defer to a future date

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "defer to a future date" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to postpone a decision, event, or action to a later time. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, we have decided to defer the meeting to a future date."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They were bursting with things to say, but they overwhelmed the room and the meeting had to be deferred to a future date and bigger space.

The New York Times

Convertibles, commonly used in Silicon Valley and increasingly in Europe, offer the advantage of simplicity and speed, since the company's valuation is deferred to a future date, typically when a larger VC round takes place and determined by the VCs leading the subsequent round.

TechCrunch

But reparations were deferred to a future peace treaty.

The Economist

Our corresponding results in this regard have to be deferred to a future publication.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

(Many alternative scoring methods are possible, and a comparison of the various approaches is deferred to a future study).

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Again, previous discussions with the editor regarding measuring the DSB level in the vilya; okra double mutant led to the agreement that such experiments could be deferred to a future paper.

eLife

When you get an email that you want to defer to a later date, you send it to an email address specifying that date or time.

TechCrunch

You can defer to a new service date on any day of the week but Friday.

WikiHow

Deferring bonus payments to employees to a future date when, as we all fervently hope, the US and world economies begin a full recovery, is not the worst of ideas.

Huffington Post

Agreement on such nettlesome issues as the status of Jerusalem and the refugee problem should be deferred to a later date.

The New York Times

Councillors also felt they needed more information on the plans before they could make a decision and the application was deferred to a later date.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "defer to a future date", ensure the context clearly indicates who is making the decision to postpone and what the expected timeframe for reconsideration might be. This avoids ambiguity and sets clear expectations.

Common error

Avoid using "defer to a future date" without providing any indication of when the action might be revisited. Vague postponements can lead to uncertainty and frustration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "defer to a future date" functions as a verb phrase indicating postponement or delayed action. It suggests that a decision, meeting, or other event is being put off until a later, unspecified time. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "defer to a future date" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate the postponement of an event, decision, or action until a later time. While examples are currently limited, suggesting less frequent usage, Ludwig AI confirms its validity. When using this phrase, it's crucial to provide context regarding who is deferring and potential timeframes to avoid vagueness. Alternatives include ""postpone until later"" or ""reschedule for a later time"", each with slightly different nuances. Remember, clarity is key when communicating delays.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defer to a subsequent time

Substitutes "future date" with "subsequent time", maintaining a similar level of formality.

postpone until later

Replaces "defer" with "postpone" and uses "later" instead of "a future date".

reschedule for a later time

Substitutes "defer" with "reschedule" and "date" with "time", implying a new schedule will be made.

delay until a future occasion

Uses "delay" in place of "defer" and "occasion" instead of "date", slightly more formal.

put off until another time

Replaces "defer" with the phrasal verb "put off", making it less formal.

hold over to a later date

Emphasizes holding something back until a future time; "hold over" replaces "defer".

table for future consideration

More formal, often used in meetings; implies the item is set aside for later discussion.

shelve for the time being

Suggests putting something aside, potentially indefinitely; less specific about a future date.

adjourn to a later session

Primarily used in formal settings such as legal or parliamentary contexts; implies a temporary suspension.

suspend until further notice

Indicates a temporary halt with no specific date for resumption; carries uncertainty.

FAQs

What does "defer to a future date" mean?

The phrase "defer to a future date" means to postpone or delay something until a later time. It implies that a decision or action is not being taken immediately but will be addressed at some point in the future.

How can I use "defer to a future date" in a sentence?

You can use "defer to a future date" when you want to indicate that something is being postponed. For example: "The committee decided to "defer to a future date" the discussion on budget allocations."

What are some alternatives to "defer to a future date"?

Some alternatives to "defer to a future date" include "postpone until later", "reschedule for a later time", or "delay until a future occasion". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it better to say "defer to a future date" or specify a date?

Specifying a date is generally clearer and more precise. However, "defer to a future date" is appropriate when the exact timing is uncertain or when a decision on the timing is yet to be made.