rather delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"rather delayed" is correct and can be used in written English.
It can be used to refer to something that has been delayed to a greater degree than other things. For example, "My flight was rather delayed, so my arrival in London was much later than expected."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Also: MySpace revenue | News Corp/NBC video site gets funding | Scripps buys video sharing site | Social networking, with pictures Facebook has been on a bit of a PR offensive in the past 24 hours, in rather delayed response to the BNP/ads fracas of last week.

The Guardian

In contrast, H. hepaticus infection of mdr1a−/− mice did not accelerate disease but rather delayed the onset of spontaneous colitis which was milder in severity.

The American Journal of Pathology

PMMA maximum plasma concentration of 4014 ± 1122 ng/mL was reached 30 min after dosing, whereas the appearance of metabolites was rather delayed.

Toxicology

Our clinical suspicion of 'herpetic eye disease' was rather delayed, and our patient experienced the dramatic consequences of an untreated herpetic infection in the post-keratoplasty period.

Journal of Ophthalmic Inflammation and Infection

When added after the onset of aggregation, 22C4 scFv could not inhibit aggregation but rather delayed aggregation progression.

Plosone

Stable overexpression of miR-122 in hESC was unable to direct spontaneous differentiation towards a clear endodermal fate, but rather, delayed general differentiation of these cells.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

You were fending off, or, rather, delaying for as long as possible, the end result of the test, perhaps subconsciously.

The New Yorker

It would rather delay the day when the eurozone has to sign up to fiscal transfers – rich countries paying for poorer members – to ensure long-term survival.

The Guardian - Business

They have resisted reducing principal balances for troubled borrowers, for instance, because that could force them to take losses they would rather delay.

The New York Times

Many of the Bush-loathing party faithful would rather delay progress of any sort until a Democratic president is elected in 2008.

The Economist

Mr. Ballmer also suggested that Microsoft would rather delay the release of the next major upgrade of its Windows operating system, code-named Longhorn, than sacrifice innovation or reliability.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "rather delayed" when you want to indicate a delay that is more significant than a simple "delayed", but not as extreme as "severely delayed". It adds a nuance of degree to the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "rather delayed" excessively in your writing. While grammatically correct, overuse can make your writing sound repetitive or overly formal. Consider using synonyms like "slightly behind schedule" or "somewhat late" to add variety.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "rather delayed" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, where "rather" modifies the adjective "delayed". Ludwig shows that this combination is used to indicate a degree of delay that is more significant than just "delayed."

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

44%

News & Media

44%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "rather delayed" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe something that is more delayed than initially expected. It functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying the degree of the adjective "delayed". Ludwig's analysis indicates that it's often used in science and news contexts, maintaining a neutral tone suitable for both formal and informal communication. While examples are not very common, Ludwig AI confirms it's valid, and it conveys a more significant delay than simply stating "delayed". When writing, it's best to use "rather delayed" when you want to emphasize that something is delayed to a noticeable extent. Keep in mind that, as noted by Ludwig, excessive use might sound repetitive and alternative like "somewhat late" could be used for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

somewhat late

Expresses a similar meaning but focuses on the lateness rather than the process of being delayed.

slightly behind schedule

Indicates a minor delay in relation to a planned timeline.

a bit overdue

Suggests that something is past its expected or required time.

considerably postponed

Emphasizes the act of postponement and its significant impact.

moderately deferred

Implies a formal or official delay to a later time.

relatively protracted

Highlights the extended duration of the delay.

noticeably adjourned

Focuses on the formal suspension of something for a period.

significantly held up

Indicates that something has been impeded or stopped, causing a notable delay.

appreciably retarded

Suggests a slowing down or hindering of progress, leading to a tangible delay.

markedly detained

Implies that something has been kept back or delayed in a conspicuous way.

FAQs

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

You can use "rather delayed" to describe something that is more delayed than expected. For example, "The project was "rather delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "rather delayed"?

Alternatives include "somewhat late", "slightly behind schedule", or "a bit overdue", depending on the specific context.

Is "rather delayed" formal or informal?

"Rather delayed" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.

What is the difference between "delayed" and "rather delayed"?

"Rather delayed" implies a greater degree of delay than simply "delayed". It suggests that the delay is more significant or noticeable.