significant delay

USAGE SUMMARY

'significant delay' is a perfectly acceptable phrase in written English.
You could use it to signal an interruption in the typical timeline of a process. For example, "We experienced a significant delay in delivering the product, but we eventually fulfilled the order."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Failure can lead to significant delay.

The Guardian

But, he added, "There is no significant delay... in the startup of the Bushehr plant".

The Guardian

And it was that question of legality that led to the recount's first significant delay.

The New York Times

For instance, Companies House data is free but there's a significant delay of 12 18 months.

The Guardian

"This will be taken very seriously and could result in an arrest, or at the very least, significant delay".

The New York Times

"Any significant delay [as has already occurred to CDP 571] could result in a significant fall in share price".

The Guardian - Business

In 2006, high winds toppled cranes at the construction site, causing a significant delay.

The New York Times

Any significant delay to this schedule could undermine Sony's cunning plan.

The Economist

There was a significant delay of diagnosis in these patients.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

A significant delay in growth of C. gloesporioides was observed.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Therefore, a significant delay arises from a long sampling period.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significant delay", quantify the delay whenever possible to provide context and impact, such as "a significant delay of six months".

Common error

Avoid exaggerating the impact of a "significant delay" without providing supporting evidence or context. Ensure the delay truly warrants the adjective "significant" based on the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significant delay" functions as a noun phrase, where "significant" modifies the noun "delay". It describes a postponement or interruption that is noteworthy or consequential. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is acceptable in written English and is commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

43%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significant delay" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase to describe a noteworthy postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It functions as a noun phrase, emphasizing the importance or impact of the delay. While appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, it is most frequently found in scientific and news-related sources. When using this phrase, consider quantifying the delay for greater clarity and avoiding exaggeration of its impact. Alternatives like "considerable delay" or "substantial delay" can be used for a more formal tone. To conclude, considering Ludwig's examples, "significant delay" is commonly used in sentences across various contexts to stress that a notable postponement occurred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

considerable delay

Replaces "significant" with "considerable", emphasizing the extent or degree of the delay.

substantial delay

Uses "substantial" to highlight the importance and size of the delay.

marked delay

Emphasizes that the delay is easily noticeable or distinct.

notable delay

Similar to "marked delay", but suggests that the delay is worthy of attention.

major delay

Highlights the importance of the delay itself and the problems that can come from it.

lengthy delay

Focuses on the duration of the delay, implying it is prolonged.

extended delay

Similar to "lengthy delay", but suggests the delay has been stretched out longer than expected.

appreciable delay

Indicates the delay is large enough to be easily perceived or measured.

serious setback

Shifts the focus to the negative impact of the delay, framing it as an obstacle.

noticeable holdup

Uses "holdup" as a more informal synonym for delay and "noticeable" to highlight the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "significant delay" in a sentence?

You can use "significant delay" to describe a notable postponement in various contexts. For example, "The project experienced a "significant delay" due to unforeseen circumstances" or "There was a "significant delay in the diagnosis"".

What's a more formal way to say "significant delay"?

More formal alternatives include "considerable delay", "substantial delay", or "appreciable delay". These options maintain a professional tone while conveying the same meaning.

What can I say instead of "significant delay" in a less formal context?

In less formal situations, you could use phrases like "major setback", "noticeable holdup", or simply "big delay". These options are more conversational but still communicate the idea of a notable postponement.

How do "significant delay" and "minor delay" differ?

"Significant delay" implies a substantial postponement with potentially serious consequences, whereas "minor delay" suggests a slight and less impactful interruption. The choice depends on the actual scale of the delay.