somewhat tardy

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "somewhat tardy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone or something that is late to a certain degree, but not excessively so. Example: "The report was somewhat tardy, arriving a few days after the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

As for President Chirac, his conversion to road safety is a somewhat tardy: in a book last year his former, long-time chauffeur, Jean-Claude Laumond, boasted of driving his boss at speeds that a rally-driver might envy.

The Economist

I'd like to believe this figure reflects the care South Australian motorists take when passing cyclists, but I have a suspicion the police have been somewhat tardy in enforcing this aspect of the law.

The Guardian - Opinion

It can be somewhat tardy in reporting and yields many false positives.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"And once the event actually happened, they were pretty tardy in responding".

BBC

The average tardiness of those who were tardy fell from 16.75 min (5.59) to 2.0 min.

BMJ Open

His bat's tardy".

The New York Times - Sports

A Tardy Moonflower Q.

The New York Times

Why so tardy?

The Guardian - Music

Jacobsen's horse, Tardy, died.

The Guardian - Books

A tardy arrival is disastrous.

The New York Times

This is far too tardy.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "somewhat tardy", ensure the context clarifies what is being delayed or late. Providing specific details enhances clarity and impact.

Common error

Avoid using "somewhat tardy" when the delay is significant or has major consequences. Opt for stronger terms like "significantly delayed" or "substantially late" to accurately reflect the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "somewhat tardy" functions as an adverbial modifier combined with an adjective. "Somewhat" modifies the adjective "tardy", indicating the degree of lateness. According to Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically correct and understandable in English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

33%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "somewhat tardy" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that means slightly late or delayed. Ludwig's AI confirms its validity. While relatively rare, it appears in news and media contexts, indicating a neutral register. When using "somewhat tardy", make sure the delay is indeed minor, or choose a stronger term if greater emphasis is needed. Consider alternatives like "slightly delayed" or "a bit late" for similar meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slightly delayed

Indicates a small amount of lateness, similar to "somewhat tardy" but uses different wording.

a bit late

A more informal way of saying "somewhat tardy", implying a minor delay.

moderately delayed

Uses a different adverb to express a similar level of lateness.

relatively late

Indicates lateness in comparison to something else.

somewhat behind schedule

Rephrases "tardy" with "behind schedule", focusing on the timing aspect.

slightly overdue

Similar meaning, but often used for deadlines or expected times.

a little behind

Simple and informal way to express a small delay.

not quite on time

Emphasizes the failure to be punctual.

somewhat unpunctual

Replaces "tardy" with its synonym "unpunctual".

a shade late

A more figurative and less common way to say "a bit late".

FAQs

What does "somewhat tardy" mean?

The phrase "somewhat tardy" means slightly late or delayed to a certain extent. It implies that something or someone is not exactly on time, but the lateness is not extreme.

When is it appropriate to use "somewhat tardy"?

It's appropriate to use "somewhat tardy" when you want to describe a slight delay without exaggerating the situation. For example, "The report was "somewhat tardy", but it still contained valuable information."

What are some alternatives to "somewhat tardy"?

You can use alternatives like "slightly delayed", "a bit late", or "moderately delayed" instead of "somewhat tardy", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is "somewhat tardy" formal or informal?

"Somewhat tardy" falls in the neutral to slightly formal register. While not overly formal, it is more appropriate for professional or academic settings than very informal language.