was much delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was much delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something was postponed or took longer than expected. Example: "The delivery of the package was much delayed due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"What the government has done was much delayed," said Gernot Nerb, an economist at the Ifo Institute in Munich.

The New York Times

But production of the second film, The Two Jakes, was much delayed and only emerged in 1990, with Nicholson himself as director.

The Guardian - Film

The construction became very difficult and the advance was much delayed.

Journal of Modern Transportation

Drafts of the two International Covenants were submitted to the General Assembly for approval in 1953, but approval was much delayed.

SEP

Police protection was given to the theaters screening the film in Hyderabad while the screening was much delayed in many centers in Telangana.

Wikipedia

Sprigg had help from Walter Gillings, a British science fiction reader who had been active in fan circles since the early 1930s, in searching for good submissions, and was able to obtain stories from Eric Frank Russell and John Russell Fearn, but although the other three titles Air Stories, War Stories, and Western Stories were launched in 1935 and 1936, the science fiction title was much delayed.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

The banks are poorly regulated and prone to collapse; privatisation has been much delayed.

The Economist

Otherwise germination fails or is much delayed, with the early growth of the seedling often abnormal.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The sell-off of the branches is much delayed, and was originally supposed to take place before the end of 2013 under terms agreed with the EU at the time of the RBS bailout.

The Guardian - Business

When work began, however, the mud was not as soft as anticipated so the dredger's hourly capacity was lower, meaning the project would be much delayed and flagrantly overshoot its budget.

The Guardian

If he fails to do so, and Likud returns to power intent on holding onto large areas of the West Bank for ideological and security reasons, progress toward peace will be much delayed, at best.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was much delayed" to describe situations where a noticeable and impactful postponement has occurred. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "much" excessively in writing. While "was much delayed" is acceptable, consider alternatives like "significantly delayed" or "considerably delayed" to prevent repetitive sentence structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was much delayed" functions as a descriptive phrase, specifically indicating a state of being postponed or significantly behind schedule. Ludwig shows that it's used to describe the status of projects, events, or actions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

56%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was much delayed" is a grammatically sound way to describe something that has been significantly postponed. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in diverse contexts, primarily News & Media and Science. While not exceedingly common, this phrase is suitable for conveying noticeable and impactful delays. It's important to avoid overusing "much" to maintain writing clarity. Consider alternatives like "was considerably delayed" or "was significantly delayed" for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was considerably delayed

Emphasizes the extent of the delay.

was significantly delayed

Highlights the importance or impact of the delay.

experienced a substantial delay

Focuses on the delay as an event that occurred.

faced a major setback

Implies the delay had negative consequences.

ran significantly behind schedule

Highlights the fact that project is behind.

was severely postponed

Emphasizes the seriousness of the postponement.

encountered extensive holdups

Highlights the number of delay events occurred.

underwent a lengthy deferral

Implies a formal or official postponement.

was subject to protracted delays

Emphasizes the extended duration of the delays.

progressed slower than anticipated

Describes a slower than expected timeline.

FAQs

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

You can use "was much delayed" to describe something that experienced a significant postponement, such as "The project's completion "was much delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What is a synonym for "was much delayed"?

Alternatives to "was much delayed" include "was significantly delayed", "was considerably delayed", or "was greatly postponed", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "was much delayed"?

Yes, "was much delayed" is grammatically correct. Ludwig AI also confirms its acceptability. However, ensure the context warrants the emphasis provided by "much".

What's the difference between "was delayed" and "was much delayed"?

"Was delayed" simply indicates a postponement. "Was much delayed" emphasizes the extent or impact of the delay, suggesting it was substantial or noteworthy. Use the latter when you want to highlight the significance of the delay.