has been deferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has been deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used when action of some kind has been postponed to a later date. For example: "The deadline for submitting the assignment has been deferred to next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The apocalypse has been deferred indefinitely.

The New York Times

The employment has been deferred, but not terminated.

University of California, Berkeley

A decision on the issue has been deferred to June.

The Guardian

A decision on renewing Trident has been deferred.

The Guardian - Opinion

Kumar's fine, the judge said, has been deferred until restitution is determined next year.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

In addition, deferred maintenance has been deferred and deferred and deferred.

University of California, Berkeley

What happens if an injury occurs in college when a lot of money has been deferred?

The New York Times

And capital spending has been deferred, as Mr. Evans puts it.

The New York Times

Mr. Kumar's fine, the judge said, has been deferred until restitution is determined next year.

The New York Times - Tech

The actual work of constructing a hiring hall has been deferred indefinitely, a spokeswoman said.

The New York Times

The decision on Preston New Road has been deferred to Monday.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about postponements, consider your audience and the context. While "has been deferred" works well in formal settings, synonyms like "postponed" or "delayed" might be more appropriate for informal communication.

Common error

Avoid confusing "defer", which means to postpone, with "differ", which means to be unlike or disagree. Using "has been differed" instead of "has been deferred" creates a nonsensical statement and undermines the clarity of your writing. Always double-check your word choice to ensure accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has been deferred" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action or decision has been postponed. Ludwig AI shows examples where it's used in contexts ranging from legal proceedings to project timelines, highlighting its versatility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

24%

Formal & Business

19%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has been deferred" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to indicate the postponement of an action or decision. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its prevalence across various contexts, particularly in news and media, academia, and formal business settings. While the phrase is generally neutral, it is often used in formal and professional communications. When using "has been deferred", be mindful of potential confusion with "differ" and consider the formality of your communication. Overall, the phrase is a reliable and effective way to convey postponement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been postponed

Replaces "deferred" with "postponed", a direct synonym, offering a slightly less formal tone.

has been delayed

Uses "delayed" instead of "deferred", implying a slowing down or temporary obstruction.

has been put off

Replaces "deferred" with the phrasal verb "put off", suggesting a more casual postponement.

has been rescheduled

Indicates that the event or action has been moved to a later, specific time.

has been adjourned

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

has been suspended

Suggests a temporary cessation, often with an implication of possible resumption later.

has been held over

Implies the matter is being retained for consideration at a later time, often used in business or organizational contexts.

has been shelved

Suggests that the matter has been put aside, possibly indefinitely, often for projects or plans.

has been put on hold

Indicates a pause in progress, often due to unforeseen circumstances or pending decisions.

has been carried over

Suggests that something is moved to a later date, especially in accounting or project management contexts.

FAQs

How do I use "has been deferred" in a sentence?

Use "has been deferred" to indicate that something has been postponed to a later time. For example, "The meeting "has been deferred" until next week."

What can I say instead of "has been deferred"?

You can use alternatives like "has been postponed", "has been delayed", or "has been put off" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has been deferred" or "was deferred"?

"Has been deferred" is present perfect tense, implying the deferral has relevance to the present. "Was deferred" is past tense, simply stating it happened in the past. The correct choice depends on your intended meaning. E.g., "The decision "has been deferred" pending further review" vs. "The decision "was deferred" last year".

What is the difference between "has been deferred" and "has been suspended"?

"Has been deferred" suggests a planned delay to a specific later time, while "has been suspended" implies a temporary stoppage, often without a definite resumption date. Suspension often implies uncertainty.