expresses the inability to complete the task before the deadline.

default on timeline

Uses "default" to indicate a failure to adhere to the planned timeline.

lag behind the cut-off date

Emphasizes falling behind the specified final date.

let the deadline slip

Suggests a passive failure to meet the deadline, implying negligence.

FAQs

What are the implications of using the phrase "miss a deadline" in professional communication?

Using the phrase "miss a deadline" directly acknowledges a failure to meet an obligation. In professional contexts, it's often followed by an explanation and a proposed solution to mitigate any negative impact. Consider using phrases like "fail to meet the deadline" or "be late with submission" depending on context.

Is "miss a deadline" too informal for academic writing?

While "miss a deadline" is generally acceptable, academic writing often benefits from more formal alternatives. Options like "fail to meet the deadline" or "not deliver on time" might be more suitable.

What can I say instead of "I'm going to miss a deadline" to soften the message?

To soften the message, you could say "I'm anticipating a slight delay in delivering..." or "I'm working to finalize this, but it may require a bit more time than initially projected". You can also be more specific and offer alternative solutions such as "request an extension".

When is it appropriate to use "miss a deadline" versus "missed a deadline"?

"Miss a deadline" is used when referring to a future or potential event, for example, "I don't want to miss a deadline". "Missed a deadline" refers to a past event: "I missed the deadline yesterday".