Which one is correct?
"We will be late 30 minutes" or "We will be late by 30 minutes"?

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We will be late 30 minutes

This phrase is correct but less common. It may be considered less precise than using 'by' to indicate the specific amount of delay.

This phrase can also be used to indicate a delay of 30 minutes, but it is less commonly used and may be perceived as less precise.

Examples:

  • We will be late 30 minutes if we don't leave now.
  • The flight will be late 30 minutes due to a technical issue.

Alternatives:

  • We will be late for 30 minutes.
  • We will be 30 minutes late.

We will be late by 30 minutes

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a specific amount of delay.

This phrase is used to specify the amount of time by which someone or something will be late. It indicates a precise delay of 30 minutes.

Examples:

  • We will be late by 30 minutes due to heavy traffic.
  • The train will be late by 30 minutes because of a signal failure.

Alternatives:

  • We will be late by an hour.
  • We will be late by a few minutes.
Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'We will be late by 30 minutes' implies that the delay will be 30 minutes, while 'We will be late 30 minutes' is less common and may be considered less precise.

Last Updated: April 01, 2024

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