was running late

USAGE SUMMARY

"was running late" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when describing someone who is behind schedule or not on time. Example: She was running late for her meeting. Alternative expressions include "was delayed" and "was behind schedule."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Meanwhile, he was running late.

The New Yorker

Dr. Flaherty was running late.

The New York Times

Obama was running late.

The Guardian

He was running late, he said.

The New York Times

But Ms. Hill was running late.

The New York Times

I was running late for a flight.

The New York Times

He was running late today".

The New York Times

But Dundy was running late.

The New Yorker

(The show was running late).

The New Yorker

Ms. Mayer was running late.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

JAVIER CORRAL is running late.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using this phrase in a formal narrative, consider specifying what the subject was late for to provide clearer context, such as "was running late for the keynote address".

Common error

Avoid using "was running late" when the lateness is a permanent state or a fixed deadline. For example, if a report is past its due date, it is better to say the report "is overdue" rather than "is running late", as the latter implies a person in motion or an ongoing event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was running late" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It combines the auxiliary verb "was" with the present participle "running" and the adjective/adverb "late". In the examples provided by Ludwig, it serves to provide narrative background or an excuse for a specific situation.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was running late" is a highly versatile and correct idiom in the English language. According to Ludwig AI, it is Very common across all major media outlets, indicating its total acceptance in both formal and informal writing. It is particularly effective in narrative contexts to describe a subject in the process of being behind schedule. While alternatives like "<a href="/s/was+delayed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was delayed" offer a more passive tone, "was running late" remains the standard choice for active descriptions of tardiness. Writers should use it with confidence to add a natural, descriptive flow to their prose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was behind schedule

More formal and often used in professional or project management contexts.

was running behind

A very close idiomatic synonym that emphasizes the process of falling behind.

was not on time

A more literal and direct way to express the lack of punctuality.

was delayed

Focuses on the external cause of being late rather than the person's actions.

was held up

Suggests that an unforeseen event or obstacle caused the lateness.

was tardy

A more formal or clinical term often used in school or official records.

had fallen behind

Implies a gradual loss of time relative to a plan or sequence.

was overdue

Typically refers to an expected arrival or the completion of a task.

was cutting it close

Describes someone who is at risk of being late but might still make it.

was lagging

Suggests a lack of speed or falling behind a moving group or pace.

FAQs

How do I use "was running late" in a sentence?

You can use "was running late" to describe a person or event behind schedule, for example: "The professor <a href="/s/was+running+late" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was running late due to the heavy snow."

What is a more formal way to say someone "was running late"?

In professional writing, you might prefer "<a href="/s/was+behind+schedule" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was behind schedule" or "<a href="/s/was+delayed" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was delayed" to maintain a more objective tone.

Is "was running late" grammatically correct?

Yes, it is perfectly correct. It uses the past continuous form of the verb "run" to describe an ongoing state of being behind time in the past.

What is the difference between "was running late" and "was late"?

While "was late" is a simple statement of fact, "<a href="/s/was+running+late" target="_blank" rel="alternative">was running late" emphasizes the process or the duration of being behind schedule as it was happening.