the delay was justified

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the delay was justified" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when explaining or defending a situation where a delay occurred, indicating that there were valid reasons for it. Example: "After reviewing the circumstances, I concluded that the delay was justified due to unforeseen technical issues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The question is whether the IMF's delay is justified.

The Economist

The judge, Edward G. Biester, said the delay in making arrests was justified because new information uncovered last year gave prosecutors a legitimate reason to reopen the case.

The New York Times

Prosecutors said it was not unusual to delay charges in a homicide case, especially if there was a claim that the shooting was justified.

The New York Times

The hype was justified.

The Guardian - Sport

The skepticism was justified.

The Guardian - Money

Do you think the criticism was justified?

The New York Times

Mr. Williams said the change was justified.

The New York Times - Arts

"The result was justified.

BBC

Mr Gambles said the spending was justified.

BBC

The pirates' caution was justified.

The Guardian

The delay was understandable.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the phrase "the delay was justified", ensure you clearly articulate the reasons for the delay immediately after, providing context and preventing misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid stating "the delay was justified" without explaining why. Without context, the statement appears defensive and unconvincing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the delay was justified" serves as a declarative statement, indicating that a specific delay had valid reasons or a legitimate basis. It's used to provide an explanation or defense for a past event. Ludwig AI states that this is correct and usable English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the delay was justified" is a phrase used to explain that a postponement had valid reasons. It is considered grammatically correct and usable in written English by Ludwig. While it is relatively rare, according to Ludwig, the phrase appears in contexts like News & Media and Science. When employing this phrase, it's crucial to provide context to ensure clarity and avoid misinterpretations. Alternatives include "the delay was warranted" or "the delay was reasonable". Always explain the rationale behind the delay to provide a convincing defense.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the delay was warranted

Replaces 'justified' with 'warranted', suggesting the delay was officially or reasonably required.

the delay was reasonable

Uses 'reasonable' instead of 'justified', implying the delay was fair and sensible.

the delay was understandable

Substitutes 'justified' with 'understandable', indicating the delay could be easily comprehended.

there was a valid reason for the delay

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the reason behind the delay being valid.

the delay had a legitimate basis

Indicates the delay was based on a lawful or rightful cause.

the hold-up was excusable

Uses "hold-up" for delay and "excusable" implying the delay can be forgiven or understood.

the lateness was defensible

Replaces 'delay' with 'lateness' and 'justified' with 'defensible', suggesting an argument can be made in favor of the delay.

there were extenuating circumstances for the delay

Focuses on the presence of mitigating circumstances that made the delay acceptable.

the postponement was vindicated

Uses 'postponement' instead of 'delay' and 'vindicated' implying the delay was proven correct or necessary.

a good explanation existed for the delay

Highlights the existence of a satisfactory reason for the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "the delay was justified" in a sentence?

Use "the delay was justified" when you want to explain that there were valid reasons for a certain postponement. For example: "The project was launched later than expected, but "the delay was justified" due to unforeseen technical issues".

What are some alternatives to saying "the delay was justified"?

You can use alternatives such as "the delay was warranted", "the delay was reasonable", or "the delay was understandable" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "the delay was justified" or "the delay is justified"?

The choice depends on the context. "The delay was justified" refers to a past delay, while "the delay is justified" refers to a current or ongoing delay. For example: "The initial delay was justified, but the ongoing one is not".

What does it mean when someone says "the delay was justified"?

It means that there were good reasons or a valid explanation for why something was delayed. It implies that the delay was not arbitrary or without cause.