total delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "total delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to the complete amount of time that something has been delayed or postponed. Example: "The total delay in the project was due to unforeseen circumstances, resulting in a two-week setback."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The same numbers show that only 8percentt of total delay time last year occurred after landing.

The New York Times

(The premiere has been pushed back a further three times, to 15 March, meaning a total delay of one year).

The Guardian

The signal plan design selection was formulated to minimize the total delay.

Transportation Research Procedia

Its object is to minimize the total delay for all jobs.

Neurocomputing

The simulation results show that the total delay time of trains decreases remarkably.

Transportation Research Part B: Methodological

zenith total delay.

Earth, Planets and Space

The total delay is 1.75 clock cycles.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Fig. 23 The total delay under different x Fig. 24 The total delay under different x.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

When W<348, the total delay is low.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

When W≥348, the total delay increases as W increases.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Total delay decreased in -ATM in comparison with EDCA.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing delays, specify the cause to provide clarity. For example, instead of just stating "the total delay was significant", explain why the delay occurred: "The total delay was significant due to unexpected equipment malfunctions."

Common error

Avoid using "total delay" when referring to specific instances of delay within a process. "Total delay" refers to the sum of all delays, not a single occurrence. For example, instead of saying "The total delay at customs was 2 hours", it's more accurate to say "The delay at customs was 2 hours" if you're only talking about the customs delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "total delay" functions as a noun phrase, where "total" modifies the noun "delay". Ludwig confirms that this construction is grammatically sound and widely used. It is used to refer to the complete amount of time something has been delayed.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

59%

News & Media

13%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "total delay" is a grammatically correct and very common noun phrase used to describe the overall amount of time something is delayed. Ludwig's analysis shows that it appears frequently in scientific and news contexts, making it suitable for various levels of formality. When writing, remember to specify the causes of delay for better clarity and avoid using "total delay" when discussing individual delay events. Consider alternatives such as "overall delay" or "cumulative delay" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overall delay

Uses "overall" instead of "total" to convey the same meaning of the cumulative delay.

cumulative delay

Replaces "total" with "cumulative" to emphasize the accumulating effect of delays.

aggregate delay

Substitutes "total" with "aggregate", highlighting the combined amount of delay.

complete delay

Uses "complete" instead of "total", emphasizing the entirety of the delay.

full delay

Replaces "total" with "full", indicating the entire extent of the delay.

combined delay

Uses "combined" instead of "total", stressing the amalgamation of different delays.

total waiting time

Adds "waiting time" to specify the nature of the delay, focusing on the time spent waiting.

total time loss

Shifts the focus to the "time loss" resulting from the delay.

total postponement

Replaces "delay" with "postponement", emphasizing the act of delaying.

extended delay

Uses "extended" to highlight the prolonged nature of the delay.

FAQs

How do I use "total delay" in a sentence?

Use "total delay" to describe the overall amount of time that something is delayed. For example: "The "total delay" in the project was three weeks." or "To minimize the "total delay", we need to streamline the process."

What's the difference between "overall delay" and "total delay"?

"Overall delay" and "total delay" are often used interchangeably. Both refer to the cumulative amount of time that something is delayed. The nuance is minimal, with "overall" suggesting a more general assessment.

What are some alternatives to "total delay"?

You can use alternatives such as "cumulative delay", "aggregate delay", or "overall delay" depending on the context. These options emphasize the combined or cumulative aspect of the delay.

Is it correct to say "the total delay is due to"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct to say "the "total delay" is due to". This phrase introduces the cause or reason for the overall delay. For example: "The "total delay" is due to unforeseen circumstances."