Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
sorry for having delayed in ...
English answer:
sorry for the delay in ...
Added to glossary by
jrb
May 22, 2005 16:17
18 yrs ago
4 viewers *
English term
Accurate -- Reliable -- Fast
Native in: Chinese 
Works in: English to Chinese, Chinese to English, German to Chinese, and 3 more.
delayed ... in
Non-PRO
English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
I feel so sorry for having delayed so long in sending my documents for xxxx to you
Is the " delayed ... in " structure" used correctly here?TIA!!!
Is the " delayed ... in " structure" used correctly here?TIA!!!
Responses
+8
13 mins
Selected
I am so sorry for the (long) delay...
My suggestion.
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Note added at 34 mins (2005-05-22 16:52:02 GMT)
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or \"I am very sorry...\"
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Note added at 16 hrs 42 mins (2005-05-23 09:00:16 GMT)
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Just to clarify (which I\'m sure is unnecessary), \"having delayed so long in sending\" is not wrong exactly, but it\'s not how English speakers would usually say it - we would use \"the delay in sending\". In short, it\'s more a question of idiom/style than grammar.
And Rita is right that \"I feel sorry\" should be \"I am sorry\" or \"I apologise\" in this usage.
I hope this helps! :)
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Note added at 34 mins (2005-05-22 16:52:02 GMT)
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or \"I am very sorry...\"
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Note added at 16 hrs 42 mins (2005-05-23 09:00:16 GMT)
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Just to clarify (which I\'m sure is unnecessary), \"having delayed so long in sending\" is not wrong exactly, but it\'s not how English speakers would usually say it - we would use \"the delay in sending\". In short, it\'s more a question of idiom/style than grammar.
And Rita is right that \"I feel sorry\" should be \"I am sorry\" or \"I apologise\" in this usage.
I hope this helps! :)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
RHELLER
: "I am sorry" is better than "I feel sorry" (also correct)
1 min
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thanks Rita
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| agree |
cmwilliams (X)
4 mins
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thanks!
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| agree |
Patricia Baldwin
8 mins
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thanks Patricia
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| agree |
Robert Donahue (X)
26 mins
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thanks Robert
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| agree |
rangepost
57 mins
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thanks!
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| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
58 mins
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thanks Marju
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| agree |
Alan Thompson
: Or, "please accept my apologies..."
2 hrs
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thanks - and yes, indeed, another perfectly fine option
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| agree |
Refugio
4 hrs
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thanks Ruth
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| neutral |
Balasubramaniam L.
: The question was about the use of "delayed....in"
11 hrs
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yes, I can see that; the point of my suggestion was to indicate that the meaning is more commonly and naturally expressed by changing the verb to a noun - surely I couldn't just have written "not really" in the answer box?!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all for help!"
10 mins
Carmen Schultz
Native in English
&
English
Specializes in field
Accurate & Reliable
Native in: Spanish , English
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to English, and 2 more.
ok, but sound more fluent to say "for having taken so long...
"for having taken so long" sounds more chatty/casual. If the text is formal, then delay is ok.
9 hrs
Balasubramaniam L.
India
India
India
Fast, accurate, elegant translation
Native in: Hindi 
Works in: English to Hindi, Hindi
Related KudoZ points
:
12
yes it is
Your delayed .... in construction is grammatically correct.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
jrb
: ... but not idiomatic, i.e. how English speakers would say it
7 hrs
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No idiom is involved here. It is straightforward English.
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1 hr
below
I am very sorry that it took me such a long time to send my documents..
or
I apologize for being delayed in sending my documents.
I apologize, perhaps would sound more formal.
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Note added at 13 hrs 42 mins (2005-05-23 06:00:21 GMT)
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About your question, yes it is correct, however \"delayed so long\" with the rest of the sentence just sounds a bit awkward IMO.
or
I apologize for being delayed in sending my documents.
I apologize, perhaps would sound more formal.
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Note added at 13 hrs 42 mins (2005-05-23 06:00:21 GMT)
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About your question, yes it is correct, however \"delayed so long\" with the rest of the sentence just sounds a bit awkward IMO.
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Alan Thompson
: Sorry Aimee, this is not very idiomatic.
1 hr
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thanks for your opinion :)
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| agree |
Balasubramaniam L.
: With the first option. But the question was about the use of "delayed ... in".
7 hrs
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thank you :)
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-1
2 hrs
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
Native in: English (Variant: US) , Portuguese (Variant: Brazilian)
Works in: English to Portuguese, Portuguese to English, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
32
I apologize for having delayed the sending my documents for xxxx to you
I apologize for having delayed the sending my documents for xxxx to you
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Note added at 2 days 17 hrs 36 mins (2005-05-25 09:54:28 GMT) Post-grading
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I apologize for having delayed the sending (OF) my documents for xxxx to you
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Note added at 2 days 17 hrs 36 mins (2005-05-25 09:54:28 GMT) Post-grading
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I apologize for having delayed the sending (OF) my documents for xxxx to you
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
cmwilliams (X)
: this doesn't sound right to me in English - delayed the sending my...?
3 hrs
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corrected
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Discussion