unforeseen delays

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "unforeseen delays" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe delays that were not anticipated or expected, often in contexts such as project management, travel, or logistics. Example: "Due to unforeseen delays in the shipping process, the delivery will be postponed until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 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

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

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

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 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

The digital video software provider blamed the shortfall on unforeseen order delays.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When planning projects or schedules, always incorporate buffer time to accommodate potential "unforeseen delays". This proactive approach can mitigate the impact on overall timelines and deliverables.

Common error

Avoid assuming that projects will proceed flawlessly. Failing to plan for "unforeseen delays" can lead to unrealistic expectations, strained resources, and project failure. Always build in contingency plans and regularly reassess risks.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "unforeseen delays" functions primarily as a noun phrase, often acting as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

8%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "unforeseen delays" effectively communicates the occurrence of unexpected postponements. As highlighted by Ludwig, this phrase is grammatically sound and applicable across diverse contexts such as news reporting, scientific research, and business communications. While not exceptionally frequent, its usage is widespread enough to be considered common. To mitigate the impact of "unforeseen delays", it's crucial to incorporate buffer time and develop contingency plans in project management and scheduling. When facing such delays, clear communication and proactive problem-solving are essential. Alternative phrases like "unexpected setbacks" or "unanticipated postponements" can be used to convey similar meanings, as shown in the related phrases.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unexpected holdups

Replaces "delays" with a synonym that emphasizes the stoppage aspect.

unanticipated postponements

Substitutes "delays" with a more formal term and stresses the lack of anticipation.

unpredicted setbacks

Focuses on the negative impact of the delays as hindrances to progress.

sudden impediments

Highlights the abrupt nature and obstruction caused by the delays.

unforeseen complications

Shifts the focus to the complex nature of the unexpected problems causing the delays.

unavoidable disruptions

Emphasizes the compulsory nature of the disruption caused by the delays.

chance hindrances

Highlights the accidental, unplanned nature of the events.

surprise lateness

Uses "lateness" to refer to the state of being delayed, emphasizing its unexpectedness.

unexpected suspensions

Replaces delays with suspensions which highlights a temporary stop.

unpredicted stoppages

Emphasizes that events stopped the progress and were unpredicted.

FAQs

How can I use "unforeseen delays" in a sentence?

You can use "unforeseen delays" to describe unexpected holdups in a project or schedule. For example, "The project was extended due to "unforeseen delays" caused by weather conditions".

What's a good alternative to "unforeseen delays"?

Alternatives include "unexpected setbacks", "unanticipated postponements", or "unpredicted stoppages", depending on the specific context.

Are "unforeseen delays" the same as "unwanted delays"?

While both describe delays that are not desired, "unforeseen delays" emphasize the unexpected nature of the delays, whereas "unwanted delays" simply indicate that the delays are unwelcome, regardless of whether they were anticipated.

Which is more appropriate: "unforeseen delays" or "unforeseen circumstances"?

"Unforeseen circumstances" refers to the unexpected situations or events, while "unforeseen delays" refers to the resulting postponements. You would use "unforeseen circumstances" to describe the cause of the delay, and "unforeseen delays" to describe the effect.