shipment was delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "shipment was delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the delayed arrival of goods that have been ordered or shipped. For example, "Due to a mechanical failure, the shipment was delayed and did not arrive on the expected date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sony chartered Antonov-124 freight aircraft to move the consoles from China after a shipment was delayed in the Suez Canal, a spokesman, Nick Sharples, said.

The New York Times

We weren't happy that our shipment was delayed, but all of that vanished when we saw the truck carrying over 630 boxes of my products!

Huffington Post

So, if you screwed up while ordering supplies, don't say, "I'm sorry, the supplies are late because the shipment was delayed;" instead, try something like, "I'm sorry, I know you needed the supplies today and they're not here.

Huffington Post

More recently, shipment was delayed because, according to a March 29 ZDNet report, Raspberry Pi's distributors refused to sell the device until it received "the Conformité Européenne (CE) mark, which consumer products sold in the European Economic Area need to bear".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The gallery wired the money in early February, and, for security reasons, requested that shipment be delayed until just before the opening.

The New Yorker

Or the customer service representative who calls to let you know your shipment is delayed before you check on it and find out yourself.

Forbes

Merchants can use AfterShip to enhance customer service by setting automatic SMS notifications to let buyers know when a shipment is delayed or arrives so they remember to leave feedback on e-commerce sites like eBay.

TechCrunch

As the company told me, this means a small business could now use the service to easily track the progress of their shipments and as their status changes from in-transit to delivered, the card will automatically change colors from yellow to green (or to red when the shipment is delayed).

TechCrunch

The problem is that there is a considerable risk of thawing if the shipment is delayed due to customs.

European Journal of Soil Biology

Shipments were delayed in South Korea this week for extra quality control testing after reports that the batteries of some of the jumbo smartphones exploded while they were being charged.

The Guardian - Tech

Pakistan spoke of the risk of spoilage and higher costs if shipments were delayed.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When communicating a delay, always provide a specific reason and an estimated new delivery date to manage expectations effectively.

Common error

Avoid using "shipment was delayed" repeatedly without specifying the cause or responsible party. Active voice and clear explanations enhance clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "shipment was delayed" functions as a statement indicating that a scheduled delivery has been postponed or will not arrive on time. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "shipment was delayed" is a grammatically correct and relatively common way to communicate that a delivery is not proceeding as scheduled. Ludwig's analysis indicates that while the phrase is broadly applicable, it's frequently found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, it's best practice to provide specific reasons for the delay and an estimated new delivery date. Alternatives include "the delivery experienced a setback" or "the consignment faced a delay". To maintain clarity, avoid overuse and specify the cause of the delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the consignment faced a delay

Substitutes "shipment" with "consignment", which is a more formal term, and "was delayed" with "faced a delay".

the dispatch was postponed

Replaces "shipment" with "dispatch" and "was delayed" with "was postponed" highlighting the action of delaying.

the delivery experienced a setback

Replaces "shipment" with "delivery" and "was delayed" with "experienced a setback" focusing on the negative impact.

shipping has been deferred

Emphasizes the shipping process and uses "deferred" to indicate it has been put off until a later time.

the cargo encountered a hold-up

Employs "cargo" in place of "shipment" and "encountered a hold-up" implying an unforeseen obstacle caused the delay.

the transfer is held up

Uses "transfer" instead of "shipment" and "held up" to mean delayed, which is more concise.

the goods are behind schedule

Replaces "shipment" with "goods" and uses the phrase "behind schedule" indicating a deviation from the expected timeline.

the merchandise is running late

Substitutes "shipment" with "merchandise" and uses "running late" which is an informal way to indicate delay.

there's been a slowdown in transit

Focuses on the transportation aspect, indicating a slowdown in the progress of the "shipment".

the package is not on time

Replaces "shipment" with "package" and uses a simple statement indicating the item is not arriving as scheduled.

FAQs

How can I use "shipment was delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "shipment was delayed" to inform someone about a delay in delivery, such as: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the "shipment was delayed" and will arrive next week".

What are some alternative ways to say "shipment was delayed"?

Instead of "shipment was delayed", you could say the "delivery experienced a setback", or "the consignment faced a delay".

What are the common reasons a "shipment was delayed"?

Common reasons for why a "shipment was delayed" include weather conditions, logistical issues, customs clearance problems, or unexpected surges in demand.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing why a shipment was delayed?

While "shipment was delayed" (passive) is acceptable, using the active voice (e.g., "Customs officials delayed the shipment") can provide more clarity and accountability.