this was delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "this was delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something was postponed or took longer than expected to occur. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, this was delayed, and we will need to reschedule the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

"Unfortunately, this was delayed by further investigations into the refund".

The Guardian - Money

This was delayed by various bureaucratic factors until Saturday night.

The New York Times

Nam was supposed to open on Sept. 12, but this was delayed until mid-October because of restricted access to the area.

The New York Times - Food

He added that the items were overdue for curatorial rest, but that this was delayed because of the grief "we knew we were going to catch" in Dana.

The New York Times

Originally, the aircraft were due in 2008, but this was delayed to 2009 and then 2010 and "we weren't 100% comfortable we would get them then," says Mr Smith.

The Economist

Kiernan had been due to take up his appointment as director general on 1 March but this was delayed by the ongoing Kraft takeover, during which Robert Hingley, who had been appointed director general of the panel in December 2007, agreed to stay on.

The Guardian - Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Why is this being delayed?

The New York Times

And every day that this is delayed is making that a little more difficult".

The New York Times

"When projects like this are delayed, that's half the battle for the environmental groups," Mr. Uhlmann said.

The New York Times

"There is a concern about this being delayed past the recess and what that means...

Huffington Post

This is delayed by caloric restriction (Valle et al., 2008).

Aging Cell

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "this was delayed", ensure the context clearly indicates what "this" refers to, avoiding ambiguity for the reader. Be specific about the reason for the delay if known, to provide more informative content.

Common error

Avoid using "these was delayed" when referring to plural subjects. Ensure the subject and verb agree in number; for example, use "these were delayed" for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this was delayed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a specific subject experienced a postponement. It serves to inform the reader that something did not occur at its originally scheduled time. Ludwig examples showcase its usage across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

24%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "this was delayed" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that something experienced a postponement. Ludwig's AI confirms this, and the numerous examples from reputable sources like The New York Times, BBC, and Wikipedia underscore its wide applicability. Its primary function is to report a change in schedule, and it is generally used in a neutral register. When writing with "this was delayed", make sure the context is clear and the subject-verb agreement is correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

this was postponed

Replaces "delayed" with a synonym, emphasizing the act of putting something off to a later time.

this was put off

Uses a phrasal verb to convey the same meaning, slightly more informal.

this was rescheduled

Implies a new time was set, adding a specific detail.

this was held up

Suggests an external force caused the delay, slightly more informal.

this was deferred

A more formal way of saying "delayed", often used in official contexts.

this experienced a setback

Focuses on the hindering aspect rather than the time change.

this was extended

Focuses on the time being made longer, rather than a complete stop and restart.

this was impeded

Emphasizes the obstruction that caused the delay.

this was suspended

Implies a temporary halt, which may or may not result in a complete delay.

this was slowed down

Suggests that the progress was not completely stopped, but made slower.

FAQs

How can I use "this was delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "this was delayed" to indicate that something has been postponed or held back. For example, "The project's completion "this was delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "this was delayed"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "this was postponed", "this was put off", or "this was rescheduled", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "this was delayed" or "it was delayed"?

Both "this was delayed" and "it was delayed" are grammatically correct. "This" is typically used when you've just mentioned the subject, while "it" is more general or refers to something previously established in the conversation.

What is the difference between "this was delayed" and "this is delayed"?

"This was delayed" indicates that something was postponed in the past. "This is delayed" suggests that something is currently being delayed or is experiencing a delay right now.