ought to be delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ought to be delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when suggesting that something should be postponed or not proceed as planned. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the project ought to be delayed until further notice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Many Congressional Republicans are eager to exploit the start-up problems as evidence that health care reform is doomed to failure and ought to be delayed.

The New York Times

Late on Sept. 11, the better-life foundation and its partners in developing the values campaign, including the Outdoor Advertising Association of America and Jay Schulberg, a prominent former agency creative executive, agreed that it ought to be delayed.

The New York Times

Signs are that this is now slowly changing...As the authors point out, there was discussion in the late 1970s about whether Greece's accession ought to be delayed while it pursued further reform; the European Commission recommended delay but was overruled.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

NTM infections are potentially detrimental, so any surgery deemed necessary by clinicians to clear the infection ought not be delayed.

BioMed Research International

Two weeks ago it ruled that the general ought to be interrogated without delay, then last week it ordered that he be should undergo medical tests first.

The New York Times

That's not good enough for Dietz and his team, as they have whipped up a demo of how things ought to be — unlike the 100ms delay of a regular touchscreen, the demo knocks that delay between touch and tracking down to 1ms flat.

TechCrunch

But the balloting was delayed because nobody was certain what the election procedures ought to be.

The New York Times

It ought to be.

Independent

"You ought to be.

The New Yorker

They ought to be.

The New York Times - Food

ought to be paid.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Replace "ought to be delayed" with phrases such as "should be postponed" or "needs to be deferred" in order to match the specific need or degree of formality of your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "ought to be delayed" in casual conversations or informal writing. It can sound overly formal or stilted in such contexts.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ought to be delayed" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating advisability or obligation for a postponement. It suggests that delaying something is the correct or necessary course of action. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples showing its deployment in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ought to be delayed" is a grammatically sound phrase used to suggest that something should be postponed. Ludwig AI confirms its use across various contexts, predominantly in news and media and scientific publications. While grammatically correct, its formality makes it better suited for formal writing and professional communication, recommending alternatives such as "should be postponed" in casual settings. It's crucial to consider the audience and context when choosing this phrase to ensure appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be postponed

Replaces "ought to" with the more common modal verb "should".

should be deferred

Replaces "ought to" with "should" and "delayed" with the more formal "deferred".

needs to be postponed

Emphasizes necessity using "needs to be" instead of "ought to" and maintains the original meaning with "postponed".

needs to be deferred

Emphasizes necessity using "needs to be" instead of "ought to" and uses "deferred" instead of "delayed" for a more formal tone.

must be postponed

Conveys a stronger sense of obligation or necessity using "must be" in place of "ought to".

has to be delayed

Replaces the modal verb with a more direct expression of necessity.

it is advisable to delay

Uses a more formal and cautious tone, replacing the modal verb with an advisory construction.

it would be best to delay

Suggests a recommendation rather than a strict obligation.

delaying is advisable

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the act of delaying as advisable.

postponement is recommended

Shifts the focus to the act of postponement and recommends it.

FAQs

What does "ought to be delayed" mean?

The phrase "ought to be delayed" means that something should be postponed or its progress should be slowed down. It's a suggestion, often implying a moral or practical imperative.

When is it appropriate to use "ought to be delayed"?

Use "ought to be delayed" when you want to suggest something should be postponed for a good reason, whether it's a matter of practicality, ethics, or strategy. It is suitable in formal writing and professional communication.

What can I say instead of "ought to be delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "should be postponed", "needs to be deferred", or "must be delayed" depending on the context and the strength of the suggestion.

Is "ought to be delayed" grammatically correct?

Yes, "ought to be delayed" is grammatically correct. "Ought to" is a modal verb, and it is used correctly in this passive construction.