we were delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to explain why something happened late or why a certain task took longer than expected. For example, "We were delayed in the morning due to a traffic accident, so we arrived at the office 30 minutes late."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

We were delayed for a few hours.

The New Yorker

We were delayed for 45 minutes.

The New York Times

In the evening, we were delayed at a checkpoint outside Bethlehem.

The New York Times - Magazine

We were delayed further when we came across a colony of marsh frogs.

The Guardian

The co-pilot had overslept, which was why we were delayed.

The Guardian

We were delayed about two hours and had to return to school without reaching our destination.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

But we were delaying the inevitable, until rogue nations got hold of a bomb".

The Guardian - Film

We were delaying it because we were a bit frightened of actually finishing stuff".

Wikipedia

Don't believe anyone telling you we are delayed again.

The New York Times

We are delayed because there is a person on the tracks".

The New York Times

"Every day we're delayed, we're delaying jobs and energy development," Peter Slaiby, Shell's vice president for Alaska, said in an interview.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "we were delayed", be specific about the cause of the delay if relevant to your communication. For example, instead of just saying "we were delayed", you could say "we were delayed due to a traffic accident."

Common error

Avoid using "we were delayed" without providing any context if the reason for the delay is crucial for understanding. Failing to explain the reason can lead to confusion or frustration for the audience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were delayed" functions as a statement indicating that a group of people experienced a setback or were held up, causing them to be late or behind schedule. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is perfectly usable in written English and the numerous examples in the data illustrate its function.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

94%

Science

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were delayed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to convey that a group of people experienced a hold-up or setback. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in News & Media, the phrase maintains a neutral register, serving to inform or explain a delay. To enhance clarity, it's often beneficial to specify the cause of the delay. Alternatives such as "our progress was impeded" or "we encountered a delay" offer more formal options.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we got held up

A more informal way of saying "we were delayed".

we encountered a delay

Highlights that a delay was one thing that was experienced.

our journey was held up

Focuses on the journey itself being the subject of the delay.

we ran behind schedule

Emphasizes the deviation from a planned timeline.

we were running late

Highlights the consequence of the delay: lateness.

we experienced a setback

Implies a broader obstacle rather than a specific delay.

we were set back

Highlights that some action has set the project back.

our progress was impeded

A more formal way to describe something was slowing down.

circumstances caused us to be late

Attributes the lateness to external factors.

time constraints caused us to be late

Attributes the lateness to constraints that caused the project to be late.

FAQs

How can I use "we were delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "we were delayed" to explain that something happened later than expected. For example, "We were delayed by the storm, so we arrived late."

What's a more formal alternative to "we were delayed"?

More formal alternatives include "our progress was impeded" or "we encountered a delay".

Is it correct to say "we was delayed"?

No, the correct form is "we were delayed". "We" is a plural pronoun, so it requires the plural form of the verb "to be", which is "were".

What can I say instead of "we were delayed" when referring to a project?

When referring to a project, you could say "the project "ran behind schedule"" or "the project experienced a setback".