might be deferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "might be deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the possibility of postponing or delaying something. Example: "The decision on the project might be deferred until next month for further review."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

City officials want the state to comply with that order, but state officials say any attempt to do so might be deferred to 2005.

The New York Times

Mr. Obama reaffirmed on Thursday that his proposal to roll back the Bush tax cuts might be deferred because of the recession.

The New York Times

An applicant scoring a 4 or 5 was probably going to be disappointed; a 3 might be deferred to a January entry; students with a 1, 2 or 2.5 went to the top of the pile, but that didn't mean they were in.

The New York Times

"The government must clearly guard against the risk that business investment might be deferred.

BBC

However, its encouraging negative predictive value and, as recently demonstrated, its added prognostic value [40] indicates a role to individualize clinical workflow: CCTA identifies a stenosis but if CCO decrease is normal, patients might be deferred from further MPI [41].

EJNMMI Research

Such negative prediction would be of potential clinical relevance because in these patients the initiation of acute renal replacement therapy might be deferred and the effect of conservative therapy observed.

Critical Care

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

The judgment is expected to be deferred.

Independent

The issue should be deferred again.

The New York Times

Much business travel will be deferred, too.

The Economist

Those investments are going to be deferred".

The New York Times

I understood this to be deferred salary.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "might be deferred" when you want to express a possibility, not a certainty, that something will be delayed or postponed. This phrasing is suitable for situations where the timing is uncertain or dependent on future events.

Common error

Avoid using "might be deferred" when you intend to communicate a definite postponement. This phrase implies uncertainty; if a decision to defer has already been made, use stronger language like "will be deferred" or "has been deferred".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "might be deferred" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing a possibility or a degree of uncertainty regarding the postponement of an action or event. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates that something could be delayed but is not yet a certainty.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "might be deferred" is a grammatically correct and usable expression to communicate the possibility of a delay or postponement. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and while it is not an exceedingly common phrase, it appears in a variety of contexts, most notably in news, scientific publications, and wiki articles. When using "might be deferred", ensure that the uncertainty is accurately conveyed, and avoid using it when a definite postponement is intended. Related phrases such as "could be postponed" or "may be delayed" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could be postponed

Indicates a potential delay, similar to "might be deferred", but uses a different modal verb and synonym for 'deferred'.

may be delayed

Suggests a possible delay, swapping 'might' for 'may' and 'deferred' for 'delayed'.

could be adjourned

Implies a temporary suspension of proceedings, replacing 'deferred' with 'adjourned'.

may be put off

Expresses a possibility of postponing something, substituting 'deferred' with the phrasal verb 'put off'.

could be held over

Suggests that something might be kept for a later time, using 'held over' instead of 'deferred'.

may be suspended

Indicates a temporary halting, where 'deferred' is replaced by 'suspended'.

might be shelved

Implies that something could be put aside indefinitely, replacing 'deferred' with 'shelved'.

could be prorogued

Indicates a formal discontinuation of a session, typically a parliament, exchanging 'deferred' for 'prorogued'.

might be tabled

Suggests that a discussion or decision could be postponed by formally 'tabling' it.

may be stayed

Implies a temporary suspension of a judicial proceeding, with 'stayed' replacing 'deferred'.

FAQs

How can I use "might be deferred" in a sentence?

Use "might be deferred" to indicate a possibility that something will be postponed or delayed. For example, "The decision on the new policy "might be deferred" until the next board meeting".

What phrases are similar to "might be deferred"?

Alternatives include "could be postponed", "may be delayed", or "could be adjourned". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "might be deferred" or "will be deferred"?

"Might be deferred" expresses uncertainty about a future delay, while "will be deferred" indicates a definite decision to postpone. Choose the phrasing that accurately reflects the certainty of the situation.

What's the difference between "might be deferred" and "has been deferred"?

"Might be deferred" suggests a possibility of postponement, whereas "has been deferred" indicates that the action has already been delayed. The former is prospective, the latter is retrospective.