deferred the appointment

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deferred the appointment" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that a scheduled appointment has been postponed or delayed to a later time. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the committee has deferred the appointment of the new director until next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

The Football Association has deferred the appointment of a new permanent head coach until after two World Cup qualifiers later this month with Brent Hills to stay on in a temporary role.

BBC

If Blagojevich had any class, he would have deferred the appointment or agreed to name someone chosen by the lieutenant governor.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"Having explored at some length the options available to us, the decision has been taken to defer the appointment of a permanent head coach until the end of the season," read a club statement. .

BBC

In a statement on QPR's website, Fernandes said: "A lot has been written and said about the position, including by myself, but the decision has been taken to defer the permanent appointment until the end of the season.

BBC

But the long upswing deferred the reckoning.

The New York Times

So I deferred the musical climax".

The Guardian - Film

He had deferred his appointment to the supreme court in order to see it through.

The Guardian

So, should coaches defer the opening kickoff?

The New York Times - Sports

"No, it defers the day of reckoning".

The New York Times

Defer income and you defer the tax bill on it.

Forbes

Taxpayers can defer it indefinitely simply by deferring the sale of taxable assets.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "deferred the appointment", ensure the context clearly indicates who made the decision to postpone and the intended new timeframe or conditions for rescheduling. For instance, "The board deferred the appointment until after the quarterly earnings report."

Common error

Avoid using "deferred the appointment" without providing any rationale or context, as this can leave the audience confused or assuming negative implications. Always clarify the reason for the deferral to maintain transparency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deferred the appointment" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of postponing or delaying a scheduled meeting or designation. The Ludwig examples show its use in various contexts, reflecting a decision to postpone something until a later time.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "deferred the appointment" serves as a clear and concise way to communicate the postponement of a scheduled meeting or designation. Ludwig indicates that it is grammatically correct and can be used in various contexts, mainly in news and media and in science-related articles. The examples also show that it is usually followed by an explanation as to why the appointment was postponed. While not exceedingly common, the phrase is appropriate for formal and neutral communications. To enhance clarity, it's best to provide context around the reason for the deferral. Consider using alternatives like "postponed the appointment" or "rescheduled the appointment" for variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postponed the scheduling

Replaces "deferred" with "postponed" and "appointment" with "scheduling", implying a delay in setting up a specific time.

delayed the meeting

Substitutes "appointment" with "meeting", focusing on the act of delaying a planned assembly.

rescheduled the engagement

Uses "rescheduled" to emphasize setting a new time, and "engagement" as a more general term for a commitment.

put off the scheduled time

Employs a phrasal verb "put off" to convey postponement, highlighting the specific time slot.

held off on the designation

Replaces "deferred" with "held off on", indicating a temporary suspension of the naming or assignment.

adjourned the session

Uses "adjourned" to suggest a temporary suspension of a formal meeting or session related to the appointment.

tabled the nomination

Replaces the words with "tabled the nomination", indicating a delay in the consideration of a candidate.

extended the deadline for selection

Uses "extended the deadline" to focus on prolonging the period for making a choice.

suspended the process of assigning

Indicates a temporary halt to the act of delegating or allocating a role.

shelved the deliberation

Replaces with "shelved the deliberation", suggesting putting aside the discussion or consideration.

FAQs

What does "deferred the appointment" mean?

The phrase "deferred the appointment" means that a scheduled meeting, assignment, or designation has been postponed or delayed to a later time or date. It indicates that the original plan has been put on hold.

What are some alternatives to "deferred the appointment"?

You can use alternatives like "postponed the appointment", "rescheduled the appointment", or "delayed the appointment" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "deferred the appointment"?

It's appropriate to use "deferred the appointment" when you want to communicate that a decision or action regarding an appointment has been intentionally delayed, often due to specific circumstances or considerations. For example, "Due to budget constraints, the committee "deferred the appointment" of a new marketing director."

What's the difference between "deferred the appointment" and "cancelled the appointment"?

"Deferred the appointment" implies a temporary delay with the intention of rescheduling, while "cancelled the appointment" indicates that the meeting or designation has been terminated without a plan to reinstate it. Canceling suggests a more permanent end to the matter, while deferring suggests a temporary pause.