postpone until after

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "postpone until after" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to delay something until a specific time or event in the future. For example: We need to postpone our meeting until after the holidays.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Can we postpone until after his cough clears?

The Washington Post

Our leaders must not look for ways to postpone until after next year's election the controversy attending grid repair.

The New York Times

"I've talked with Galliani many times about football and also about Kaka, but this is a theme that we have to postpone until after Sunday".

The Guardian - Sport

Criminal barristers, however, reached agreement with the MoJ last week after the government agreed to postpone, until after the election next summer, some cuts for advocacy in crown courts.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Those can be postponed until after April 1.

The New York Times

The task of mending the public finances could be postponed until after the election.

The Economist

Production of Romantic dramas was also postponed until after Ferdinand VII's death.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The fear is that big problems have been postponed until after the elections.

The Economist

Butt unsuccessfully sought to have the Doha tribunal postponed until after the British investigators had reported.

The New York Times - Sports

They have been postponed until after the Paralympics finish on March 18.

The Washington Post

But decisions on levels 3 and 4 have been postponed until after the appeal.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "postpone until after" to clearly indicate that an action or decision is being deliberately delayed until a specific event has concluded. This helps avoid ambiguity about timing.

Common error

Avoid using "postpone until after" when the intention is to cancel something altogether. "Postpone" implies a delay with the expectation of resuming later, while cancellation means it won't happen at all. For example, if an event is unlikely to be rescheduled, it's better to say it has been canceled rather than postponed indefinitely.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "postpone until after" functions as a prepositional phrase indicating a delay. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it serves to specify the point in time to which an action or event is being delayed. Ludwig provides examples showing the phrase's role in setting a new timeframe.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

12.5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

12.5%

Academia

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "postpone until after" is a grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that something is being delayed until a specific event has occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. Though relatively rare in occurrence, as suggested by Ludwig's examples, it is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using the phrase, ensure that the intention is indeed to delay and not cancel, and be clear about what event is triggering the end of the postponement. Related phrases include "delay until after" and "defer until after", offering subtle variations in formality and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

delay until after

A more general term for putting something off, but similar in meaning.

put off until after

Informal and straightforward way to express delaying.

defer until after

More formal term suggesting a respectful or strategic delay.

hold off until after

Suggests waiting before taking action, implying some anticipation.

suspend until after

Highlights a temporary pause with the intention of resuming later.

reschedule for after

Focuses on moving an event to a later time following something else.

adjourn until after

Suggests a temporary suspension, common in formal meetings or legal contexts.

shelve until after

Implies setting aside something, perhaps indefinitely until a later event.

table until after

Similar to 'shelve', often used in formal discussions to postpone a topic.

carry over until after

Implies something is moved from one period to the next, following a specific event.

FAQs

How to use "postpone until after" in a sentence?

You can use "postpone until after" to indicate that something will be delayed until a specific event has passed. For example: "We will postpone the meeting until after the conference."

What can I say instead of "postpone until after"?

Alternatives include "delay until after", "defer until after", or "put off until after", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "postpone until after" or "postpone after"?

"Postpone until after" is the correct and more complete phrasing. "Postpone after" is grammatically incorrect as it lacks the necessary preposition "until" to fully express the intended meaning.

Is "postpone until after" formal or informal?

"Postpone until after" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a neutral phrase that clearly communicates a delay to a specific time.