significantly delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "significantly delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing a situation where something is postponed or takes longer than expected, often in a formal or technical context. Example: "The unexpected weather conditions may significantly delay the construction project."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Ms. Skopeck said the temporary shutdown was not expected to significantly delay the cleanup.

The New York Times - Science

"Even the smallest interventions can produce substantial benefits" and "significantly delay your date with disability".

The New York Times - Health

Franco, whose extensive off-season workouts usually include little throwing, said in a conference call yesterday that the surgery should not significantly delay his regimen.

The New York Times - Sports

"Some victims have decided to settle amicably or not to file charges as doing so would significantly delay the repatriation," he said.

The Guardian

Limited military options, such as air strikes against nuclear facilities, are "oversold as to their ability to end or even significantly delay Iran's nuclear program," the report says.

The Guardian

Any need to enroll new ASR cases will significantly delay the PMA submission and approval by years.

The New York Times

The auditors said, however, that even by dipping into those reserves, the utility could not significantly delay its slide toward running out of money and being forced into bankruptcy.

The New York Times

All six Republicans on the judiciary committee who are not directly sponsoring the bill voted in favour of amendments on Thursday that would significantly delay legalising 11 million undocumented migrants in the US.

The Guardian

The comptroller's office, he said, "came to the realization that maintaining our course would significantly delay compensation without appreciable benefit to the affected borrowers.

The New York Times

But unfortunately, both the House and the Senate versions of health care reform contain provisions that would discourage the development and significantly delay the approval of generic biologics.

The New York Times

Requiring an audit before paying hospitals and doctors "could significantly delay payments to providers," she said, and these reviews "would also impose an increased upfront burden on providers".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "significantly delay", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being delayed and the potential consequences of the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "significantly delay" when the delay is minor or inconsequential. Using more moderate language is preferrable.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly delay" functions as a verb phrase where the adverb "significantly" intensifies the action of the verb "delay". It indicates that something will be postponed or take longer than expected in a noticeable way. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

34%

News & Media

59%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "significantly delay" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that describes a notable postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Predominantly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it serves to inform audiences about impactful delays. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure the delay's significance aligns with the intended message, avoiding overstatement. Alternatives like "markedly postpone" or "considerably impede" offer nuanced options for conveying the delay's nature.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

markedly postpone

Replaces "delay" with "postpone" and "significantly" with "markedly", both suggesting a considerable deferment.

considerably impede

Substitutes "delay" with "impede" and "significantly" with "considerably", altering the focus to obstruction rather than timing.

substantially set back

Uses "set back" instead of "delay", implying a reversal or setback, and replaces "significantly" with "substantially".

drastically slow down

Replaces "delay" with "slow down", specifying the deceleration of progress, and intensifies the adverb with "drastically".

greatly hinder

Replaces "delay" with "hinder" and "significantly" with "greatly", focusing on obstruction rather than timing.

appreciably defer

Substitutes "delay" with "defer" and "significantly" with "appreciably", indicating a noticeable postponement.

noticeably retard

Replaces "delay" with "retard" and "significantly" with "noticeably", suggesting a visible slowing of progress.

seriously prolong

Uses "prolong" instead of "delay", implying an extension of time, and intensifies with "seriously".

extensively protract

Replaces "delay" with "protract", which means to extend in time, and intensifies with "extensively".

impose a major setback

This alternative replaces the verb "delay" with the phrase "impose a major setback", indicating a considerable hindrance to progress.

FAQs

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

You can use "significantly delay" to describe a situation where something causes a considerable postponement or hindrance. For example, "The heavy rain will "significantly delay" the construction project."

What are some alternatives to "significantly delay"?

Alternatives include phrases like "markedly postpone", "considerably impede", or "substantially set back", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "significantly delay" or "delay significantly"?

"Significantly delay" is generally preferred because the adverb "significantly" modifies the verb "delay" more directly when placed before it. "Delay significantly" is less common and can sound awkward in some contexts.

What is the difference between "significantly delay" and "slightly delay"?

"Significantly delay" indicates a major postponement with considerable impact, whereas "slightly delay" suggests a minor postponement with minimal impact. The choice depends on the actual magnitude of the delay.