it has been deferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it has been deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when indicating that something, such as a decision or event, has been postponed or delayed to a later time. Example: "The meeting scheduled for this week has been deferred to next month due to scheduling conflicts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It has been deferred upwards to the European Union and the World Trade Organisation; shunted down to the devolved government of Scotland, the London mayoralty and the judges; displaced into the internet, and the currency and commodity markets; dispersed around the world as climate change, migration and terrorism have risen in salience.

The Economist

While the concepts are similar, they are not used in the same way in our software, so investigating the direct import/export capabilities is beyond the scope of this work and it has been deferred for a follow-up version of JC-RM.

BMC Systems Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Billson was due to take a presentation on his plan to last week's cabinet meeting but Abbott announced it had been deferred, and the small business lobby believes it has now been "pushed out into the never never" due to lobbying by senior ministers and the Business Council of Australia.

The Guardian

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

The Guardian - Business

That was AOL 's problem in 1996 when it was forced to take a $385 million one-time charge for marketing expenses that it had been deferring and amortizing.

Forbes

Even the European Commission in Brussels says it is disappointed that reform has been deferred yet again, after pressure from the southern oil-producing countries, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal.The olive programme is an example of the kind of EU agricultural policy that is rapidly going out of fashion.

The Economist

But a senior rail industry source said: "It looks as if this review has been deferred because HS2 Ltd is not ready.

Independent

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

The New York Times

It soon becomes clear that this is an arduous project, one that has been deferred for at least six months.

The New Yorker

The apocalypse has been deferred indefinitely.

The New York Times

A decision on the issue has been deferred to June.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it has been deferred", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. Ambiguity can confuse the reader. For instance, specify 'the decision' or 'the meeting' before using the phrase.

Common error

Avoid using "it has been deferring". The verb 'defer' doesn't usually take a continuous tense in this context. Use "it has been deferred" to indicate a completed action of postponement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it has been deferred" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (deferral) has been performed on a subject ('it'). Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in a variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Reference

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "it has been deferred" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase that indicates something has been postponed. As validated by Ludwig, the phrase is appropriate for a variety of formal contexts, particularly in news, science, and business. While similar phrases like "it was postponed" or "it was delayed" can serve as alternatives, "it has been deferred" offers a slightly more formal tone. When using this phrase, clarity regarding what "it" refers to is important to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was postponed

Replaces "deferred" with a direct synonym, maintaining a similar level of formality.

it was delayed

A general term for something being made to happen later than planned.

the matter was deferred

Shifts the focus to the subject being deferred rather than the action itself.

it was put off

Uses a more informal phrasal verb instead of "deferred".

its resolution was deferred

Focuses on postponing the solving of a problem or reaching a conclusion.

it was adjourned

Implies a temporary suspension, often in a formal setting.

it was shelved

Suggests the idea was put aside, possibly indefinitely.

its implementation was delayed

More specific, focusing on the delay of an action's execution.

it was held back

Indicates something was prevented from progressing or happening at the expected time.

its consideration was held over

Emphasizes that a decision or review process has been postponed.

FAQs

What does "it has been deferred" mean?

The phrase "it has been deferred" means something has been postponed or delayed until a later time. It indicates that a decision, event, or action will not happen as originally scheduled.

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

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

Is "it has been deferred" formal or informal?

"It has been deferred" is generally considered a neutral to slightly formal phrase suitable for business, news, and academic contexts. The level of formality depends on the specific context in which it's used.

When should I use "it has been deferred" instead of "it has been postponed"?

Both phrases are largely interchangeable. "Postponed" might be slightly more common in everyday language, while "deferred" can sound a bit more formal. Choose based on the tone and audience of your writing.