defer decision

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defer decision" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a decision will be postponed or delayed to a later time. Example: "The committee decided to defer decision on the proposal until the next meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Prosecutors defer decision on two other suspects.

The Guardian

The officer graduated from the police academy in March and was working under the supervision of a training officer, but Chief Johnson maintained Officer Miller was fully trained and did not need to defer decision to use deadly force to a field training officer.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

As a result, designers often defer decisions to later stages of the design process.

Building and Environment

The spike in uncertainty alone was enough to make businessmen defer decisions about investment and hiring.

The Economist

Some say the public administration is being gummed up as officials defer decisions for fear of prompting malevolent and spurious investigations.

The Economist

They repeated an earlier call for a study that would, in effect, defer decisions about such distribution channels for as long as three years.

The New York Times

By defining time horizons of three, six, and nine months, the team could defer decisions that were not immediately needed and address them at the appropriate point.

Harvard Business Review

At other times, innovators may find it more prudent to defer decisions until they have more information about the innovation's fate and other players' experiences with it.

Harvard Business Review

On some issues he appears likely to defer decisions to Congress.

Los Angeles Times

To defer decisions that the court could make into this very unbalanced forum.

Huffington Post

Due to limited involvement of infectious disease experts, the expert group chose to defer decision-making on infectious diseases.

Genetics in Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defer decision", clearly state the reason for the deferral and the intended timeframe for revisiting the decision. This provides transparency and manages expectations.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you will "defer decision" without providing any context or justification. This can create confusion and undermine confidence in your decision-making process.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer decision" functions as a verb phrase, where "defer" is the verb indicating the action of postponing, and "decision" is the noun representing the object of that action. It's primarily about delaying an action, agreeing with Ludwig's analysis.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defer decision" means to postpone or delay making a decision until a later time. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. Although relatively uncommon, it is found in both news and scientific contexts. When using the phrase, it's best to provide context for the deferral and indicate when the decision will be revisited. Similar phrases include "postpone the decision" and "delay the decision".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone the decision

Emphasizes delaying the decision to a later time.

delay the decision

Similar to postpone, but may imply a shorter delay.

hold off on the decision

Suggests waiting before making a decision.

table the decision

A more formal term for postponing, often used in meetings.

suspend the decision

Indicates a temporary cessation of the decision-making process.

put off the decision

An informal way to say postpone.

shelve the decision

Suggests putting the decision aside, possibly indefinitely.

pass the decision to

Indicates delegating the decision to another person or entity.

delegate the decision-making

Highlights the act of assigning decision-making authority.

transfer responsibility for the decision

Emphasizes the shifting of accountability for the decision.

FAQs

What does "defer decision" mean?

To "defer decision" means to postpone or delay making a decision until a later time. It implies that the decision is not being canceled but rather put off for future consideration.

When is it appropriate to "defer decision"?

It's appropriate to "defer decision" when you lack sufficient information, when waiting for further developments, or when other priorities require immediate attention. It's also used when seeking additional input or consultation.

What are some alternatives to "defer decision"?

You can use alternatives like "postpone the decision", "delay the decision", or "hold off on the decision" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to "defer decision" or make a premature one?

It depends on the situation. Deferring a decision is preferable when making a premature decision could lead to negative consequences. However, prolonged deferral can also be detrimental if it causes delays or missed opportunities.