pay a delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pay a delay" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of words, as "pay" typically does not collocate with "delay" in this context. Example: "I cannot pay a delay for the project; we need to meet the deadline."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

The New York Times

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The available orders should be fulfilled in the time determined in the previous periods, or the company must pay a delay penalty.

Journal of Industrial Engineering International

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Due to the 3-day delay, they had to pay a fine for delaying payment.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

Ms. Mann said that while "there is no deadline" for expanding Medicaid, states would pay a price for delay.

The New York Times

The government had planned to announce the winners in August, but arguments over the requirement to pay a bond has delayed the process.

The Guardian - Business

"There are actions being taken to make certain that we don't pay a price for the delay," Mr. Mattis said.

The New York Times

The rule that firms must provide health insurance to staff or pay a fine is being delayed until 2015 because of the law's complexity.

The Economist

Instead of defunding Obamacare, they said that its mandate for individuals to buy health insurance (or pay a fine) should be delayed for a year.The bane of budgetary brinkmanshipThat may sound more reasonable, but it is not so, for two reasons.

The Economist

In his first concession, Mr Fayyad promised to rescind price rises and pay a first instalment of delayed salaries.In this section Despite everything, it's still a success Why they won't calm down The Brothers flex their muscles Revolution in the air at last Can he really rescue the place?

The Economist

Granted, the Obama administration announced this week that it is delaying for one year a rule requiring big employers to cover their full-time workers or pay a penalty – that might also delay some of the shift from full-time to part-time work.

The New York Times

As a result, Related will not have to make a $43.5 million down payment immediately, although the company will have to pay a nonrefundable $10 million for the delay, according to two executives who have been briefed on the agreement.

The New York Times

But we will pay a heavy price for the delays in planning and assembling the next administration.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "pay a delay". Instead, opt for clearer alternatives such as "pay a penalty for the delay" or "pay compensation for the delay" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Common error

Be mindful of using "pay" with intangible nouns like "delay". "Pay" typically collocates with concrete items or services. For intangible concepts, consider alternatives like "suffer", "incur", or "face".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pay a delay" functions as a verb phrase where "pay" is the verb and "a delay" acts as its direct object. However, Ludwig AI indicates that this is not a correct combination of words, as "pay" doesn't typically collocate with "delay".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Formal & Business

31%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "pay a delay" appears in various sources, Ludwig AI flags it as an incorrect word combination. It attempts to convey the concept of incurring a cost or penalty because of a delay. More grammatically sound and widely accepted alternatives include "pay a penalty for the delay" or "pay compensation for the delay". Due to its awkwardness, avoid using "pay a delay" in formal writing and consider clearer alternatives to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Pay a penalty for delay

Specifies that the payment is explicitly a penalty, providing more clarity.

Pay compensation for a delay

Indicates that the payment is intended to make amends for the inconvenience caused by the delay.

Pay for the delay

A more concise way of saying payment is made because of a delay.

Incur a penalty for lateness

Focuses on the negative consequence (penalty) of being late, rather than the act of paying.

Face a fine due to delay

Highlights the obligation to pay a fine as a result of the delay.

Be fined for delaying

Focuses on the act of delaying and its consequence of being fined.

Suffer a setback from tardiness

Shifts the focus to the negative impact (setback) caused by being tardy.

Defray the costs of postponement

Emphasizes covering the expenses associated with putting something off.

Compensate for deferred action

Highlights providing restitution for delaying an action or decision.

Remunerate for time overrun

Focuses on the payment made because the allocated time has been exceeded.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically sound alternative to "pay a delay"?

Instead of "pay a delay", use phrases like "pay a penalty for the delay", "pay compensation for the delay", or "pay for the delay" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "pay a delay"?

While not grammatically ideal, the phrase "pay a delay" might appear in informal contexts or where the speaker is not a native English speaker. It's more common to see it in technical or business documents, where someone is liable for damages.

Is "pay a delay" considered formal or informal language?

Due to its grammatical awkwardness, "pay a delay" isn't suitable for formal contexts. Opt for more precise and grammatically correct alternatives, especially in professional or academic writing.

How can I avoid using "pay a delay" in my writing?

To avoid "pay a delay", consider what you're trying to convey. If it's about incurring a penalty, use "incur a penalty". If it's about compensating for lateness, use "compensate for the delay".