Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
narrow delay
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "narrow delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a slight or minor postponement in a schedule or timeline. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we are experiencing a narrow delay in the project timeline, but we expect to resume progress shortly."
✓ Grammatically correct
Science
News & Media
Alternative expressions(7)
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
1 human-written examples
The fine time resolution implies narrow delay bins which enable paths to move fast from one tap to another [13].
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
When the antenna beam is quite narrow, the delay reduction factor also decreases although it does not decrease that much as the case with the lower path loss factor (e.g., α=2).
A3 Taiwan Avoids Confrontation Taiwan's Legislature passed a bill that would allow national referendums on constitutional and sovereignty issues, but only under narrow circumstances, delaying an immediate confrontation with China.
News & Media
If it is too broad, the USPTO's examining attorney will require you to go back and narrow it, delaying your application.
Wiki
He hammered the Republicans into a coherent governing majority hence his nickname, "the Hammer"—and repeatedly squeezed legislation through by the narrowest margins.Mr DeLay's humiliation has been very public.
News & Media
Atrial-synchronized, biventricular pacing or cardiac resynchronization therapy optimizes atrial-ventricular delay, narrows QRS duration, and seems promising in the management of advanced heart failure patients.
Science
Forbes.com asked its panel of tax experts to weigh in on what breaks they believe will and should be in the new stimulus and on two narrower issues: Should Obama delay his promised tax hikes on couples earning more than $250,000?
News & Media
Often the window of opportunity for surgery is narrow and unnecessary delays make surgery difficult or impossible.
Science
Senator John Kerry announced on Wednesday that he would accept the Democratic nomination at his party's convention in Boston in July, abandoning the idea of a strategic delay to narrow President Bush's substantial financial advantage.
News & Media
Time has quite narrow working range, whereas delay provides wider range of control.
Science
Due to the fact that current geodetic VLBI systems do not observe broadband delays, but rather sample the covered observing band by several narrow channels, the obtained delays contain an unknown number of integer ambiguities.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "narrow delay", ensure the context clearly indicates a minor or slight postponement, avoiding ambiguity with other senses of "narrow" (e.g., physical width).
Common error
Avoid using "narrow delay" to describe significant or impactful postponements. The adjective "narrow" implies a small degree or extent; therefore, using it for major delays would be misleading.
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "narrow delay" functions as an adjective-noun pair, where "narrow" modifies the noun "delay". It indicates a small or limited extent of postponement. Ludwig's analysis suggests the phrase is grammatically correct.
Frequent in
Science
50%
News & Media
50%
Formal & Business
0%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Wiki
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, "narrow delay" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a slight or minor postponement. As indicated by Ludwig, it's a correct phrase, although not very common, with usage spanning scientific and news contexts. For greater clarity, it’s recommended to ensure that the context sufficiently expresses that the delay is insignificant. Consider alternatives like "slight delay" or "minor delay" for increased accessibility. While the phrase is correct, its infrequent usage suggests careful consideration of audience and context to avoid potential misunderstandings.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
slight postponement
Replaces "narrow" with a more common adjective indicating a small amount of time.
minor delay
Similar to slight postponement, emphasizing the insignificance of the delay.
brief delay
Highlights the short duration of the delay.
small delay
Focuses on the size or impact of the delay being minimal.
short delay
Emphasizes the limited time frame of the delay.
minimal delay
Indicates the delay is as small as possible or almost nonexistent.
restricted delay
Highlights the limited scope or nature of the delay.
contained delay
Implies the delay is limited in its impact and scope.
limited delay
Focuses on the boundaries or restrictions placed on the delay.
reduced delay
Highlights that actions has been taken to minimize or lessen the extent of the delay.
FAQs
What does "narrow delay" mean?
A "narrow delay" refers to a slight or minor postponement, implying the delay is of short duration or limited impact.
How can I use "narrow delay" in a sentence?
You might say, "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we experienced a "narrow delay" in the project timeline." Alternatively, consider using phrases like "slight postponement" or "minor delay".
What are some alternatives to "narrow delay"?
Alternatives include "slight delay", "minor delay", or "brief delay", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.
Is "narrow delay" a common phrase?
While grammatically correct, "narrow delay" is not as common as alternatives like "slight delay". Consider your audience and the desired level of formality when choosing your words.
Editing plus AI, all in one place.
Stop switching between tools. Your AI writing partner for everything—polishing proposals, crafting emails, finding the right tone.
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
83%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested