would be delayed

USAGE SUMMARY

"would be delayed" is correct and is commonly used in written English.
For example, "The train would be delayed by an hour due to maintenance on the tracks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Paychecks would be delayed.

The New York Times

funding would be delayed, according to financial analysts.

The New York Times

A new commission has said that election would be delayed.

The New York Times

Evidence of their decline would be delayed for eons.

The New York Times

Some parts of it would be delayed still further.

The New York Times

The company said the game would be delayed.

The New York Times

He received e-mails saying that shipping would be delayed.

The New York Times - Sports

Because we knew her speech would be delayed, we used American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate.

Harvard University

If the Government agrees, then tax payments would be delayed until Pennzoil sold the shares.

The New York Times

Analysts predicted that the recovery of metal prices would be delayed into 2009.

The Guardian - Business

Research would be delayed as time and resources were diverted from experiments to filing forms.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "would be delayed", ensure the context clearly indicates the reason for the delay to provide clarity and avoid ambiguity. For example, specify whether the delay is due to weather, technical issues, or unforeseen circumstances.

Common error

Avoid using "would be delayed" without specifying what is being delayed. For instance, instead of saying "The process would be delayed", clarify it with "The approval process would be delayed due to administrative backlogs".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be delayed" functions as a passive construction indicating that an action or event will occur at a later time than originally expected. Ludwig's examples demonstrate its versatility in describing various scenarios, from delayed paychecks to postponed elections.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "would be delayed" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something will happen later than expected. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily in News & Media. While alternatives like "would be postponed" or "would be rescheduled" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what is being delayed and, if possible, the reason for the delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

would be postponed

Replaces "delayed" with "postponed", emphasizing a scheduled event being moved to a later time.

would be deferred

Substitutes "delayed" with "deferred", often used in formal contexts like financial or legal matters.

would be rescheduled

Highlights the act of changing the schedule to a later time.

would be put off

Uses the phrasal verb "put off" instead of "delayed", providing a more informal tone.

would be held back

Employs "held back" to suggest a hindering force causing the delay.

would be adjourned

Replaces "delayed" with "adjourned", specifically referring to the temporary suspension of a meeting or legal proceeding.

would be suspended

Uses "suspended" to indicate a temporary halting of something, implying a potential resumption later.

faces a delay

Is a more concise alternative that uses the verb "faces" instead of using passive voice.

would experience a setback

Shifts the focus to the negative impact of the delay, framing it as a "setback".

would be subject to a hold-up

Indicates that it will suffer some sort of delay.

FAQs

How to use "would be delayed" in a sentence?

You can use "would be delayed" to indicate that something will happen later than expected. For example, "The shipment "would be delayed" due to unforeseen circumstances".

What can I say instead of "would be delayed"?

You can use alternatives like "would be postponed", "would be rescheduled", or "would be deferred" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "will be delayed" instead of "would be delayed"?

Both "will be delayed" and "would be delayed" are grammatically correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "Will be delayed" indicates a future certainty, while "would be delayed" often implies a conditional or hypothetical situation or past future.

What is the difference between "delayed" and "postponed"?

"Delayed" generally means something is temporarily held up, while "postponed" means something is intentionally rescheduled for a later time. You might say a flight is "delayed" due to weather, but a meeting is "postponed" to accommodate a speaker's schedule.