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Jigneshbharati Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

To vs in

It came as the EU said it would back a short delay to Brexit- if MPs finally vote in favour of Theresa May's deal next week.

I read the above in The Metro newspaper.

Please explain the use of the preposition "to" in "delay to Brexit".

Would the preposition "in" be equally correct "delay in Brexit"?

I am really confused as there are multiple definitions in the dictionaries for both these prepositions. I have checked the Coca corpus and it states "in" is the most common preposition followed by "delay".

"To" is used generally when or where some direction is involved

  

Top answer

I agree with you. to sounds better. I think perhaps the problem may be that Brexit is a relatively new word.

— Clive

  • I agree with you.
  • to sounds better.
  • I think perhaps the problem may be that Brexit is a relatively new word.
  • If it is a noun, I'd say 'a delay to Brexit'.
  • If it is a verb, I'd say 'a delay in Brexiting'.
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2 Answers
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I agree with you. to sounds better.

I think perhaps the problem may be that Brexit is a relatively new word.

If it is a noun, I'd say 'a delay to Brexit'.

If it is a verb, I'd say 'a delay in Brexiting'.

Clive

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I think they mean "prior to" as in "before."

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prior%20to

As with telling time, it's five minutes to six, or ten minutes "to" / until the end.

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