repeatedly put off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "repeatedly put off" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone delays or postpones something multiple times. Example: "She repeatedly put off her dentist appointment, hoping the pain would go away on its own."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

Obama has repeatedly put off a decision on the pipeline.

The Guardian

Indonesia's authorities, fearing an Islamist backlash and further bombings, repeatedly put off the executions.

The Economist

As Mr Honegger tells it, GVC repeatedly put off signing a contract on the venture.

Independent

Obama has repeatedly put off making a decision about the pipeline.

The Guardian - Books

To that point, Al-Barghouti had repeatedly put off finishing the book.

The New Yorker

Almost daily, Ms. Osbourne promised to sign a deal for next season but repeatedly put off doing so.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Yet Markovic repeatedly puts off the murder.

The New York Times - Books

Suppose you're repeatedly putting off the preparation you need to do for an upcoming meeting.

Harvard Business Review

We've all dealt with it: the mountain of paper that comes from repeatedly putting off sorting through junk mail and paperwork.

WikiHow

He responded to the dilemma with irony overload, his discomfort and disengagement evident as he repeatedly put on and took off his sunglasses (always essential in a tent at 7pm), forgot the question he was asking while halfway through it, and steadfastly refused to stray from the subject of Cooper's latest tome.

The Guardian

The law being repealed created a backlash from the food industry, which said it was unnecessary and caused disruptions to the smooth flow of operations when handlers were forced to repeatedly put on and take off gloves to conduct various activities.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "repeatedly put off" to convey a sense of ongoing procrastination or intentional delay. If the delay is due to external factors beyond someone's control, consider using phrases like "delayed multiple times" or "postponed several times" instead.

Common error

Avoid using "repeatedly put off" to describe a single instance of delay. This phrase is reserved for situations where something has been postponed or delayed on more than one occasion. A single delay is best described using phrases like "put off", "delayed", or "postponed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "repeatedly put off" functions as a compound verb phrase used to indicate the action of delaying something on multiple occasions. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in written English. Examples show it used in news and media to describe postponed decisions and events.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "repeatedly put off" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for describing situations where something is delayed multiple times. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, to highlight continuous postponement. While not extremely common, it is well-understood and effective in conveying a sense of ongoing delay. When using this phrase, ensure clarity about what is being delayed and the reason for the delays. Alternatives like "continually postpone" or "frequently defer" can be used depending on the desired tone and emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continually postpone

Replaces 'put off' with 'postpone' and 'repeatedly' with 'continually', emphasizing the act of delaying.

consistently delay

Uses 'delay' instead of 'put off' and 'consistently' in place of 'repeatedly' to highlight the regular occurrence of postponement.

frequently defer

Substitutes 'put off' with 'defer' and 'repeatedly' with 'frequently', suggesting a more formal tone and the act of yielding to a later time.

persistently procrastinate on

Emphasizes the act of procrastination rather than simple delay, adding a layer of intentional avoidance.

incessantly hold off

Replaces 'put off' with 'hold off' and 'repeatedly' with 'incessantly', stressing the continuous nature of the delay.

routinely shelve

Implies a more definitive but temporary postponement, as if placing something on a shelf for later consideration.

regularly set aside

Suggests setting something aside from immediate attention on a recurring basis.

habitually suspend

Conveys a sense of pausing or interrupting something as a matter of habit.

chronically delay action on

Highlights a habitual and problematic delay in taking action.

unremittingly postpone

Emphasizes the ongoing and unrelenting nature of the postponement.

FAQs

How can I use "repeatedly put off" in a sentence?

You can use "repeatedly put off" to describe the act of delaying something multiple times. For example: "The committee "repeatedly put off" making a decision on the new policy."

What are some alternatives to "repeatedly put off"?

Alternatives to "repeatedly put off" include "continually postpone", "consistently delay", or "frequently defer", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "repeatedly put off" or should I use another phrase?

"Repeatedly put off" is grammatically correct and commonly used to describe multiple instances of delaying something. However, other options like "repeatedly delayed" or "repeatedly postponed" may also be suitable.

What is the difference between "repeatedly put off" and "put off repeatedly"?

The phrase "repeatedly put off" emphasizes the action of delaying being done multiple times, while "put off repeatedly" places more emphasis on the fact that the delay itself has occurred multiple times. The difference is subtle and the two are often interchangeable.