defer from

USAGE SUMMARY

"defer from" is not grammatically correct or usable in written English.
Instead, you could use the phrase "differ from". For example: "The opinion of the judge differed from that of the jury."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

Our cohort analyses indicate that young cohorts/generations defer from obtaining a driving licence.

Journal of Transport Geography

You don't pay taxes on the money you defer from your pay, and there are no taxes to pay while it grows.

The New York Times

Indeed, exoskeletons are in direct interaction with the human limb and even if it is possible to identify the nominal dynamics of the exoskeleton, the subject's limb dynamics remain typically unknown and defer from a person to another.

Control Engineering Practice

Ms. Greenwald, who was hired as a senior vice president in 1992, contends that Mattel fired her in July 1995 because she alerted her superior, James Eskridge, then Mattel's president, of her concern that the company might not have accounted properly for a royalty payment it had persuaded the Walt Disney Company to defer from 1994 into 1995.

The New York Times

Despite the church's call to keep the door open to refugees, Pence met last week with local Catholic leaders to urge them to "defer from welcoming" a Syrian family seeking placement in the state until Congress passed new legislation providing more stringent security screening for refugees from Syria, Indianapolis Archbishop Joseph W. Tobin said in a statement on Tuesday.

The Washington Post

This is why I defer from some founders on the need for regulation.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The deferred group (DG) was deferred from the exercise program for 12 weeks.

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

The bonus pool includes cash bonuses for the current year as well as amounts deferred from previous years; deferred payments have grown in response to reforms put in place since the crisis.

The Economist

Her daughter, Hilary, was deferred from Boston University.

The New York Times

"Then you're deferred from donating," she replied.

The New York Times

This issue was deferred from one committee to the next.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "defer from" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "differ from", "postpone", or "delay" to ensure clarity and professionalism.

Common error

Many writers incorrectly use "defer from" thinking it means to postpone or delay. Instead, recognize that "defer" typically requires a direct object (e.g., "defer a decision") or should be used intransitively (e.g., "defer to an expert").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer from" is primarily intended to function as a verb phrase, aiming to express the action of postponing or differing. However, as Ludwig AI notes, this construction is grammatically incorrect. The correct usage would involve using "defer" with a direct object or using a different preposition (e.g., "defer to").

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

33.33%

News & Media

33.33%

Formal & Business

33.33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "defer from" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI advises against using it in formal writing. While it appears in various contexts, including science and news media, it's better to opt for correct alternatives like "differ from", "postpone", or use "defer" with a direct object to maintain clarity and professionalism. The frequency of this incorrect phrase is uncommon, and its usage should be avoided in favor of more established grammatical structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone

This verb directly indicates delaying an action or event to a later time.

delay

Similar to "postpone", this term suggests a temporary suspension of an activity.

put off

An informal way to say to postpone or delay.

adjourn

This term implies a formal postponement, often used in meetings or legal settings.

reschedule

Suggests moving an event to a later date, often with a new specific time.

suspend

This suggests a temporary halting of something, implying it will resume later.

differ from

This phrase indicates a divergence or disagreement, rather than a delay.

deviate from

This phrase means to stray from a standard or expected course.

carry forward

Implies moving something (like a task or payment) to a future date.

withhold

Suggests holding back something, often information or a payment.

FAQs

What does "defer" usually mean?

The verb "defer" typically means to put off an action or event to a later time or to yield to another's opinion. The correct usage depends on the context, often requiring a direct object (e.g., "defer a decision") or appearing intransitively (e.g., "defer to someone").

What can I say instead of "defer from"?

Since "defer from" is grammatically incorrect, you can use alternatives like "differ from", "postpone", "delay", or rephrase the sentence to use "defer" correctly (e.g., "defer a decision").

Is it correct to say "defer from"?

No, "defer from" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's more appropriate to use alternatives like "differ from" if you mean to disagree, or use "defer" with a direct object if you mean to postpone something.

How to use "defer" correctly in a sentence?

Use "defer" correctly by either using it with a direct object (e.g., "defer the meeting") or intransitively to mean yielding to someone's opinion (e.g., "defer to the expert"). Avoid using the phrase "defer from".