sets up late

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "sets up late" is not correct in standard written English.
It may be intended to convey the idea of someone staying up late, but it is not a commonly used expression. Example: "She often sets up late to finish her assignments, but it takes a toll on her health."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He sets up late in the batter's box, which disorients pitchers, Dodgers starter Alex Wood explained.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The beefing up of the current account switching service set up three years ago.

The Guardian - Business

Boardman Bikes and Boardman International were set up ten years ago.

BBC

And it always sets up 20/20 hindsight".

The New York Times

It sets up this weekend quite nicely".

The Guardian - Sport

There she made the short film The Set-Up (1978).

Encyclopedia Britannica

While some SMEs are growing, most of them remain small, even those set-up several years ago.

Research Policy

But Dr Porco says the set-up six years ago was not ideal.

BBC

Injury problems have kept Parker out of the England set-up since last summer's European Championship finals.

BBC

A North American division was set up two years ago.

The New York Times

They set up this summer internship with the family vet.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "sets up late" in formal writing. Instead, opt for more standard expressions like "stays up late" or "delays preparation until later" depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

Do not confuse "sets up late" with similar-sounding phrases that have different meanings. "Staying up late" refers to remaining awake, while "setting something up" implies arranging or preparing something. Ensure the phrase accurately reflects your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "sets up late" is an incorrect idiomatic expression. It attempts to combine the verb "set up" with an adverb indicating time. Ludwig AI states it's not standard English, likely intending to convey staying up late, but it fails to do so grammatically.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "sets up late" is not considered standard English and is flagged as incorrect by Ludwig AI. It appears very rarely, with only one example found in the provided data. The intended meaning is likely to convey either staying up until a late hour or delaying preparation until a later time, but it is grammatically flawed. It is advisable to use more common and grammatically correct alternatives such as "stays up late", "prepares at the last minute", or "postpones setup until later" to ensure clarity and effective communication. Using "sets up late" may lead to confusion and is best avoided in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stays up late

Focuses specifically on remaining awake until a late hour.

remains awake late

Similar to staying up, but emphasizes the state of being awake.

delays preparation until late

Shifts focus to postponing the act of getting ready.

postpones setup until later

Emphasizes the act of delaying the arrangement or configuration of something.

defers the arrangement until late

Emphasizes the formal act of postponing the arrangement or setup.

prepares at the last minute

Highlights the timing of preparation, suggesting a rushed effort.

leaves the setup for the last minute

Highlights the act of waiting until the very end to perform the setup.

procrastinates on setting up

Focuses on the act of delaying or postponing the setup process.

puts off the configuration

Focuses on delaying the configuration or setting up of something.

is a late bloomer

Describes someone who develops or succeeds later in life than others.

FAQs

What does "sets up late" mean?

While not a standard English phrase, "sets up late" is likely meant to convey staying up until a late hour. However, it's more common and grammatically correct to say "stays up late" or "remains awake late".

How can I correctly use the idea of "preparing something late" in a sentence?

Instead of "sets up late", consider using phrases like "prepares at the last minute" or "postpones setup until later" to accurately describe delaying preparation.

Is it ever correct to use "sets up late"?

In standard written English, "sets up late" is not considered correct. It's best to choose a more conventional expression to ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy.

What are some alternatives to "sets up late" that describe delaying an arrangement?

If you're referring to postponing the arrangement of something, use alternatives like "defers the arrangement until late" or "puts off the configuration". These phrases clearly convey the idea of delaying the setup process.