reason for delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reason for delay" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when explaining why something is late or postponed. Example: "The reason for delay was unforeseen circumstances." Alternative expressions include "cause of the delay" and "explanation for the delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That was one reason for delay.

The Guardian

Yet the Government has another practical reason for delay.

The New York Times

Lack of funds is the primary reason for delay.

The New York Times

The main reason for delay seems to be the inexperience or ineptitude of local officials.

The Economist

But an unspoken reason for delay is a slide in his ratings.

The Economist

But the biggest reason for delay is chronic bickering among the Baltic three.

The Economist

And the Sixth Circuit held that this was a sufficient reason for delay, and we don't deny this.

Cornell University

Ukip sees no reason for delay, with party leader Nigel Farage calling for action "as soon as humanly possible".

The Guardian

He added that if Iraq were truly cooperating with the inspections, there would be no reason for delay.

The New York Times

Misdiagnosis as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common reason for delay in treatment in patients with achalasia.

Nature

But he said the primary reason for delay was the hope that further questioning of Mr. Sheikh might help in tracking down his confederates.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In professional emails, pair this phrase with a proactive solution to maintain a positive tone.

Common error

Avoid the construction "the reason for delay is because..." as "reason" and "because" provide the same causal information. Instead, use "the reason for delay is [noun phrase]" or "it was delayed because...".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reason for delay" functions as a complex noun phrase. In many Ludwig examples, it serves as the subject of a sentence (e.g., "One "reason for delay" is...") or as the object of a preposition. Ludwig AI confirms its status as a grammatically standard construction in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

35%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reason for delay" is a robust and essential tool in the English language for explaining lateness across all professional and academic fields. Ludwig AI highlights its widespread use in high-authority sources, ranging from legal proceedings at Cornell University to clinical studies in Nature. It is grammatically "Correct" and highly versatile. Whether you are writing a news article about political gridlock or a scientific paper explaining delayed treatment results, this phrase provides a clear and professional way to address time-related issues. Remember to avoid the redundant "reason... is because" and opt for more specific alternatives like "<a href="/s/ground+for+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">ground for delay" in specialized legal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cause for delay

Indicates a more direct, often mechanical or physical origin of the postponement.

explanation for delay

Focuses on the communicative act of clarifying why something is late.

ground for delay

Used primarily in legal contexts to denote the valid basis for a legal extension.

rationale for delay

Suggests a logical or strategic reasoning behind the decision to wait.

justification for delay

Implies the need to defend or prove that the delay was necessary or right.

factor in the delay

Treats the delay as a result of multiple contributing elements rather than a single reason.

basis for delay

A more formal and structural way to describe the underlying reason.

reason for the holdup

Slightly more informal; often used in business operations or logistics.

pretext for delay

Carries a negative connotation, suggesting the reason given is a false excuse.

reason for deferral

Specifically used when an action is intentionally pushed to a later specific date.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "reason for delay"?

In formal or academic contexts, you can use "<a href="/s/rationale+for+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">rationale for delay" or "<a href="/s/justification+for+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">justification for delay".

Can I say "reason of delay" instead?

While occasionally understood, "<a href="/s/reason+for+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">reason for delay" is the standard idiomatic expression. "Reason of" is rarely used with the word delay.

Is "cause for delay" the same as "reason for delay"?

They are very similar, but "<a href="/s/cause+for+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">cause for delay" often implies a more direct or involuntary source, while "reason" can include deliberate decisions.

How do I use "reason for delay" in a professional email?

You can use it to introduce an apology: "The primary <a href="/s/reason+for+the+delay" target="_blank" rel="alternative">reason for the delay was a technical oversight."