seriously late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seriously late" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize that someone or something is significantly behind schedule or delayed. Example: "The train was seriously late, causing many passengers to miss their connections."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

Putting it simply, there are 1.59 million mortgages in a bad or seriously late situation today compared to 1.98 million just one year ago and 4.30 million at its worst in 2009.

Forbes

Cuts in the meteorological budget may have led to a seriously late forecast for winter's onset -- and the stranding of supply barges that now cannot sail up frozen rivers.

The New York Times

They are seriously late.

Independent

The computer contained a growing list of hundreds of thousands of vehicles with seriously late loans.

The Washington Post

I'm running seriously late.

BBC

"We're going to be seriously late," Maggie said.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

The two men began to feud seriously late last year, with some of their early arguments being about Antananarivo's debts.

The New York Times

Seriously 1985, go outside or something.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

See R. Dworkin, Taking Rights Seriously 14-80 19777) (especially pp. 22-28).

Harvard University

However, few astronomers take the collision model seriously today.

Harvard University

Lawyers do not take legal categories very seriously today.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seriously late" to emphasize a significant delay that may cause concern or require explanation. For instance, "The project is seriously late, and we need to address the reasons immediately".

Common error

Avoid using "seriously late" in contexts where a minor or insignificant delay is implied. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and sound melodramatic. Opt for milder terms like "slightly delayed" or "a bit late" for less critical situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seriously late" functions as an adverbial modifier intensifying the adjective "late". It emphasizes the extent of the delay, indicating that something is significantly behind schedule. Ludwig AI confirms this with its analysis of example sentences.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "seriously late" is a grammatically sound and usable phrase in English that amplifies the degree of tardiness. Ludwig AI's analysis of various sources shows it's most commonly found in news and media, indicating a significant delay worth noting. While it's generally acceptable, avoid overusing it for minor delays to maintain its impact. For similar expressions, consider alternatives like "extremely delayed" or "significantly behind schedule" to vary your language.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely delayed

Emphasizes the degree of delay, similar to "seriously late".

significantly behind schedule

Focuses on being off-schedule to a notable extent.

considerably tardy

Highlights the tardiness with a similar level of intensity.

severely delayed

Indicates a more intense level of delay than simply "late".

way behind time

An informal way of saying that someone or something is very late.

heavily overdue

Suggests that something is not only late but also past a specific deadline.

running very late

Describes the state of being in the process of being late.

past the deadline

Focuses on missing a defined time limit.

long overdue

Emphasizes that something should have happened much earlier.

belated

A formal term for something that is late, often used for greetings or apologies.

FAQs

How can I use "seriously late" in a sentence?

You can use "seriously late" to emphasize that something or someone is significantly behind schedule. For example: "The train was "seriously late", causing many passengers to miss their connections."

What can I say instead of "seriously late"?

You can use alternatives like "extremely delayed", "significantly behind schedule", or "considerably tardy" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "seriously late" or "very late"?

"Seriously late" and "very late" are both correct, but ""seriously late"" implies a more significant delay than "very late". The choice depends on the degree of emphasis you want to convey.

What's the difference between "seriously late" and "dangerously late"?

"Seriously late" implies a significant delay, while "dangerously late" suggests that the delay could have negative or harmful consequences. The latter is used when the lateness poses a risk.