unanticipated delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unanticipated delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a delay that was not expected or foreseen in various contexts, such as project management or travel. Example: "Due to an unanticipated delay in shipping, the delivery of the package will be postponed by a week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Retreat to the Airport Spa If you're feeling frazzled after experiencing an unanticipated delay, pamper yourself with a massage or facial.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Both deflected questions about allied forces encountering unanticipated delays and resistance.

The New York Times

There were many unanticipated delays — for example, adding an elevator to a walk-up building was a big endeavor.

The New York Times

I.B.M. has had unanticipated delays in closing software sales and pushed back by nine months its target for introducing features needed to make its new Shark data storage products useful for networked computers.

The New York Times

"Like other software companies, we have experienced unanticipated delays with a number of enterprise orders for a variety of reasons, including the shifting of customer budgets and spending to year 2000 and other issues," says Becker.

Forbes

The unanticipated delays in decontaminating the target ships after test Baker prevented the required technical support personnel from assisting with Charlie and also meant that there were no uncontaminated target ships available for use in Charlie.

Wikipedia

Ukrainian clients in particular described the procedure for accessing government HIV/AIDS and indeed other government health services as complex and bureaucratic, often resulting in unanticipated costs including travelling to several different healthcare outlets, unanticipated delays and difficulties making appointments.

Globalization and Health

Fewer participants completed the second (5-month) interview, as many had completed the first interview at the time the second interview was scheduled for, due to unanticipated delays in recruitment and interviewing [ 10].

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

An unanticipated theme, "delay in treatment seeking," emerged as an issue for many participants and so was further pursued in interviews and an expanded literature review.

BMC Family Practice

One example of how management actions could have unanticipated and delayed effects on body size acting through emergence date is stream flow regulation.

Evolutionary Applications

Moreover, the RRs of the lower limb and trunk muscles to unanticipated perturbations are delayed when compared to their younger peers [ 14].

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "unanticipated delay", be specific about the nature of the delay and its impact. Providing context helps the reader understand the significance of the unexpected postponement.

Common error

Avoid using "unanticipated delay" when the delay was actually preventable. If the delay stemmed from negligence or poor planning, a more accurate term might be "preventable delay" or "inexcusable delay".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unanticipated delay" functions as a noun phrase, where "unanticipated" modifies the noun "delay". It describes a situation where a postponement or holdup was not expected or predicted. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unanticipated delay" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase to describe an unexpected postponement. Ludwig AI indicates its validity and provides examples from various sources. While alternatives like "unexpected setback" or "unforeseen holdup" exist, "unanticipated delay" emphasizes the element of surprise. It's important to use the phrase accurately, ensuring the delay was genuinely unpredictable. Its neutral register makes it suitable for professional, academic, and news contexts, though providing specific context enhances clarity. Common errors include using it when the delay was preventable. Remember to differentiate it from other similar phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected setback

Replaces "delay" with "setback", emphasizing the negative impact of the delay.

unforeseen holdup

Substitutes "unanticipated" with "unforeseen" and "delay" with "holdup", offering a slightly more informal tone.

surprise postponement

Replaces "unanticipated" with "surprise", highlighting the element of unexpectedness, and "delay" with "postponement".

sudden interruption

Focuses on the abruptness of the delay by using "sudden interruption" instead of "unanticipated delay".

unpredicted deferment

Substitutes "unanticipated" with "unpredicted" and "delay" with "deferment", maintaining a formal tone.

unexpected hindrance

Replaces "delay" with "hindrance", emphasizing the obstacle caused by the delay.

surprise moratorium

Uses "moratorium" to suggest a more formal or official type of delay and "surprise" instead of "unanticipated".

unforeseen complication

Replaces "delay" with "complication", highlighting the problematic aspect of the delay.

surprise hold-up

Similar to "unforeseen holdup", but uses "surprise" instead of "unforeseen".

unpredicted disruption

Replaces "delay" with "disruption", emphasizing the disturbance caused by the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "unanticipated delay" in a sentence?

You can use "unanticipated delay" to describe a situation where something is postponed unexpectedly. For example, "Due to an "unanticipated delay" in the arrival of materials, the project timeline has been extended".

What is a good substitute for "unanticipated delay"?

Alternatives include "unexpected setback", "unforeseen holdup", or "surprise postponement", depending on the context.

What's the difference between "unanticipated delay" and "unexpected delay"?

While both phrases are similar, "unanticipated delay" may suggest a delay that was not only unexpected but also couldn't have been reasonably predicted. "Unexpected delay" is a more general term for any unforeseen postponement.

Is it redundant to say "unanticipated delay"? Can't all delays be considered unexpected?

While many delays are unexpected, using "unanticipated delay" emphasizes the complete lack of foresight or planning for the specific delay. It highlights that the delay was genuinely surprising and not just a result of poor management. It depends on how you want to frame it; alternatives such as "surprise postponement" are available.