pretty delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "pretty delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is significantly late or behind schedule, often in a casual or informal context. Example: "The delivery of my package is pretty delayed, and I’m not sure when it will arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

If you can recall that leaked Verizon roadmap we spotted way back in August, you'll know that the Samsung Stratosphere is pretty delayed.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

In the event he yields up his secret pretty quickly, delayed gratification not being a strong suit in Hollywood blockbusters.

Independent

Slip sliding away Christine Griffiths got a legal brush-off after her easyJet flight from Geneva to Gatwick was delayed by a pretty extraordinary circumstance.

Independent

That's a pretty big delay, whichever way you cut it.

TechCrunch

Looks like the battery shortage caused by the fire at the LG plant back in March is still causing some pretty serious delays.

TechCrunch

The naming might seem a bit confusing, given that they're launching something called the "UP2" right as the UP3 begins shipping (after pretty significant delays) — but if you don't pay attention to those sorts of things (and, lets be honest, most people wandering around Best Buy don't), the name works just fine.

TechCrunch

"It was pretty apparent that with the launches delayed, we weren't looking at stellar ratings," said David Hill, the president of the Fox Television Sports Group.

The New York Times - Sports

There is a pretty big delta between Box's delayed IPO and the success of Arista Networks'.

TechCrunch

Personally, I'm sad that my Pandora has been delayed, although I'm pretty sure they will deliver in the next couple months.

TechCrunch

A lot of security brouhaha delayed the descent, although we came up again pretty quick, wondering why.

The Guardian - Arts

Meantime, the company managed to get its also (if less) delayed AirPods out the door and scored some pretty solid reviews in the process.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "pretty delayed" in contexts where you want to express a notable delay in a somewhat informal manner. It suggests the delay is more than just a little but not critically severe.

Common error

Avoid using "pretty delayed" when the delay is catastrophic or has severe consequences. In such cases, opt for stronger terms like "critically delayed" or "severely postponed" to accurately reflect the gravity of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "pretty delayed" functions as an adverb-adjective construction, where "pretty" modifies and intensifies the adjective "delayed". It describes the extent to which something is behind schedule, providing a qualitative assessment of the delay, as shown in Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "pretty delayed" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that is notably behind schedule. As indicated by Ludwig, it functions as an adverb-adjective construction and is most commonly found in news and media contexts. While the phrase is understandable, more formal alternatives like "significantly delayed" may be preferred in professional settings. The limited examples suggest that it is a rare expression, yet its meaning is clear and its usage is consistently appropriate. You can safely use this phrase with the understanding that it's more casual than formal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

quite delayed

Replaces "pretty" with "quite", a synonym indicating a similar degree of delay.

rather delayed

Substitutes "pretty" with "rather", another adverb of degree with nearly identical meaning.

somewhat delayed

Uses "somewhat" instead of "pretty", suggesting a slightly lesser degree of delay.

significantly delayed

Replaces "pretty" with "significantly", indicating a more substantial delay.

considerably delayed

Similar to "significantly delayed", but with a slightly more formal tone.

moderately delayed

Indicates a delay of medium intensity; less strong than "pretty delayed".

noticeably delayed

Focuses on the perceptibility of the delay.

a bit delayed

Less emphatic than "pretty delayed", indicating a minor delay.

slightly delayed

Indicates a small delay.

someway delayed

This is a more generic term to express that something is delayed.

FAQs

What does "pretty delayed" mean?

The phrase "pretty delayed" means that something is significantly behind schedule or late. The adverb "pretty" intensifies the adjective "delayed", indicating a noticeable delay.

How can I use "pretty delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "pretty delayed" to describe anything that is behind schedule. For example, "The project is "pretty delayed", so we need to work harder to catch up."

What can I say instead of "pretty delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "quite delayed", "rather delayed", or "somewhat delayed" depending on the context and the degree of delay you want to convey.

Is "pretty delayed" too informal for professional writing?

While "pretty delayed" is understandable, it can be perceived as informal. In professional contexts, consider using more formal alternatives like "significantly delayed" or "considerably behind schedule".