a small postponement

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small postponement" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a brief delay or rescheduling of an event or deadline. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will need to implement a small postponement of the project deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For instance, in the US, some research suggests a small postponement in age at incidence from disability [ADL and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL)] between 1992 and 2003 for people aged 65 for severe (people unable to complete at least three ADL's) and moderate (disabled in one or two ADL's) disability, with increasing rates of recovery from disability (3).

Global Health Action

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Civil rights groups opposed to any postponement started a small protest on Saturday.

The Guardian

"For older women," the researchers write, "small longevity increases have been accompanied by even smaller postponements in disability... as a consequence, older women no longer live more active years than men, despite their longer lives".

Huffington Post

The effect of this postponement is to confer a benefit on a small group of Councilmembers, some of whom voted in 2008 to extend their eligibility.

Huffington Post

The court date was a mere formality — a request for a postponement.

The New Yorker

But Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has insisted: "This is not a cancellation but a postponement".

BBC

Thus we could neither attribute a hastening nor a postponement of death around birthdays.

BMJ Open

As a result, postponement has been more pronounced in larger rather than in smaller settlements.

European Journal of Population

This is a postponement, not a cancellation.

Unicef

"This is a postponement, not a cancellation," she affirmed.

Unicef

But league officials have set a high bar for what warrants a postponement.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small postponement", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being postponed and why the delay is considered small or insignificant. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "a small postponement" when the delay is actually significant. Using "small" in this context could mislead the audience about the true extent of the delay, potentially causing frustration or miscommunication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small postponement" functions as a noun phrase, acting as the subject or object in a sentence. It names a specific instance of delaying something, qualified by the adjective "small" indicating the extent or impact of the delay. This is supported by Ludwig's examples which show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

32%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a small postponement" is a grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a minor delay. Ludwig AI indicates that its usage is acceptable and found in various contexts like News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business settings. While considered relatively rare, it serves to inform about a slight delay while downplaying its significance. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the "small" qualifier accurately reflects the actual impact of the delay to avoid miscommunication. Consider alternatives such as "a brief delay" or "a minor rescheduling" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief delay

Focuses on the shortness of the delay using 'brief' instead of 'small' and 'delay' instead of 'postponement'.

a minor rescheduling

Emphasizes the act of 'rescheduling' and qualifies it as 'minor' to indicate the limited impact.

a slight deferral

Uses the word 'deferral' which is a more formal synonym for postponement and modifies it with 'slight'.

a short delay

Replaces 'small' with 'short', another synonym indicating a limited duration of the delay.

a limited extension

Highlights the 'extension' aspect of postponement and specifies it as 'limited'.

a marginal delay

Uses 'marginal' to describe the insignificance of the delay.

a temporary pause

Emphasizes the 'pause' aspect and specifies it as 'temporary'.

a modest delay

Uses 'modest' to downplay the scale of the delay.

a minimal interruption

Focuses on the 'interruption' caused by the postponement and describes it as 'minimal'.

a tactical delay

Describes the postponement as being a 'tactical' decision. It implies that the postponement serves some strategic benefit.

FAQs

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

You can use "a small postponement" to describe a brief delay in an event or deadline. For example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we will need to implement a small postponement of the project deadline."

What are some alternatives to "a small postponement"?

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

Is it better to say "a slight postponement" or "a small postponement"?

Both "a slight postponement" and "a small postponement" are acceptable. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the duration (slight) or the impact (small) of the delay. They are often interchangeable.

What's the difference between "a short delay" and "a small postponement"?

While both phrases indicate a brief delay, "a short delay" focuses on the duration of the delay. "A small postponement", on the other hand, implies that the delay's consequences or impact are minimal.