were delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were delayed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something or someone was held up or postponed in time. Example: "The flights were delayed due to inclement weather conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were delayed.

The New York Times

Ambulances were delayed.

The New York Times

Wages were delayed.

The New York Times

The seizures were delayed.

The New York Times

Dozens more were delayed.

The Washington Post

And both were delayed.

The New York Times

Planned tax breaks were delayed.

The Economist

Food safety inspections were delayed.

The New York Times

Thousands of commuters were delayed.

The New York Times

Projects were delayed or canceled.

The New York Times

Some technology exports were delayed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were delayed", ensure the subject clearly indicates what experienced the delay. For instance, "flights were delayed" is clearer than "there were delays."

Common error

Avoid using "was delayed" when referring to multiple items or a plural subject. "Was delayed" is singular; the plural form is "were delayed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were delayed" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject experienced a delay caused by an external factor. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were delayed" is a common and grammatically correct passive verb phrase used to indicate that something has been postponed. Ludwig AI confirms this, with numerous examples from reputable sources demonstrating its widespread usage, particularly in news and media. While alternatives such as "were postponed" or "were held up" exist, "were delayed" remains a versatile and readily understood option. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense agreement (plural subjects require "were") and clarity regarding the subject of the delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were postponed

Emphasizes a decision to reschedule to a later time.

were held up

Suggests an obstruction or impediment causing the delay.

were deferred

Similar to postponed, but often suggests indefinite delay.

were adjourned

Implies a formal suspension to be resumed later.

were detained

Implies being kept back or prevented from proceeding.

were impeded

Focuses on the hindrance or obstruction that slowed progress.

were set back

Highlights a setback or reversal in progress.

were interrupted

Focuses on a disruption that caused the delay.

were slowed down

Emphasizes the reduction in speed or progress.

were put off

Informal way to suggest delaying something to a later date.

FAQs

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

"Were delayed" indicates that something experienced a postponement. For example, "The trains "were delayed" due to the storm", or "The project milestones "were delayed" because of unforeseen circumstances".

What's a good alternative to "were delayed"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "were postponed", "were held up", or "were impeded" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "was delayed" instead of "were delayed"?

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "was delayed" with singular subjects (e.g., "The flight was delayed"), and ""were delayed"" with plural subjects (e.g., "The flights "were delayed"").

What is the difference between "were delayed" and "were cancelled"?

"Were delayed" means something was postponed and will happen later, while "were cancelled" means something has been terminated and will not happen at all.