it was put off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was put off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been postponed or delayed. Example: "The meeting was scheduled for last week, but it was put off until next month."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

It was put off, Szwed reports, due to the start of the Second World War.

The New Yorker

Then it was put off for Mr. Bush's re-election campaign.

The New York Times

But it was put off after Mr Kostunica denounced it as a trap and said that Serbia would never sign.

The Economist

Originally scheduled for January, it was put off until February for logistical reasons, administration officials said at the time.

The New York Times

It was put off, say diplomats, so that they could work out some eye-catching deals to announce as a sign of their friendship.

The Economist

It was postponed last week, for the first time in memory, because of the earlier storm, and it was put off again yesterday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

The Norwegian company Statoil had already announced that it was putting off its plans to drill in the Alaskan Arctic waters from 2014 to 2015.

The New York Times

Taiwanese firm Asus announced in July that it was putting off plans to launch more RT devices because of this issue.

BBC

And if any instance of pain or pleasure, or glory or disgrace, is set before you, remember that now is the combat, now the Olympiad comes on, nor can it be put off.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Additionally, while a passively balanced, stable-equilibrium system may tip over the instant it is put off balance, an actively balancing, unstable-equilibrium system like the Segway can take actions to recover if its balance is temporarily disturbed.

Cornell University

It's put off limits the dogfight issues, like restrictions on abortion.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was put off", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. Avoid ambiguity by specifying the subject or event being postponed.

Common error

Avoid using "it was put off" without explaining the reason for the postponement. Providing context helps the reader understand the situation and prevents confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was put off" functions as a passive construction indicating that something was delayed or postponed. It is a common way to express that a scheduled event or action has been rescheduled for a later time, as Ludwig shows.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"It was put off" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something has been postponed or delayed. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. While it is generally suitable for both formal and informal communication, choosing more formal alternatives like "it was postponed" may be appropriate in professional settings. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what 'it' refers to and, if possible, providing the reason for the postponement.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was delayed

Replaces "put off" with a more direct synonym, emphasizing the action of delaying.

it was postponed

Uses a more formal synonym for "put off", suggesting a temporary suspension.

it was rescheduled

Implies that a new time or date has been set for the event or task.

it was deferred

Similar to postponed but often implies a longer or indefinite delay.

it was held back

Suggests a withholding or restraint, implying something was prevented from happening.

it was set aside

Indicates that something was intentionally reserved or kept separate, often temporarily.

it was shelved

Implies that something has been put on hold indefinitely, possibly abandoned.

it was suspended

Suggests a temporary interruption or cessation of something.

it was adjourned

A formal term for temporarily suspending a meeting or session.

it was pigeonholed

Suggests something has been put aside and forgotten, often unfairly or prematurely.

FAQs

What does "it was put off" mean?

The phrase "it was put off" means that something was scheduled to happen but was delayed or postponed to a later time.

How can I use "it was put off" in a sentence?

You can use "it was put off" to indicate that an event, meeting, or task has been postponed. For example, "The meeting was scheduled for last week, but "it was put off" until next month."

What can I say instead of "it was put off"?

You can use alternatives such as "it was delayed", "it was postponed", or "it was rescheduled" depending on the context.

Is "it was put off" formal or informal?

"It was put off" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, though alternatives like "it was postponed" might be preferred in more formal writing.