was delayed for

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was delayed for" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was postponed or held up for a specific reason or duration. Example: "The flight was delayed for two hours due to bad weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

This correction was delayed for research.

The New York Times

This correction was delayed for further research.

The New York Times

The speech, however, was delayed for months.

The New York Times

The Roadster was delayed for several months.

The New York Times

Crossrail was delayed for decades.

The Guardian

Play was delayed for 18 minutes.

The New York Times

The final count was delayed for days.

The New York Times

The show was delayed for 15 minutes.

The New York Times

The counting was delayed for several hours.

The New York Times

Play was delayed for nine minutes.

The New York Times - Sports

This correction was delayed for fact checking.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms like "postponed" or "rescheduled" if they more accurately reflect the situation. For example, if a meeting has been moved to a later date, "rescheduled" might be more appropriate than "delayed".

Common error

Avoid using "was delayed by" when specifying a duration. "Was delayed by" is suitable when indicating the cause, not the length of the delay. The correct phrasing for duration is "was delayed for".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was delayed for" functions as a passive verb construction followed by a preposition, indicating that something experienced a period of postponement. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was delayed for" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed passive construction used to indicate that something experienced a postponement and to specify the duration of said delay. Ludwig confirms its correctness. Predominantly found in news and media, it conveys information about delays across various domains, including transportation, projects, and events. While its neutral register makes it suitable for many situations, alternatives such as "was postponed because of" or "was held up due to" may be more apt in certain contexts. When using "was delayed for", ensure the duration of the delay is clear to provide necessary context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was postponed because of

Replaces "delayed" with "postponed" and uses "because of" to specify the cause.

was rescheduled for

Focuses on the act of rescheduling, implying a new, planned time.

was held up due to

Uses "held up" as a synonym for "delayed", emphasizing the interruption, and "due to" for the reason.

was pushed back by

Uses "pushed back" to indicate a change in schedule due to an external factor.

encountered a delay of

Shifts the focus to the delay itself as something encountered, specifying its duration.

was put off until

Indicates a specific future time to which the delay extends.

experienced a setback of

Replaces "delay" with "setback", implying a more negative impact, and specifies the duration.

suffered a delay of

Emphasizes the negative experience of the delay and states its extent.

was subject to a delay of

Highlights that the delay was unavoidable or imposed.

was temporarily suspended for

Suggests that the action was halted briefly for a specific duration or purpose.

FAQs

How can I use "was delayed for" in a sentence?

"Was delayed for" indicates that something was postponed or held up for a specific reason or duration. For example: "The project was delayed for several months due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "was delayed for"?

You can use alternatives like "was postponed because of", "was held up due to", or "encountered a delay of" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "delay"?

Whether to use active or passive voice depends on the context. "The storm delayed the flight" (active) focuses on the storm as the cause. "The flight was delayed for three hours" (passive) focuses on the flight and its state.

What's the difference between "was delayed for" and "was delayed by"?

"Was delayed for" specifies the duration of the delay (e.g., "The train was delayed for an hour"), while "was delayed by" indicates the cause of the delay (e.g., "The train was delayed by a mechanical issue").