the bus was delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'the bus was delayed' is correct and usable in written English.
You could use it for example in a sentence like, "I missed my appointment because the bus was delayed."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The bus was delayed so they waited a little bit outside and that's when it happened," said Ramadan.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Sagan hands Tyson his home phone number, telling him to call if the bus is delayed by weather.

The New Yorker

A spokesman said: "A route 24 bus was delayed following a decision by the driver to stop the bus to pray.

The Telegraph

Back in Oneonta, George and I sat in the bus depot for a while because my bus was delayed, and we talked about how he organized his life.

The New York Times

He gave Ms. Zheng almost $100 worth of seafood that he was afraid would spoil because his bus was delayed.

The New York Times

Martin, 44, came to the food bank I was volunteering in after being sanctioned for being a few minutes late for a work programme appointment after his bus was delayed.

The Guardian

He said he was late because his bus was delayed, but no one believes his ______.

BBC

*** In the end, and despite the repeated electronic warnings, my bus is delayed only a matter of minutes.

The Guardian

If her bus is delayed or doesn't show up, she summons Uber or Lyft, or texts friends to catch a ride.

The Washington Post

Or when your train or bus is delayed?

Huffington Post

But because of an error recording some details, the recovery of CCTV footage from the bus company was delayed.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When reporting delays, specify the cause if known (e.g., "The bus was delayed due to road construction").

Common error

Avoid using passive constructions excessively; active voice can often provide clearer and more concise explanations (e.g., instead of "The bus was delayed", consider "Traffic delayed the bus").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the bus was delayed" functions as a statement indicating that a bus experienced a disruption in its schedule. As supported by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the bus was delayed" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase across diverse contexts. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its primary function is to report a disruption in bus services, often to explain lateness or scheduling issues. The phrase maintains a neutral register, fitting seamlessly into both formal and informal communication. As demonstrated by Ludwig's examples, it appears most commonly in news and media, followed by wiki entries and scientific reports, indicating its widespread relevance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the bus experienced a delay

Rephrases the delay as something the bus experienced, maintaining the original meaning.

there was a bus delay

Changes the sentence structure to focus on the existence of a delay.

the bus was running late

Uses a more informal expression to indicate the bus was not on schedule.

the bus schedule was disrupted

Focuses on the disruption to the schedule caused by the bus delay.

the bus encountered a setback

Employs a broader term, 'setback', to describe the bus's delay, maintaining a formal tone.

the bus faced unforeseen circumstances

Highlights unexpected events as the reason for the delay, adding a layer of detail.

the bus trip was postponed

Emphasizes a more significant disruption where the entire trip might be affected.

the bus route was interrupted

Highlights a break in the service the bus was providing, altering the focus from delay to blockage.

the bus arrival was held up

Indicates the bus's arrival faced something that caused a delay

the bus service was behind schedule

Shifts focus to the overall service being affected, rather than just one bus.

FAQs

How can I use "the bus was delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "the bus was delayed" to explain why someone was late or missed an event. For example: "I missed my doctor's appointment because the bus was delayed."

What's a more formal way to say "the bus was delayed"?

A more formal alternative could be "the bus experienced a delay", which sounds slightly more professional.

Are there any synonyms for "delayed" I can use in place of "the bus was delayed"?

Yes, you could say "the bus was late", or "the bus was held up" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "the bus was delay"?

No, "the bus was delay" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "the bus was delayed", using the past participle form of the verb.