to avoid delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to avoid delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to emphasize the importance of acting quickly so as to prevent something from being delayed. For example: "The contract needs to be signed right away to avoid delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Once matters get to court, it becomes harder to talk about promoting change because of the competing need to avoid delay.

The Guardian

It needs to have evidence-based guidelines (called administrative review) for both the applicant and the review board; streamlined procedures to avoid delay; and a review board that mixes residents, developers and designers.

The New York Times

Ms. Kitonyo said the African alliance was concerned with interference from the tobacco industry as it "seeks to avoid, delay, dilute and defeat laws and policies designed to reduce tobacco use".

The New York Times

"This was a big diplomatic step forward in laying the groundwork for actions the president might choose, and required days of aggressive diplomacy to avoid delay," a senior administration official said Tuesday night.

The New York Times

One way to avoid delay is for the IMF or the EU to promise not to bail out countries whose debts go beyond a specific threshold, forcing them to seek a restructuring.

The Economist

Timeout leads to F-RTO state which is to avoid delay spike due to vertical handover.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

"We now need to look at creative new ways to avoid delays".

The New York Times

The Bush administration is urging people to act by this Friday, to avoid delays on Jan . 1

The New York Times

Create and stick to a recruitment schedule before advertising to avoid delays in recruitment.

The Guardian

She made a point of arriving a night early to avoid delays.

The New Yorker

Make the Student Loans Company aware of the change to avoid delays in payments.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing instructions or procedures, include "to avoid delay" to highlight the importance of following the steps precisely and promptly.

Common error

Avoid using "to avoid delay" when the primary goal is something other than preventing lateness or obstruction. Ensure the action genuinely aims to expedite a process, not just manage it differently.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to avoid delay" functions as an adverbial phrase of purpose, modifying a verb or clause to explain the reason or intention behind an action. As noted by Ludwig AI, it indicates the aim of preventing something from being delayed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

24%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to avoid delay" is a commonly used adverbial phrase that serves to express the purpose of preventing lateness or obstruction in various contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and effective in emphasizing the importance of timeliness. Appearing frequently in scientific and news media, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse writing styles. When using this phrase, ensure the action genuinely aims to expedite a process. Consider alternatives like "to forestall delay" or "to avert delay" for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to avert delay

Emphasizes the act of turning away or preventing delay.

to head off delay

Suggests proactively stopping delay before it occurs.

to forestall delay

Implies taking action in advance to prevent delay from happening.

in order to prevent delay

Adds formality by explicitly stating the intention of prevention.

for the purpose of avoiding delay

A more verbose and formal way of expressing the same intent.

with the aim of preventing delay

Highlights the intention behind the action taken.

so as to preclude delay

Uses more formal vocabulary to suggest excluding the possibility of delay.

as a measure against delay

Positions the action as a protective step to avoid delay.

in anticipation of delay

Focuses on preparing for potential delays rather than simply avoiding them.

to mitigate delay

Suggests reducing the impact of delay, rather than completely preventing it.

FAQs

How can I use "to avoid delay" in a sentence?

You can use "to avoid delay" to explain the purpose of an action, like: "The application must be submitted promptly "to avoid delay" in processing your request."

What's a more formal alternative to "to avoid delay"?

For a more formal tone, consider phrases like "in order to prevent delay" or "so as to preclude delay", depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify "to avoid delay"?

While not always necessary, including "to avoid delay" can emphasize the urgency or importance of a specific action, particularly in time-sensitive situations.

What is the difference between "to avoid delay" and "to minimize delay"?

"To avoid delay" suggests preventing delay altogether, while "to minimize delay" implies reducing the impact of inevitable delays. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the intended outcome.