out of schedule

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of schedule" is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used to describe something that is not happening at a planned or desired time. For example, "The train was due to arrive at 8:00, but it's running out of schedule and won't be here for another hour."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

They know they are running out of schedule.

The New York Times - Sports

For a year he has been planning to go with Oxfam to Africa but back-to-back filming has ruled out taking even a week out of schedule.

The Guardian - Film

If trains were delayed on the network, then the whole MRS could be thrown out of schedule, which in turn would have negative commercial consequences for the railway company [4].

Urban Rail Transit

Many of the other supply ships sent out in advance of the invasion also suffered delays, putting the supply part of the invasion plans out of schedule.

Wikipedia

The sets were released on September 28, 2009 in region 2 and on September 30, 2009 in region 4. The second season features four commentary tracks, a gag reel, deleted scenes, behind the scenes videos, and the episode "Unearthed", an episode, produced for the first season, which aired out of schedule during the second season.

Wikipedia

Theater vs theatre, color vs colour, etc. Lots of things are likely to go out of schedule as you prepare to move to the UK, especially if you need a visa.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Discounting at the usual rate, something of substance was still to be expected, because this was after all an out-of-schedule announcement: why bother with such a thing if you have nothing to say?

The Economist

(Whether they actually come out on schedule, of course, is another story).

The New York Times - Arts

Ohio State played a weak out-of-conference schedule.

The New York Times - Sports

Miami played a weak out-of-conference schedule this season.

The New York Times - Sports

Adding to the mystery, Texas played a particularly weak out-of-conference schedule.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "out of schedule", ensure the context clearly indicates what schedule is being referenced to avoid ambiguity. For example, specify "the project is running out of schedule" rather than just "things are out of schedule".

Common error

Avoid using "out of schedule" when you actually mean something is cancelled or permanently stopped. "Out of schedule" implies a temporary deviation, not a complete cessation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of schedule" typically functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate a deviation from a planned timetable or expected sequence of events. Ludwig shows the phrase in various contexts related to time management and project planning.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "out of schedule" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe deviations from planned timelines. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it finds applications across diverse contexts like news, project management, and general discussions regarding time-related events. The phrase typically serves to inform about delays or disruptions, carrying a neutral formality level. While not extremely frequent, its consistent usage across authoritative sources reinforces its acceptability. When using this expression, ensure that the context indicates what specific schedule is not met to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

behind schedule

Indicates a delay or lag compared to the planned timeline.

off schedule

Similar to "out of schedule", suggesting a deviation from the established timeline.

delayed

A more general term indicating that something is happening later than expected.

not on time

A straightforward way to express that something is not happening at the planned time.

behind time

Similar to "behind schedule", emphasizing the temporal aspect of the delay.

overdue

Suggests that something is past its expected or required time.

late

A simple and common way to describe something that is not on time.

behind the curve

Indicates a lag in progress or understanding compared to others.

not according to plan

More general, referring to any deviation from initial plans, not necessarily time-related.

derailed

Suggests that a plan has been disrupted and is no longer progressing as intended.

FAQs

How can I use "out of schedule" in a sentence?

You can use "out of schedule" to describe events or tasks that are delayed or not happening at the planned time. For example, "The meeting went "over schedule"", or "The train is running "behind schedule"".

What is a good alternative to "out of schedule"?

Alternatives to "out of schedule" include "delayed", "behind schedule", or "behind time". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "run out of schedule"?

While "run out of schedule" can be understood, it's more common and grammatically sound to say "run "behind schedule"" or "fall "behind schedule"". The latter options more clearly convey the meaning of being delayed.

What does it mean when something is "out of schedule"?

When something is "out of schedule", it means that it is not happening at the time it was planned to happen. It suggests a deviation from a predetermined timetable or plan, and it often implies a delay.