must be delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something is required to be postponed or rescheduled. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the project must be delayed until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

But developing a proof-of-stake system is taking longer than expected, so the difficulty bomb must be delayed.

MIT Technology Review

In order to have enough cartilage, surgery must be delayed until children are six to ten years old.

Stanford University

Once he is in Buenos Aires, John's fears are realized when he is informed that the killing must be delayed three weeks.

The New York Times

It takes weeks to stimulate the development and release of mature eggs, and during that time, cancer treatments must be delayed.

The New York Times - Health

One day, almost 20 years ago, I was waiting in Nawaz Sharif's outside office when a member of his staff told me that our meeting must be delayed.

The Guardian - Opinion

For predator-prey cycles with a longer phase lag, including antiphase cycles, the dynamics of effective prey biomass must be delayed with respect to the actual prey biomass.

Nature

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

The transition to a proper democracy must not be delayed: the generals must get a move on.From the start this was a most unusual revolution.

The Economist

Elections must not be delayed.

The Guardian - Opinion

It must not be delayed.

The Guardian - Opinion

The main political parties and the Supreme Court appear to agree that elections must not be delayed.

The Economist

"The implementation of what has been agreed today must not be delayed because with every delay, lives are being lost," she told the delegates this afternoon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be delayed", ensure the reason for the delay is clear and justified. Providing context helps the audience understand the necessity and minimizes potential frustration.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that something "must be delayed" without providing any explanation. This can lead to confusion and distrust. Always offer a brief reason for the delay and, if possible, a revised timeline or expected update.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be delayed" functions as a modal passive construction, indicating a requirement for postponement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it expresses that an action or event requires deferral. The modal verb "must" signifies necessity, and "be delayed" indicates the passive action being imposed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "must be delayed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates a required postponement. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's prevalent in news, science, and academic contexts, generally maintaining a neutral tone. When using this phrase, ensure you provide clear justification for the delay to avoid confusion or frustration. Alternatives like "needs to be postponed" or "has to be deferred" can be used depending on the desired level of formality. Overall, understanding the context and providing clear communication are essential when employing the phrase "must be delayed".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

needs to be postponed

Replaces "must" with "needs to", indicating a requirement but potentially with less urgency.

has to be deferred

Uses "has to be" instead of "must be", maintaining a similar level of obligation with a more formal term.

should be rescheduled

Suggests a recommendation rather than a strict necessity, focusing on the action of rescheduling.

ought to be put off

Employs "ought to be" for a moral or advisable delay, less forceful than "must".

is required to be adjourned

Offers a more formal and legalistic alternative, suitable for official contexts.

it is imperative to postpone

Emphasizes the urgency of the postponement, highlighting its critical nature.

it is essential to defer

Highlights the fundamental importance of deferring an action or event.

we need to push it back

Introduces a more casual and informal way to express the need for delay.

it's better to hold off on it

Presents a suggestion based on prudence, implying that delaying is the wiser choice.

let's put it on ice

Offers a more idiomatic way to suggest a temporary halt or postponement.

FAQs

How can I use "must be delayed" in a sentence?

Use "must be delayed" to indicate that an event, action, or process needs to be postponed. For example: "The project "must be delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What are some alternatives to "must be delayed"?

Alternatives include phrases like "needs to be postponed", "has to be deferred", or "should be rescheduled", depending on the level of formality and urgency you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "must be delayed" versus "should be delayed"?

"Must be delayed" indicates a higher degree of necessity than "should be delayed". Use "must be delayed" when there is no alternative, and postponement is essential. Use "should be delayed" when it is advisable or recommended, but not strictly required.

What is the difference between "must be delayed" and "is delayed"?

"Must be delayed" indicates a future action that needs to happen, meaning the delay is a requirement or decision yet to be fully implemented. "Is delayed" indicates a present state; the event is already postponed. For example: "The meeting "must be delayed"" vs. "The meeting "is delayed"".