As a generalization of the first and second order models, the elementary fractional-order models have been widely used in various engineering fields. However, most of the previous studies only focus on commensurate fractional-order models. In this paper, a general non-commensurate elementary fractional-order delay system is investigated. First, the stability of the studied fractional-order delay system is analyzed based on Nyquist theorem. Then, a series of sufficient stability conditions are presented for different combinations of parameters, including the fractional orders (alpha, beta), time delay (tau), pseudo-damping factor (zeta), and natural frequency (omega(0)). Finally, three examples are given to show the effectiveness of the presented results. (C) 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.