Which one is correct?
"be five minutes late" or "be late by five minutes"?

Question

Which one is correct?
"be five minutes late" or "be late by five minutes"?

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This phrase is used to indicate arriving late by a specific amount of time, in this case, five minutes.

Examples:

I'll be five minutes late for the meeting.
She was five minutes late for the bus.
Don't worry if you're five minutes late, we'll wait for you.
He's always five minutes late to class.
The train was five minutes late.

Alternatives:

be ten minutes late
be fifteen minutes late
be twenty minutes late
be thirty minutes late
be an hour late

This phrase emphasizes the specific amount of time by which someone is late. It is used to indicate the delay in a more precise manner.

Examples:

She was late by five minutes, but still managed to catch the train.
The presentation started late by five minutes.
He arrived late by five minutes due to traffic.
The flight was delayed by five minutes.
The bus was late by five minutes.

Alternatives:

be late by ten minutes
be late by fifteen minutes
be late by twenty minutes
be late by thirty minutes
be late by an hour

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in slightly different contexts. 'Be five minutes late' is a common expression used to indicate arriving late by a specific amount of time. On the other hand, 'be late by five minutes' emphasizes the specific amount of time by which someone is late. The choice between the two depends on the emphasis you want to place on the timing of being late.

Last Updated: March 25, 2024