there were delays

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'There were delays' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use this sentence to describe when something takes longer than expected due to a variety of reasons. For example, "We had hoped to get the project finished by the end of the week, but there were delays due to the availability of certain materials."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There were delays.

The New York Times

There were delays, of course.

The New York Times

There were delays, clashing egos, injuries.

The New York Times

There were delays and more delays.

The New York Times

There were delays, but all was eventually resolved.

The New York Times - Travel

There were delays in getting the commission started and several extension have been needed.

The New York Times

Wideman said there were delays because roadwork needed to be done.

The Washington Post

There were delays at airports in Chicago, New York, Boston, Atlanta, Miami and Detroit.

The Guardian

There were delays of several hours at the Channel tunnel following a breakdown.

The Guardian

But as often happens when lawyers are involved, there were delays.

The New York Times

"Staff who returned to work tell us there were delays of up to 90 minutes.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were delays", be specific about the cause if possible. For example, instead of just stating "there were delays", specify "there were delays due to unforeseen circumstances" to provide more context.

Common error

While "there were delays" is grammatically correct, overuse can lead to passive voice. Consider active voice constructions for stronger writing; for instance, instead of "there were delays", try "delays hampered progress".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were delays" functions as an impersonal construction used to report or acknowledge that something has been postponed or took longer than expected. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as grammatically correct and suitable for general usage, exemplified by the various news and media examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were delays" is a common and grammatically correct way to indicate that something took longer than expected. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. When using this phrase, consider providing additional context regarding the cause of the delays for clarity. While acceptable, be mindful of overusing passive voice constructions. Alternatives like "delays occurred" or "the schedule slipped" can add variety to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delays occurred

Changes the sentence structure to a more concise statement, focusing on the occurrence of delays.

holdups happened

Uses the informal term "holdups" instead of "delays", suggesting a more casual tone.

problems arose

Replaces "delays" with a broader term indicating issues that caused holdups.

things were held up

Uses a more general and less formal expression to convey that progress was impeded.

the schedule slipped

Employs a metaphor to indicate that the timeline was not met, focusing on the schedule's failure.

progress was hindered

Highlights the impediment to advancement caused by the delays, focusing on the impact on progress.

the project was behind schedule

Specifically mentions the project's status, emphasizing the lateness of the timeline.

the process slowed down

Focuses on the reduction in speed of the process, emphasizing the gradual deceleration.

the timeline was extended

Focuses on the action taken to accommodate the delays, highlighting the adjustment of the timeframe.

time was lost

Highlights the fact that delays resulted in a loss of time, emphasizing the consequence of the delays.

FAQs

What does "there were delays" mean?

The phrase "there were delays" indicates that something was held up or took longer than expected. It's a common way to report that a process or project experienced setbacks causing lateness.

How can I use "there were delays" in a sentence?

You can use it to explain why something didn't happen on time. For example: "The shipment was expected yesterday, but "there were delays" due to bad weather".

What can I say instead of "there were delays"?

You can use alternatives like "delays occurred", "the schedule slipped", or "the project was behind schedule" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "there were delays" or "delays happened"?

Both phrases are acceptable, but ""there were delays"" is more common and generally considered more formal. "Delays happened" is more informal but perfectly understandable.