Delaying Javascript

How do I delay JavaScript - I tried the following but it doesn't delay??:

setTimeout(document.getElementById("loading1").innerHTML="", 4000);

Thanks, B

try:

setTimeout(function(){document.getElementById("loading1").innerHTML="";}, 4000);

function setHtml() {
  document.getElementById("loading1").innerHTML="";
}
setTimeout(setHtml, 4000);

You would want to put your code inside of a function:

setTimeout(function() { document.getElementById("loading1").innerHTML=""; }, 4000);