unforeseen delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"unforeseen delay" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to a delay that was not anticipated or expected. Example: "The project was postponed due to an unforeseen delay in shipping." Alternative expressions include "unexpected delay" and "unanticipated delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Yet if you have to worry you're going to get ditched for any unforeseen delay, Uber's reliability is destroyed.

TechCrunch

What the platform is promising more specifically is visibility into where each truck is traveling at any point in time, so that problems — a breakdown, an unforeseen delay — can be addressed quickly.

TechCrunch

Frustrated by the unforeseen delay, they considered returning to Australia.

Wikipedia

Effectiveness following treatment may not be as simple as a numerical reduction in a particular lice stage but may for example be a change in the distribution of population numbers across several lice cycle stages following treatment, an alteration of the sex ratio of the adults or an unforeseen delay in stage development.

BMC Veterinary Research

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Mr. Bederman, the city housing spokesman, blamed unforeseen delays.

The New York Times

There have been unforeseen delays in each of the five components: water, education, health, governance and livelihoods.

The Guardian

"It's very complicated and there is no space for unforeseen delays in the timetable," he said, referring to the glass and steel stadium roof.

The New York Times - Sports

To further mitigate against situations such as this, we also clearly recommend inputting flight details at the time of booking, which automatically alerts the car rental desk around unforeseen delays.

The Guardian - Money

Delcon, for its part, said that unforeseen delays like the discovery of contaminated soil at the courthouse site within two days of the ground-breaking, excessive change orders and flaws in the drawings themselves caused problems from the beginning.

The New York Times

In his major pre-election speech on foreign policy, the shadow foreign secretary, Douglas Alexander, will argue that the unforeseen delays to the report have acted as a barrier to building a consensus on future UK foreign policy.

The Guardian

EADS said the production schedule for the A350, which has a late-2014 target for entry into service, remained "challenging" and cautioned that unforeseen delays could lead to fresh provisions to compensate airline customers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports or proposals, use "unforeseen delay" to professionally and clearly communicate unexpected setbacks.

Common error

Avoid using "unforeseen delay" without providing context or explanation. Simply stating an "unforeseen delay" lacks transparency and can erode trust. Always offer a brief, factual reason to maintain credibility.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unforeseen delay" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "unforeseen" modifies the noun "delay". It describes a delay that was not anticipated. Ludwig AI provides examples of its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unforeseen delay" is a grammatically correct and commonly used term to describe an unanticipated setback in a schedule or timeline. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides examples from reputable sources such as The New York Times, The Guardian, and TechCrunch. While it is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and professional communication, it's crucial to use it transparently, providing context to maintain credibility. Alternatives like "unexpected setback" or "unanticipated holdup" can be used for variety. To prevent mistakes avoid using "unforeseen delay" as a blanket excuse without providing specific details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unforeseen obstacle

Focuses on the hindering aspect of the unexpected event.

unexpected setback

Replaces 'delay' with 'setback', emphasizing the negative impact of the unforeseen event.

unanticipated holdup

Substitutes 'delay' with 'holdup', suggesting a temporary obstruction.

surprise postponement

Replaces 'delay' with 'postponement' and 'unforeseen' with 'surprise', highlighting the unexpected nature of the rescheduling.

unpredicted disruption

Emphasizes the disruptive nature of the unforeseen event, rather than just the time aspect.

unpredicted lateness

Highlights the tardiness aspect of the unforeseen issue.

unlooked-for complication

Highlights the problematic nature of the unforeseen event.

sudden hindrance

Emphasizes the abruptness and obstructive nature of the event.

unexpected waiting period

Replaces 'delay' with 'waiting period', specifying the temporal aspect of the unforeseen problem.

surprise interruption

Focuses on the interruption caused by the unforeseen event.

FAQs

How to use "unforeseen delay" in a sentence?

You can use "unforeseen delay" to explain why something is behind schedule. For example, "The project experienced an "unforeseen delay" due to weather conditions."

What can I say instead of "unforeseen delay"?

You can use alternatives like "unexpected delay", "unanticipated holdup", or "surprise postponement" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "unforeseen delay" or "unforeseeable delay"?

Both "unforeseen delay" and "unforeseeable delay" are grammatically correct, but ""unforeseen delay"" is more common. "Unforeseeable" emphasizes the impossibility of predicting the delay, while "unforeseen" simply states that it was not predicted.

What's the difference between "unforeseen delay" and "unexpected problem"?

"Unforeseen delay" specifically refers to a time-related setback. "Unexpected problem" is broader and can refer to any kind of issue that was not anticipated.