widespread delay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "widespread delay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where delays are occurring over a large area or affecting many people or systems. Example: "Due to the severe weather conditions, there has been a widespread delay in public transportation services across the city."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

As he explained in a recent e-mail message, a "likely cause" of the widespread delay in the onset of maturity today was "more prolonged higher education for ever more people, leading to an increase in the 'unfinished' personalities that are adaptive to learning".

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Some flights were delayed on Tuesday night because of the storm, but there were not widespread delays or cancellations.

The New York Times

In 2000, Verizon had another big strike, when 86,000 workers walked out for two weeks, causing widespread delays in repairs.

The New York Times

He pointed to the report's conclusion that "the progress made this past year is often obscured when the traveling public experiences widespread delays and cancellation".

The New York Times

There were also widespread delays in the opening of many polling places in Luanda and a failure to deliver sufficient ballots to them.

The New York Times

Widespread delays in the delivery of online orders after Black Friday could drive 14% more consumers in to Britain's high streets and shopping centres before 25 December.

The Guardian - Business

In a rather uncharacteristic display of humility, Apple issued a formal apology last weekend for the widespread delays in shipping its 27-inch iMac to customers.

The New York Times - Tech

First, the United States might be "forced to incur widespread delays of payments to suppliers and employees, as well as Social Security payments to citizens".

The New York Times

A problem that might be a minor hiccup at a less busy airport, becomes much more serious at Heathrow, often triggering widespread delays and disruption.

Independent

After a day, a night and a morning of widespread delays and cancellations, trains are now running normally into and out of Pennsylvania Station.

The New York Times

But the railroad is well known for its glitches and hitches, so there were also complaints about a track fire that shut down Pennsylvania Station for hours on Feb. 14 and the widespread delays after the Washington's Birthday blizzard.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing situations with considerable impact, use "widespread delay" to accurately convey the scale of disruption. For example, "The storm caused a "widespread delay" in flights and ground transportation".

Common error

Avoid using "widespread delay" when the delay is localized or affects a small group. Using more specific terms like "local delay" or "minor disruption" can provide a more accurate description of the situation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "widespread delay" functions primarily as a noun phrase, where "widespread" modifies the noun "delay". It describes a situation characterized by extensive or far-reaching delays. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "widespread delay" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe extensive delays impacting a large area or population. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, primarily found in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business contexts. The phrase's effectiveness stems from its ability to succinctly convey the scale and impact of disruptions, such as those caused by weather, technical issues, or other unexpected events. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects the breadth of the delay, and consider alternatives like "extensive delays" or "large-scale delays" for nuanced descriptions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extensive delays

Replaces "widespread" with "extensive", focusing on the degree of the delay.

general delay

Substitutes "widespread" with "general", indicating a broad, overall delay.

across-the-board delays

Emphasizes that the delays affect all aspects or areas.

large-scale delays

Replaces "widespread" with "large-scale", highlighting the magnitude of the delays.

systemic delays

Indicates that the delays are embedded within a system or process.

pervasive delays

Highlights the pervasiveness or spread of the delays.

rampant delays

Suggests the delays are uncontrolled and widespread.

common delays

Indicates that delays are a frequent or typical occurrence.

far-reaching delays

Emphasizes that the delays have consequences that extend far and wide.

universal delays

Implies that the delays affect everyone or everything.

FAQs

How can I use "widespread delay" in a sentence?

You can use "widespread delay" to describe situations where many people or systems are affected by delays. For instance, "The cyberattack caused a "widespread delay" in government services".

What are some alternatives to "widespread delay"?

Alternatives include "extensive delays", "general delay", or "large-scale delays", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "a widespread delay" or simply "widespread delay"?

Both are grammatically correct, but "widespread delay" is more commonly used as a general description of a situation. "A widespread delay" implies a single, specific instance of such a delay.

What causes are usually associated with a "widespread delay"?

Common causes include "severe weather", "technical issues", "labor strikes", or "unexpected events" that disrupt normal operations on a large scale.