defer it until later

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defer it until later" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to indicate that something should be postponed or delayed to a future time. Example: "We can defer it until later when we have more information to make a decision."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

After drawing the state pension, people can change their mind once, and defer it until a later date.

BBC

Others could defer it until when the property was sold or they died.

Independent

Can I Defer it?

HuffPost

Salespeople who had an unexpectedly big earnings year, for example, could defer income until later, when they would probably pay lower taxes.

The New York Times

But parents should have a choice about whether a child is full-time or part-time and there should be the option to defer entry until later in the school year.

BBC

If we ever think about it, it's a thing we want to defer until later.

Forbes

The Fed's policy-making committee will meet Tuesday and Wednesday but it is expected to defer major decisions until later in the year.

The New York Times

The Battersea Power Station development company says that because of its commitment to finance the £1bn restoration of the power station itself, and contribution of £200m to extending the Northern Line, it had been allowed to defer affordable housing until later in the project.

BBC

When pay is deferred, it typically is not counted as an expense until later periods, which increases nearer-term earnings.

The New York Times

The president's options would essentially be these: He could decide to ride out the attack and defer until later any decision to launch a retaliatory strike.

Los Angeles Times

Equally, the student might decide to drop a course after attending a particularly boring lecture (rejection, or 'ruling out'); or she might give the lecturer another chance, and defer the decision until later.

eLife

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "defer it until later" when you want to explicitly state that an action or decision is being intentionally postponed for a specific reason.

Common error

Avoid using "defer it until later" without clearly defining what "it" refers to. This can lead to confusion and require the reader to guess the subject of the deferral. Provide a clear antecedent to ensure effective communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer it until later" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of postponing or delaying something to a future time. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and grammatical correctness. The phrase is used to convey the intention to address something at a later, unspecified point.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defer it until later" is a grammatically sound and usable expression in English, indicating the act of postponing something to a future time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its purpose is to delay a decision or action, often when more information or better circumstances are needed. While the phrase is versatile, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly identifies what "it" refers to, preventing any ambiguity. Although Ludwig reports no direct examples for this exact phrase, alternatives like "postpone it until later" or "delay it until later" can be used for a similar meaning. Remember that clarity and context are key when incorporating this phrase into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone it until later

Replaces "defer" with "postpone", maintaining a similar level of formality but altering the word choice.

delay it until later

Substitutes "defer" with "delay", emphasizing the act of causing something to occur at a later time.

put it off until later

Uses a more informal phrasal verb, "put off", in place of "defer", making the tone slightly more casual.

reschedule it for later

Focuses on the act of changing the schedule, indicating a definite plan to address it at a later point.

hold it off until later

Emphasizes the act of preventing something from happening now, with the intention of addressing it in the future.

table it until later

Implies formally setting something aside for future consideration, often used in meetings or formal discussions.

shelve it until later

Suggests putting something aside, possibly indefinitely, but with the potential to revisit it in the future.

suspend it until later

Indicates a temporary cessation, with the expectation of resuming it at a later time.

adjourn it until later

A more formal term for postponing, often used in the context of meetings or legal proceedings.

remand it until later

Suggests sending something back for further consideration at a later time, often used in legal contexts.

FAQs

How can I use "defer it until later" in a sentence?

You can use "defer it until later" to indicate that something will be postponed or delayed to a future time. For example, "We can defer the decision until later when we have more information".

What is a more formal way to say "defer it until later"?

A more formal alternative to "defer it until later" is to use phrases like "postpone it until later" or "delay it until later", which maintain a similar level of formality while providing a more sophisticated tone.

What's the difference between "defer it until later" and "put it off until later"?

"Defer it until later" and "put it off until later" both mean to postpone something, but "put it off until later" is generally more informal and might imply a reluctance or avoidance of the task.

Is it always appropriate to use "defer it until later" in professional writing?

While "defer it until later" is generally acceptable, consider the formality of your writing. In highly formal contexts, a more sophisticated synonym such as "adjourn it until later" or "table it until later" may be more appropriate.