slow to communicate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slow to communicate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe someone or something that takes a long time to convey information or respond. Example: "During the meeting, I noticed that he was slow to communicate his thoughts, which led to some confusion among the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sarsour told Yahoo News she regrets that the Women's March was slow to communicate its renunciation of bigoted comments by Farrakhan, whose activism in black communities the co-chairs have commended.

Huffington Post

The Japanese admirals involved were often slow to communicate important information to each other.

Wikipedia

In order for V2V and V2I communications to truly work, they need to be conducted on private networks, as public ones are too slow to communicate accurately in real time.

Vice

They often fail to exclude other possible causes of cognitive impairment, including physical illnesses, medications and depression [ 10]; are slow to communicate the diagnosis to patients and carers [ 12, 13]; and fail to refer people on to services, support groups, memory clinics or other specialist resources [ 10].

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"But, after the implantation surgery, some of the kids we saw were reading and speaking on grade level, and others were much slower to communicate.

The New Yorker

The Zulu couple were slower to communicate, and we had been under way for half a day before I learnt that Philip was a lorry driver, and he was taking his wife on a holiday to Cape Town, where she'd never been.

The Guardian - Travel

Some degree of hearing loss is widespread among older adults, but this does not mean you should shout or speak at an unnaturally slow rate when trying to communicate.

The Guardian

So you have to find ways to communicate often and slow down, because communication is part of how we get there.

The New York Times

Now, picture a man slow to walk, having difficulties to communicate, and needing help.

Huffington Post

A prototype implementation of the proposed design using a Virtex-II Pro FPGA from Xilinx validates the claim that such designs allow a fast module to communicate with a slow module without constraining their frequencies.

Integration, the VLSI Journal

"When multiple vehicles are communicating with each other, when there is slowing, there is plenty of time to communicate that to cars behind so they can start braking earlier," says Professor Eskandarian.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "slow to communicate", consider the specific reason for the delay. Is it due to technical limitations, personal reluctance, or strategic intent? Choose vocabulary that reflects the cause.

Common error

Avoid using "slow to communicate" when you mean generally inefficient. This phrase specifically relates to the speed or effectiveness of conveying information, not overall performance. For instance, instead of saying "The project team was slow to communicate, leading to its failure", a more precise phrasing might be "The project team's communication delays contributed to the project's failure".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slow to communicate" functions as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing a characteristic or tendency related to the act of communication. As shown by Ludwig, it qualifies a subject by indicating a lack of promptness or efficiency in conveying information.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

15%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "slow to communicate" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, as validated by Ludwig. It's used to describe a delay or inefficiency in conveying information. While Ludwig identifies it as a correct phrase, with an adjective-infinitive phrase structure, it appears relatively infrequently. The phrase is most commonly found in News & Media and Scientific contexts. When using "slow to communicate", remember to consider the underlying reasons for the delay and choose vocabulary accordingly. Be careful not to use the phrase when you mean generally inefficient; it is best used to refer to issues directly related to the speed or effectiveness of information transfer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delayed in communicating

Emphasizes the lateness or postponement of the act of communicating.

reluctant to communicate

Highlights a hesitation or unwillingness to share information.

hesitant to communicate

Suggests a pause or reservation before communicating.

unresponsive in communication

Focuses on the lack of reaction or feedback in a communicative exchange.

inefficient in communication

Indicates that the process of communication is not optimized or effective.

lethargic in communicating

Implies a lack of energy or enthusiasm in conveying messages.

tardy in response

Highlights the lateness of the reply or answer.

gradual in disclosure

Focuses on the slowness and incremental nature of revealing information.

deliberate in sharing information

Implies a calculated and thoughtful approach to revealing details.

measured in expression

Suggests a controlled and careful manner of conveying thoughts or feelings.

FAQs

What does "slow to communicate" mean?

The phrase "slow to communicate" describes a delay or lack of promptness in conveying information, ideas, or responses. It suggests a deficiency in the speed or efficiency of communication.

How can I use "slow to communicate" in a sentence?

You can use "slow to communicate" to describe an individual, a group, or a system. For example, "The department was "slow to communicate" the changes in policy", or "He was "slow to communicate" his needs to the team".

What are some alternatives to "slow to communicate"?

Alternatives to "slow to communicate" include "delayed in communicating", "reluctant to communicate", or "hesitant to communicate", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "slow to communicate" instead of "poor communicator"?

"Slow to communicate" emphasizes the temporal aspect of communication, focusing on the delay. "Poor communicator", on the other hand, indicates a general lack of skill or effectiveness in conveying messages. Use "slow to communicate" when the issue is primarily about the timing, and "poor communicator" when the problem is about the quality or clarity of the communication itself.