defer the decision

USAGE SUMMARY

"defer the decision" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you choose to not make a decision at the current time. For example, "I think it's best to defer the decision until we have more information".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They had the opportunity to defer the decision.

The Guardian

Senator Carl Levin, a Michigan Democrat who wants to defer the decision to permit more study, anticipated that debate.

The New York Times

The decision came after a public comment hour in which speaker after speaker implored the board to retain the president, or at least defer the decision.

The New York Times

The Torrance motion was accepted after a rival proposal, to defer the decision for two years until the theological forum's report was completed, was rejected by 213 votes to 205.

The Guardian

The admission of Yugoslavia, which now consists of just the republics of Serbia and Montenegro, moved ahead despite calls from Montenegro's pro-Western leadership to defer the decision until relations between the two Yugoslav republics are resolved.

The New York Times

"We are arguing to defer the decision until there has been more research and development, and tests of various systems using real world conditions," said Lisbeth Gronlund, of M.I.T.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

The court deferred the decision to the Department of Consumer Protection.

The New York Times

Deferring the decision on the sales also gives Mr. Bush some leverage over Taiwan's leaders.

The New York Times

He deferred the decision on whether to allow the dredging shortly before Labor lost last year's election.

The Guardian

In an uncertain market, "we basically deferred the decision" to buy, Mr. Nasta said, believing that prices would drop.

The New York Times

But the ECB's president added an important proviso, namely that the reason for deferring the decision a month was in order to have available new staff forecasts.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defer the decision", clearly state the reason for postponement and, if possible, indicate a timeframe or future event that will prompt the decision to be revisited. This provides context and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating that you will "defer the decision" without providing any further explanation. This can leave stakeholders uncertain and frustrated. Always clarify why the decision is being postponed and what conditions need to be met before it can be made.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer the decision" primarily functions as a verb phrase, where "defer" acts as the main verb and "the decision" serves as the direct object. This phrase indicates the action of postponing or delaying a decision. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "defer the decision" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the postponement of a decision. Ludwig indicates that this phrase is appropriate for use in written English. It appears frequently in news articles, scientific publications, and formal business communications. When using this phrase, clarity is key; it's important to provide context regarding why the decision is being deferred. Alternatives like "postpone the resolution" or "hold off on deciding" can be used to convey similar meanings. Overall, "defer the decision" is a useful and versatile phrase for indicating a temporary delay in the decision-making process.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hold off on deciding

Implies a temporary pause in the decision-making process.

put off the choice

Simple and direct, indicating a postponement of making a choice.

delay making a choice

Rephrases the action to emphasize the act of choosing.

postpone the resolution

Focuses on delaying the final resolution or outcome of a decision.

reserve judgement

Indicates a deliberate holding back of a final judgment until more information is available.

delay the determination

Emphasizes delaying the process of determining or establishing something.

table the matter

Formal term for postponing discussion or decision on a specific topic.

shelve the determination

Suggests putting off a decision indefinitely, possibly with no intention of revisiting it soon.

suspend the judgement

Highlights the temporary halting of a judgment or evaluation.

hold back on making a conclusion

Highlights delaying the drawing of a final conclusion or inference.

FAQs

What does "defer the decision" mean?

To "defer the decision" means to postpone making a decision until a later time. It suggests that the decision is not being cancelled, but rather delayed.

When is it appropriate to "defer the decision"?

It's appropriate to "defer the decision" when you need more information, when circumstances are uncertain, or when you want to allow more time for consideration. For example, "It's best to "defer the decision until" we have all the facts".

What are some alternatives to "defer the decision"?

You can use alternatives such as "postpone the resolution", "delay the determination", or "hold off on deciding" depending on the context.

How is "defer the decision" different from "cancel the decision"?

"Defer the decision" means to postpone it, while "cancel the decision" means to eliminate it entirely. Deferring implies a future revisit, while cancelling means the decision will not be made at all.