deferred answering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deferred answering" is not commonly used in written English, but it is grammatically correct.
You can use it in contexts where a response or answer is postponed or delayed. Example: "Due to the complexity of the issue, we will be engaging in deferred answering until we have all the necessary information."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

At one point, he even deferred answering a question on Army affairs, saying he wanted to make sure all the Enron questions had been asked.

The New York Times

For months, the US State Department has deferred answering any questions about Mobley, claiming that to do so would violate his privacy.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

While results from that earlier work demonstrated that participants did indeed slow down when at the edges of competence and generally defer answering on items that one is objectively less likely to answer correctly, the mechanism by which this process occurred was under specified.

Advances in Health Sciences Education

Labour has just published a defence green paper which deferred hard answers until after the election.

The Guardian - Opinion

Asked on a conference call about the future of the UK business, which has been the subject of speculation about a sale, Thorburn deferred his answer until the end of the month when the next scheduled announcement is due.

The Guardian - Business

In accordance with Mozambican guidelines, candidate donors were deferred when they answered "yes" to at least one question (except for the question number 7, formulated negatively, for which a "no" answer caused deferral).

BMC Infectious Diseases

Peggy Riley, an American writer living in England, has an engaging way of raising mysteries, then deferring their answers.

The New York Times - Books

We'll defer that answer to the actors, writers, singers and comedians who make light of politics in the show "Political Subversities," playing Saturdays at 9 30 p.m. through May at the People's Improv Theater.

The New York Times - Arts

"Protecting the privacy and security of our users is one of our top priorities," Molinari wrote, but then deferred on an answer to the next question about protecting privacy more broadly.

The Guardian - Tech

Mr. Reuss refused to answer, deferring to Mr. Westley, who plans to testify on April 6 when the committee holds a second day of hearings.

The New York Times

Sapna Malik, a partner at the law firm Leigh Day representing Belhaj and his wife, said on Sunday: "[This case is] the latest attempt by the UK government to deploy dubious legal arguments and political scaremongering to defer having to answer the simple allegations at the heart of this case, to stand up in court and admit what the UK's role was in this sordid affair and who authorised it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using more common alternatives like "delayed answering" or "postponed answering" if clarity and directness are paramount, as "deferred answering" is less frequently used.

Common error

Avoid using "deferred answering" when the intent is to completely evade a question. "Deferred" implies a temporary delay, not a permanent avoidance. Use alternatives like "avoided answering" if the intent is to not answer at all.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deferred answering" functions as a verb phrase indicating the postponement or delay of providing an answer. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct, although not frequently used. Examples show its use in formal contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "deferred answering" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe the act of postponing a response, but as Ludwig AI confirmed it's not the most commonly used. Its primary function is to indicate a delay in providing an answer, often in formal contexts such as news reports or scientific discussions. While grammatically sound, alternative phrases like "delayed answering" or "postponed reply" may be clearer and more frequently encountered. When using "deferred answering", ensure the context is clear to avoid any misunderstanding of intent, differentiating it from simply avoiding a question altogether. Its usage appears to be somewhat rare but valid across both news and scientific domains.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed answering

Replaces "deferred" with "postponed", suggesting a temporary delay in answering.

delayed answering

Replaces "deferred" with "delayed", indicating a slowing down or holding back of the answer.

put off answering

Uses the phrasal verb "put off" instead of "deferred", implying procrastination or avoidance.

held off answering

Replaces "deferred" with "held off", suggesting a deliberate withholding of the answer.

evaded answering

Indicates an attempt to avoid answering the question altogether, implying a lack of transparency.

sidestepped answering

Suggests skillfully avoiding the question without directly refusing to answer.

avoided answering

Indicates a conscious effort to not answer the question.

refrained from answering

Implies a conscious decision not to answer, often due to politeness or discretion.

hesitated to answer

Shows reluctance or uncertainty in answering the question.

declined to answer

Indicates a direct refusal to provide an answer.

FAQs

How can I use "deferred answering" in a sentence?

You can use "deferred answering" when someone is postponing giving an answer. For instance, "Due to the complexity of the issue, we engaged in deferred answering until all necessary information was available."

What can I say instead of "deferred answering"?

You can use alternatives like "delayed response", "postponed reply", or "held off answering" depending on the context.

Is "deferred answering" grammatically correct?

Yes, "deferred answering" is grammatically correct, although it's not the most common phrasing. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

What's the difference between "deferred answering" and "refused answering"?

"Deferred answering" means the answer is delayed, whereas "refused answering" indicates a complete unwillingness to answer the question at all. It implies a direct refusal.