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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
he has deferred
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "he has deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that someone has postponed or delayed a decision, action, or event. Example: "He has deferred his decision on the project until next week to gather more information."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Sports
Politics
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
21 human-written examples
"He has deferred to the police commissioner," he said.
News & Media
"Every major decision he has deferred to me.
News & Media
He has deferred questions on the content of the meeting to Donald Trump Jr.
News & Media
He has deferred ruling on the issue of journalistic privilege until it comes up in trial.
News & Media
So he has deferred to Lewis on occasions, for the sake of harmony".
News & Media
He has deferred his decision to join Team 100 pending questions about the estate tax, as he feels the proposed bill is not aggressive enough".
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
39 human-written examples
He had deferred his appointment to the supreme court in order to see it through.
News & Media
Ms. Taylor also faulted the president's leadership on health care legislation, saying he had deferred too much to Congress.
News & Media
He said he had deferred to his sergeant and an assistant district attorney to determine the charges that went into the documents he is accused of falsifying.
News & Media
Bill described the ways in which he had deferred to Hillary's practicality; he might have indicated how he would yield to her vision.
News & Media
Bill described, repeatedly, the ways in which he had deferred to Hillary's practicality; he might have indicated how he would yield to her vision.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When using "he has deferred" to mean yielding to someone else's judgement, make sure the sentence clearly indicates to whom or what he is deferring.
Common error
Avoid using "he has deferred" when you mean "he has "referred"". Deferring means postponing or yielding, while referring means directing attention to something or someone else.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "he has deferred" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. It indicates that someone has postponed something, yielded to another's judgment, or delayed an action. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.
Frequent in
News & Media
60%
Sports
15%
Formal & Business
10%
Less common in
Wiki
7%
Science
5%
Academia
3%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "he has deferred" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that indicates either a postponement, yielding, or delegation. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is considered correct. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts but is also used in sports and more formal business settings. When using this phrase, it's important to ensure the context clarifies what action or decision has been deferred. Keep in mind, it shouldn't be confused with "referred". Considering its usage across many authoritative sources, it's a reliable phrase for expressing postponement or yielding in various situations.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
he has delayed
A general term for causing something to happen later than planned.
he has postponed
Indicates a temporary delay, similar to deferring but often implies a fixed future date.
he has held off
Implies a temporary delay in taking action.
he has put off
Similar to postponing, but can imply avoiding something unpleasant.
he has tabled
To defer discussion of something.
he has yielded
Suggests giving way to another's opinion or decision.
he has delegated
Implies entrusting a task or responsibility to someone else.
he has submitted
Suggests compliance or acceptance of another's authority.
he has acquiesced
Implies reluctant acceptance without protest.
he has ceded
Suggests formally giving up power or territory.
FAQs
What does it mean when someone says "he has deferred"?
It generally means that a person has postponed something to a later time, yielded to someone else's opinion or decision, or delegated a task. The exact meaning depends on the context.
What are some alternatives to saying "he has deferred"?
Is it grammatically correct to say "he has deferred"?
Yes, "he has deferred" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard present perfect tense construction.
How do I use "he has deferred" in a sentence?
You can use "he has deferred" to indicate the postponement of an event or decision, for example: "He has deferred his vacation until next year." Or, to indicate yielding to someone, for example: "He has deferred to the police commissioner on this matter."
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.1/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested