he deferred until

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he deferred until" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone postponed or delayed an action or decision until a specific time or event. Example: "He deferred until the meeting next week to make a final decision on the proposal."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Accardo allegedly took over as mob chief when Ricca retired in 1968, although he deferred to Ricca until he died in 1972.

Los Angeles Times

He deferred from weighing in until the university review of the study is done, saying: I am weary of dealing with perceptions and won't have anything further to add regarding your views until the outside review of the report commissioned by the university is completed.

The New York Times

But until then, he deferred to church leaders, he said.

The New York Times

He reflected that he might have to make embarrassing explanations if he threw the bundle overboard while he was with them, and he deferred the act until the boat landed, thinking he could easily cast it away in an ash barrel on the way to the office.

The New York Times

He pitched his camp before the town, and as the hour of the day forbade further action he deferred the assault until the morrow.

University of Chicago

Having been taken too deep into the woods by Elsie, he saw sex as something to be deferred until he had made space for it — made money enough not to feel squeezed.

The New Yorker

As Jim Morris, a baseball fanatic and sensitive jock whose lifelong ambition to pitch in the major leagues is deferred until he is deep into his 30's, Mr. Quaid lets his face register the pained doubts of a careworn man chewing over major life decisions.

The New York Times

Now that the plan is fully funded he's officially closing it down and rolling the $1.6 million plan balance into an IRA, where it will continue to grow tax deferred until he has to take required minimum distributions at age 70 1⁄2.

Forbes

Some projects would be deferred until steel earnings improve, he said.

The New York Times

The tax increases he favors to pay for rebuilding should be deferred until the economy strengthens.

The New York Times

"Our confidence needs to be deferred until questions raised by the review are resolved," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he deferred until" when you want to specifically indicate that a decision or action was intentionally postponed to a later, defined point in time. Ensure the context clearly explains why the deferral was necessary or beneficial.

Common error

Avoid using "he deferred until" without a clear explanation of why the action was delayed. If the reason for deferral is unclear, the sentence may sound incomplete or confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he deferred until" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of postponing something to a later time. It specifies the agent ('he') and the point in time ('until') when the deferred action will occur. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he deferred until" is a grammatically correct way to express the act of postponing something to a specific point in time. According to Ludwig, the phrase is usable in written English. While it is relatively neutral in tone, it can be useful in more formal contexts to convey a planned and deliberate delay. Due to a lack of examples, the frequency of usage is still missing, but considering the neutral tone, it is safe to affirm is acceptable in different contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he postponed until

Replaces 'deferred' with 'postponed', maintaining the meaning of delaying an action to a specific time.

he delayed until

Substitutes 'deferred' with 'delayed', emphasizing the act of causing something to occur later than expected.

he put off until

Uses the phrasal verb 'put off' instead of 'deferred', suggesting a more casual postponement.

he held off until

Replaces 'deferred' with 'held off', indicating a deliberate waiting period before taking action.

he waited until

Emphasizes the act of waiting before acting, rather than the decision to delay.

he suspended until

Indicates a temporary cessation of something until a specified time.

he shelved until

Suggests that the matter was put aside, possibly indefinitely, until a later time.

he adjourned until

Implies a formal postponement, often used in meetings or legal contexts.

he reserved until

Indicates that something was kept back for future use or consideration.

he ceded until

He admitted defeat until another time.

FAQs

How can I use "he deferred until" in a sentence?

Use "he deferred until" when you want to express that someone intentionally postponed an action or decision to a specific future time. For example, "He deferred the decision until the next board meeting".

What are some alternatives to "he deferred until"?

Alternatives include "he postponed until", "he delayed until", or "he put off until". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What does it mean when someone "defers" something?

To "defer" something means to postpone or delay it. It implies a conscious decision to put something off until a later time. In the phrase "he deferred until", it means he intentionally delayed something until a specified point in time.

Is "he deferred until" formal or informal?

The phrase "he deferred until" is relatively neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, it is more common in formal writing or speech. Simpler alternatives like "he waited until" might be preferred in very informal situations.