not on time

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "not on time" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is typically used to describe something that is not happening or occurring at the expected or scheduled time. Example: The train was not on time, causing us to miss our connecting flight.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

37 human-written examples

Beyond the legal ramifications of multiple juries hearing a single case, lawyers also say they do not like the logistical problems it causes, like having to delay the trial when members of one jury are not on time, or pausing to get a jury removed from the courtroom during testimony it is not supposed to hear.

The New York Times

The Office of Rail and Road said 12.3% of trains - nearly one in eight - were not on time last year - the worst performance for a 12-month period since the year ending September 2006, at 12.5%.

BBC

We've got guys coming in here not on time.

The New York Times - Sports

Maybe not on time, but he was always there".

The New York Times

Nakheel's bankers, including bilateral and syndicated lenders, will be paid in full but not on time.

The Economist

"The German trains were dirty, they were not on time and the employees were surly".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

23 human-written examples

The flying public should focus on airline safety, not on-time performance or baggage handling, says Mary Schiavo, who quit as the Transportation Department's inspector general last year in a flurry of criticism of federal air safety programs.

The Washington Post

FICO also doesn't take into account relevant factors such as income or bills, and in some cases only reflects poor payment history and not on-time payments.

TechCrunch

In the developing world, utility providers tend to be pretty quick about cutting off electricity if you're not on-time," Naderi said, adding that about 20percentt of the global $435 billion remittances market seems to be in bill and utility payments.

TechCrunch

Among the not on-time visits, the median was 14 days off-schedule and approximately 5% came about one month before scheduled date and 10% came about one month late (table not shown).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

There was 44.22% of children who came to receive scheduled vaccines on-time on the preset monthly immunization date after the MCCM implementation compared to 34.49% before the MCCM (p < 0.001); among the not on-time visits, almost all children received the scheduled vaccine(s) in the consecutive month (table not shown).

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience when using "not on time". In formal contexts, "delayed" or "behind schedule" may be more appropriate.

Common error

While "not on time" is perfectly acceptable, overuse can make writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms like "delayed", "late", or "behind schedule" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "not on time" functions primarily as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It indicates the state or condition of something in relation to a scheduled or expected time. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

6%

Academia

6%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "not on time" is a versatile and commonly used expression to indicate that something is late, delayed, or has failed to meet a scheduled deadline. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is grammatically sound and widely accepted. While generally neutral, it's important to consider the audience and context, as more formal synonyms might be preferable in certain settings. The prevalence of "not on time" in news and media, scientific literature, and formal business communication underscores its widespread applicability. While the phrase "not on time" is suitable for use, writers should be aware of the potential for overuse, and are encouraged to diversify to ensure a better level of writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

late

A simpler, more direct synonym for not being on time.

not punctual

A direct negation of punctuality, similar in meaning to "not on time".

behind schedule

Focuses on the overall progress being delayed, rather than a specific point in time.

behind time

Similar to 'behind schedule', emphasizing a lag in progress.

off schedule

Highlights a deviation from the planned timetable.

running late

Indicates an ongoing state of being delayed.

delayed

A general term indicating something is held up or postponed.

overdue

Suggests that something has passed its expected time.

tardy

A more formal or old-fashioned way of saying late.

unpunctual

A more formal synonym emphasizing a lack of punctuality.

FAQs

What does "not on time" mean?

The phrase "not on time" means that something is late, delayed, or has missed its scheduled or expected arrival or completion time.

What's the difference between "not on time" and "late"?

While both phrases indicate that something is behind schedule, "not on time" can sometimes imply a slightly greater degree of deviation from the expected time, whereas "late" is a more general term.

How can I use "not on time" in a sentence?

You can use "not on time" to describe anything that isn't happening when it should, such as "The train was "not on time"" or "The project deliverables were "not on time".

What are some alternative phrases for "not on time"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "delayed", "behind schedule", or "overdue" instead of "not on time".