a postponement of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'a postponement of' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to express that something has been delayed or postponed until a later time. For example, "The town council has approved a postponement of the public meeting until next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

52 human-written examples

Although initially feigning compliance, at the last minute, Ellen gave the President a dose of blood thinners causing a postponement of the surgery.

Huffington Post

Deferral is a postponement of the payment of interest or principal, or both.

Cornell University

What if jiggering the engine produces no favorable outcome — merely a postponement of the inevitable?

The New York Times - Books

China requested a postponement of the Security Council vote until Wu completed his visit.

The Washington Post

Before this announcement there had been considerable clamour for a postponement of the election.

Independent

Napoleon had spent himself and his troops to achieve only a postponement of defeat.

Britannica

Mr. Bush does not need to call for a postponement of elections himself.

The New York Times

(B) Some questions were shown on television, forcing a postponement of makeup exams.

The New York Times

The de facto government has already forced a postponement of the visit once.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Ms Yingluck had offered to discuss a postponement of the polls on Wednesday morning but Mr Suthep rejected any compromise and did not attend the meeting.

BBC

It may compel a postponement of the decision to start on renewal until after the next general election.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a postponement of" to formally indicate that an event, decision, or activity has been delayed to a later date. This phrase is appropriate for official communications, reports, and other formal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "a postponement for" instead of "a postponement of". The correct preposition is "of" to indicate what is being postponed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a postponement of" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It indicates that something has been delayed. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English, supported by numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

13%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a postponement of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that signals a delay or rescheduling. According to Ludwig, the expression is valid for written English and has numerous occurrences in various sources. Predominantly found in news and formal business contexts, it serves to formally announce or acknowledge delays of events, decisions, or activities. For alternatives, consider "a deferral of" or "a delay of", ensuring to use the correct preposition "of" rather than "for". This phrase is a reliable and effective way to communicate that something has been moved to a later time.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a deferral of

Replaces "postponement" with "deferral", implying a formal delay to a later time.

a deferment of

Similar to "deferral", suggesting a temporary suspension or delay.

a delay of

A more general term for "postponement", indicating something is held back.

a rescheduling of

Suggests that something has been moved to a new, later time.

a suspension of

Indicates a temporary cessation or holding back of something.

a stay of

Primarily used in legal contexts to denote a temporary halting of proceedings.

a respite from

Indicates a short period of rest or relief from something, implying a temporary halt.

a moratorium on

Suggests a formal suspension of an activity, often for a specified period.

a continuance of

Indicates that something is being extended or carried on to a later date.

a putting off of

An informal way to say something has been delayed.

FAQs

How can I use "a postponement of" in a sentence?

You can use "a postponement of" to indicate that an event or activity has been delayed. For example, "The committee announced "a postponement of the meeting" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's the difference between "a postponement of" and "a delay in"?

While both indicate something is being held back, "a postponement of" often implies a rescheduling to a specific later time, whereas "a delay in" simply indicates something is being held back without necessarily specifying a new time.

What can I say instead of "a postponement of"?

You can use alternatives like "a deferral of", "a delay of", or "a rescheduling of" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "postponement to" instead of "postponement of"?

No, the correct usage is "a postponement of". "Postponement to" is grammatically incorrect. You might say something is postponed to a specific date, but the postponement of an event.