we have delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"we have delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a delay of some kind that has occurred. Example: We have a delay in the shipment of the order, so it won't arrive until next week.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We have delay.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We have delayed action," he said.

The Guardian

"We have delayed a floor vote until September.

The New York Times

"If we have delays, the quality might get lower".

The New York Times - Sports

"We have delayed two other vaccine programmes to do this work," he said.

The Guardian

"In particular, we have delayed the curbing of greenhouse gas emissions for far too long.

The Guardian

"We have delayed the start of some communities, and we are letting less work out to our contractors".

The New York Times

"We have delayed weaning and the introduction of a lot of solid foods into the infant's diet," Lack says.

The Guardian

A spokesperson for Environment Agency Wales said: "We have delayed the announcement of our decision on the permit for the Viridor application until the end of October.

The Guardian

The company insists that three months is a perfectly usual timescale for establishing liability, but admits "we have delayed matters unnecessarily".

The Guardian - Money

"We have delayed the planned restart of production operations at the mill as we continue to secure the best strategic solution for the mill.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we have delay", specify the cause or area of impact to provide more context to the audience. For instance, "We have a delay in shipping due to unforeseen circumstances."

Common error

Avoid using "we have delay" without specifying what is delayed. Instead of simply saying "we have delay", be specific: "We have a delay in processing applications" is much clearer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we have delay" serves primarily as a statement indicating the existence of a delay. As indicated by Ludwig, this statement acknowledges that there is an obstacle or impediment, often requiring further specification for clarity. The phrase is used to inform an audience about an issue or setback.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we have delay" is grammatically correct but rarely used, as noted by Ludwig. It functions as a statement acknowledging the existence of a delay. To improve clarity and impact, it is best to specify the cause or area of impact of the delay, such as, "We have a delay in the project timeline". More frequent alternatives include phrases like "we are experiencing a delay" or "there is a delay". The phrase finds some usage in news media and scientific contexts, indicating its suitability for communicating factual updates.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we are experiencing a delay

Replaces "have" with "are experiencing" to emphasize the ongoing nature of the delay.

a delay has occurred on our end

Shifts focus to the occurrence of the delay and attributes it to "our end".

we are running behind schedule

Uses an idiomatic expression to convey that progress is slower than planned.

there is a delay on our side

Similar to "a delay has occurred on our end", but more direct.

our operations are delayed

Focuses on the state of operations being affected by the delay.

we are behind schedule

A shorter version of "we are running behind schedule", still indicating a time-related setback.

we've encountered a delay

Replaces "have" with "'ve encountered" to indicate an unexpected problem causing the delay.

a setback has affected our timing

Introduces "setback" to imply the delay was caused by an obstacle.

we are facing a slowdown

Uses "slowdown" to suggest a decrease in pace, implying a delay.

our progress is stalled

Indicates that advancement is paused or hindered due to the delay.

FAQs

How can I use "we have delay" in a sentence?

You can use "we have delay" to indicate that a delay exists, such as, "We have a delay in the delivery schedule." It's often better to specify what is delayed to provide more context.

What can I say instead of "we have delay"?

Alternatives include "we are experiencing a delay", "we are running behind schedule", or "there is a delay", depending on the context.

Is it better to say "we are delayed" or "we have delay"?

"We are delayed" generally refers to the state of being delayed, while "we have delay" suggests the existence of a delay, possibly caused by external factors. "We are delayed" implies a current state affecting the subject directly, while "we have delay" implies acknowledging the presence of a delay in something else (e.g. the project).

Which is correct, "we have a delay" or "we have delay"?

"We have a delay" is generally considered more grammatically correct, as "delay" functions as a countable noun in most contexts. The article "a" specifies that there is one instance of a delay.