must be deferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "must be deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something should be postponed or delayed to a later time. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, the meeting must be deferred until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

Such payments must be deferred for five years.

The Guardian - Business

If bonuses exceed salaries, then a quarter of that additional payout must be deferred for at least five years.

The New York Times

The cavopulmonary shunt is an excellent palliative procedure when right atrium-pulmonary artery connection (modified Fontan) must be deferred because of age, weight, or anatomic considerations.

Stanford University

The new rules specify that 40 to 60 percent of a bonus must be deferred and that no more than half of the portion paid immediately can be in cash.

The New York Times

The rules allow bankers to receive about half of their bonuses in immediate payouts, while at least 40 percent of the total must be deferred for three to five years.

The New York Times

Sheldon Silver, the Assembly speaker, and John Sampson, the Democratic conference leader in the State Senate, have said that judicial salary increases must be deferred indefinitely in light of the state's fiscal crisis.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

Our responsibility to meet it must not be deferred.

The New York Times

Some part of a sale of software must often be deferred over the life of the service contract involved.

The New York Times

The danger posed by climate change cannot be denied, and our responsibility to meet it must not be deferred.

The Guardian

For example, in his recent speech to the United Nations President Obama said: "The danger posed by climate change cannot be denied, and our responsibility to meet it must not be deferred.

Forbes

As suggested by the physicist Brian Greene, the teaching of science is frequently regarded as a paradigmatic case for education as preparation for life rather than life itself, as a situation in which it is patently obvious that freedom must of necessity be deferred until "integration...into the logic of the present system" has been first achieved.

Evolution: Education and Outreach

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "must be deferred", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what is responsible for making the decision to postpone and the anticipated timeframe for the delay.

Common error

Avoid using "must be deferred" without providing a clear reason or justification for the postponement. Omitting the reason can lead to confusion and frustration.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "must be deferred" functions as a passive construction, indicating that an action or decision is to be postponed. The auxiliary verb "must" expresses obligation or necessity, while "be deferred" specifies the act of postponement. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

12%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "must be deferred" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey that something requires postponement. As shown in the diverse examples provided by Ludwig, its usage spans various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Scientific, and Formal & Business settings. It is generally considered to be neutral to formal, and it's important to provide a clear reason for the deferral to avoid confusion. Several alternatives exist, such as "should be postponed" or "needs to be delayed", which offer similar meanings but with subtle variations in tone and emphasis. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is appropriate for use in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

should be postponed

Replaces "must" with "should", indicating a recommendation rather than a strict requirement for deferral.

needs to be delayed

Uses "needs" instead of "must", highlighting the necessity of delaying something.

has to be put off

Employs the phrasal verb "put off", which is a more informal way of saying "deferred".

is required to be delayed

Adds emphasis on the requirement to delay, making it slightly more formal.

is subject to postponement

Shifts the focus to the possibility of postponement, rather than the necessity.

will be rescheduled

Indicates a plan to set a new schedule for something that was originally planned.

cannot proceed at this time

Specifies that something cannot continue as planned for now.

will be held back

More literal and less formal than "deferred", implying a deliberate holding.

is pending

Indicates that a decision or action is awaiting resolution or completion.

is not happening now

States directly that something will not occur in the present moment.

FAQs

How do I use "must be deferred" in a sentence?

Use "must be deferred" to indicate that an action, decision, or event needs to be postponed until a later time. For example, "The decision on the budget must be deferred until the next fiscal year."

What are some alternatives to saying "must be deferred"?

You can use phrases like "should be postponed", "needs to be delayed", or "has to be put off" depending on the level of formality and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it better to say "must be deferred" or "should be deferred"?

"Must be deferred" implies a stronger obligation or necessity to postpone, while "should be deferred" suggests a recommendation or advisability. The choice depends on the context and the level of compulsion you want to express.

What is the difference between "must be deferred" and "will be rescheduled"?

"Must be deferred" simply indicates a postponement, while "will be rescheduled" implies that a new date or time will be set for the deferred event or action. "Must be deferred" doesn't necessarily guarantee a new date will be set.