with little delay

USAGE SUMMARY

"with little delay" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that there is a short amount of time between two events. For example, "I was able to finish the task with little delay."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

Some of those will come with little delay.

The New York Times

Some travelers skated through the system with little delay.

The New York Times

LAME ducks usually hobble off with little delay.

The Economist

Another outward K+ current, occurring with little delay after depolarization, is the A current.

Britannica

Dr. De la Cruz, in aviator glasses and blue scrubs, saw them with little delay.

The New York Times

It's not SLR fast, but you can fire away with little delay.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Thus, while rapid mitochondrial depolarization with these agents can activate single MEND responses with very little delay, cells subsequently are refractory to MEND for the duration of patch clamp experiments (∼30 min).

eLife

The picture and audio are rock solid, with very little delay, and it works the first time and every time.

The New York Times - Tech

The Queen's note appointing the commissioners records "our further Will and Pleasure that you do, with as little delay as possible, report to Us your opinion upon the matters herein submitted for your consideration", which the commissioners do, in a copy bound with a red, white and blue ribbon.

The Economist

The Local Jobs for america Act would put 1 million workers to work right away with very little delay.

Huffington Post

Commenting on his unsuccessful search, Hume wrote that the hundreds of house sparrows he killed in pursuit of the Sind sparrow "ought to form a heavy load" on Blyth's conscience, and that if the Sind sparrow existed "it would be only decent for it... to put on an appearance with as little delay as possible".

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "with little delay" to emphasize efficiency or a rapid transition between events, enhancing the reader's perception of speed and seamlessness.

Common error

Avoid using "with little delay" in overly passive constructions. Instead of saying, "The report was submitted with little delay", opt for, "We submitted the report with little delay" to showcase direct action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with little delay" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate the timing of an action. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a correct and usable phrase, signaling minimal time elapsing between two events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

44%

Encyclopedias

4%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "with little delay" is a versatile phrase used to convey the immediacy and efficiency of an action. As Ludwig AI highlights, its grammatical correctness and widespread usage across diverse contexts—from news and media to scientific publications—demonstrate its reliability. When you need to emphasize swiftness and a seamless transition between events, "with little delay" provides a clear and effective option. Consider alternatives like "immediately" or "promptly" when aiming for brevity, or "without hesitation" to shift the focus to decisiveness. Always strive for active voice constructions to make your writing more impactful and engaging. The phrase's neutral register makes it suitable for a variety of communication settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

without much delay

Replaces "little" with "much", adjusting the degree of delay emphasized, while retaining the core meaning.

promptly

Offers a single-word adverb that emphasizes quick action or response, simplifying the phrase.

immediately

Conveys a sense of instant action, possibly more emphatic than the original phrase.

without hesitation

Shifts the focus from time to the decisiveness of the action, suggesting no pause for consideration.

in short order

Uses an idiom to suggest that something happens quickly and efficiently.

expeditiously

Provides a formal adverb emphasizing speed and efficiency in completing a task.

with speed

Focuses on the quickness of the action, highlighting the velocity at which something occurs.

without lingering

Emphasizes the absence of prolonged duration or hesitation.

forthwith

An archaic term suggesting immediate action or compliance, adding a formal tone.

directly

Indicates that something happens straight away, without any intermediaries or waiting.

FAQs

How can I use "with little delay" in a sentence?

You can use "with little delay" to indicate that something happens quickly after something else. For example, "The ambulance arrived "with little delay" after the call".

What are some alternatives to "with little delay"?

Some alternatives to "with little delay" include "immediately", "promptly", or "without hesitation", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "with as little delay as possible"?

Yes, "with as little delay as possible" is a correct and more emphatic way of saying something should happen very quickly. The Queen's note uses the expression "with as little delay as possible".

What's the difference between "with little delay" and "after a short delay"?

"With little delay" emphasizes the quickness and efficiency, whereas "after a short delay" simply acknowledges that some time passed, though not a significant amount. The nuance is subtle, but "with little delay" provides a more positive spin.