had been deferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been postponed or delayed to a later time in the past. Example: "The decision regarding the project had been deferred until the next meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

The judgment had been deferred four times since July.

The New York Times

TfL said in late August that the launch date of 12 September had been "deferred".

Independent

An arbitrator awarded Dunleavy the $6.75 million, and $5.3 million that had been deferred.

The New York Times - Sports

Most nuclear plants operated well below design capacity, and many had been deferred or canceled.

Harvard Business Review

A large amount of maintenance work had been deferred, the agency found.

The New York Times

The meeting had been deferred once, in December, when a different group of demonstrators threatened that gathering.

The Washington Post

But seven years earlier, when the couple were first together, April had got pregnant, and that escape had been deferred.

The New Yorker

London Underground said plans to launch the weekend Night Tube service on 12 September had been "deferred".

Independent

Speaking anonymously because she feared retribution, she said that a decision on tenure for her had been deferred.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

The company said it had been deferring losses since before the 1990s.

The Guardian - Business

The apocalypse has been deferred indefinitely.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been deferred" to clearly indicate that a decision, event, or action was postponed at some point in the past. This tense is particularly useful when discussing the history or timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been deferred" when a simpler tense like "was deferred" is sufficient. The past perfect tense implies a sequence of events where the deferral happened before another point in time. Overusing it can make your writing sound overly complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been deferred" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action or event was postponed or delayed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI shows, this construction commonly appears in various contexts to describe delays of decisions, meetings, or actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

17%

Formal & Business

11%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Academia

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been deferred" is a grammatically sound and widely used phrase to describe a past postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and applicability across various contexts. It is most frequently found in news and media, science, and business writing. While alternatives like "had been postponed" or "had been delayed" exist, "had been deferred" specifically emphasizes that the deferral occurred before another point in time. When writing, ensure to use the correct tense and avoid overcomplicating sentences for clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been postponed

Replaces "deferred" with "postponed", emphasizing a temporary delay to a later time.

had been delayed

Substitutes "deferred" with "delayed", indicating that something has been slowed or held up.

had been put off

Uses the phrasal verb "put off" instead of "deferred", suggesting a postponement.

had been adjourned

Replaces "deferred" with "adjourned", often used in formal contexts like meetings or legal proceedings.

had been suspended

Indicates a temporary cessation or interruption, rather than a simple delay.

had been rescheduled

Specifies that something has not only been delayed but also given a new schedule.

had been held over

Uses "held over" to mean delayed, typically until a later date or event.

had been shelved

Suggests that something has been put aside, possibly indefinitely.

had been tabled

Implies that a discussion or decision has been postponed, especially in a formal setting.

had been carried over

Suggests that something is delayed to a subsequent period.

FAQs

What does "had been deferred" mean?

The phrase "had been deferred" means something was postponed or delayed to a later time. The use of the past perfect tense "had been" indicates that the deferral happened before another event in the past.

When should I use "had been deferred" instead of "was deferred"?

Use "had been deferred" when you need to emphasize that the deferral occurred before another event in the past. For example, "The meeting "had been deferred" before the new CEO was appointed." Use "was deferred" when you are simply stating that something was delayed.

What are some alternatives to "had been deferred"?

Alternatives include "had been postponed", "had been delayed", or "had been put off". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "has been deferred" instead of "had been deferred"?

The choice between "has been deferred" and "had been deferred" depends on the timeline you're describing. "Has been deferred" indicates something has been delayed up to the present, while "had been deferred" refers to a delay that occurred before a specific point in the past.