defer the date

USAGE SUMMARY

"defer the date" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you need to postpone or delay an event or appointment to a later date. For example, "Due to personal commitments, I must defer the date of our meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The following day Trenchard sent Rothermere a letter of resignation and although Rothermere called for Trenchard and asked him to remain, Trenchard only agreed to defer the date until after 1 April when the Royal Air Force would officially come into being.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

You can opt to defer the start date for up to 6 weeks.

The Guardian

The Secretary may defer the beginning date of the obligated service to allow the participant to complete the advanced clinical training program.

Cornell University

"You can put in place a serious fiscal program, which would generate job-creating confidence, but defer the implementation date," he said.

The New York Times

They have not, however, deferred the poll date beyond the deadline of January 25th, by when it is unlikely that credible elections can be held.

The Economist

They are: deferring the leaving date of the holiday, transferring to another holiday of the same or similar value, or a refund of the amount paid for the whole holiday.

BBC

"In the context of this, the banks have agreed to defer the next covenant test date from 31 December 2008 to 28 February 2009 to facilitate these discussions and the company has agreed an initial fee of approximately €2.5 million and an increase in the core lending margin of approximately 175 basis points," Mecom added.

The Guardian

I can rigorously prioritize and decide that some will be quickly finished and others postponed, or I can spread the money across all the projects, deferring the completion dates for all of them but postponing none.

The New York Times

"With interested parties on both sides of the issue expressing the need for more time, and with negotiations continuing, we simply felt it was best to defer the hearing to a later date," said Chris Policano, a spokesman for the council speaker, Gifford Miller.

The New York Times

Contact your lender and see if you can either pay a smaller amount by the deadline or defer the full payment to a later date.

WikiHow

You're also given one shot at deferring your start date, though you can't defer the start of your payments for more than 40 years from your initial payment.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defer the date", clearly communicate the new date or the process for rescheduling to avoid confusion. For example, specify, "We will defer the date of the meeting to next week, and a new schedule will be sent out by Friday."

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you will "defer the date" without providing any further information. Always provide a timeframe or instructions on how the new date will be determined. For example, instead of saying "I have to defer the date", say "I have to defer the date; let's reschedule for sometime next week".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer the date" functions as a verb phrase indicating the act of postponing or rescheduling an event or appointment. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, showcasing its usability in varied contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defer the date" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to indicate the postponement or rescheduling of an event. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, showing its presence across various sources like News & Media, Academia and Formal & Business communications. While alternatives such as "postpone the date" or "reschedule the date" exist, this particular phrasing is widely understood and appropriate for professional settings. Ensure clarity when communicating the deferral, providing instructions to determine the new date.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone the date

Replaces "defer" with "postpone", maintaining the meaning of delaying an event.

reschedule the date

Uses "reschedule" instead of "defer", emphasizing the act of changing the date to a later time.

delay the date

Substitutes "defer" with "delay", indicating a temporary suspension or postponement.

put off the date

Replaces "defer" with the phrasal verb "put off", conveying the idea of postponing something.

extend the deadline

Focuses on extending the deadline, which implies deferring the date of completion or submission.

move the date back

Emphasizes the action of moving the date to a later point in time.

adjourn until later

Uses "adjourn" to suggest postponing a meeting or session to a later date.

hold over the event

Conveys the sense of postponing or suspending an event for a period.

suspend until further notice

Implies a temporary suspension of the event with no specific date set for resumption.

shelve for the time being

Suggests putting the event aside temporarily, with the possibility of revisiting it later.

FAQs

What does it mean to "defer the date"?

To "defer the date" means to postpone or delay an event, appointment, or deadline to a later time. It indicates a decision to reschedule something to a future date.

How can I use "defer the date" in a sentence?

You can use "defer the date" in a sentence like this: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we need to "postpone the date" of the conference." or "The committee decided to "defer the meeting" until next month.

What are some alternatives to saying "defer the date"?

Some alternatives to saying "defer the date" include "reschedule the date", "postpone the date", or "delay the date". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "defer the date" in formal communication?

Yes, "defer the date" is suitable for formal communication. It is a clear and professional way to indicate that an event or deadline needs to be moved to a later time. Alternatives like "reschedule" or "postpone" are also appropriate.