set aside for now

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "set aside for now" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when indicating that something will be temporarily put on hold or not addressed at the moment. Example: "We can set aside for now the discussion about budget cuts and focus on the upcoming project deadlines."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

19 human-written examples

The book is set aside for now.

The Guardian

Set aside, for now, the controversies that surrounded the building of the arena.

The New York Times - Food

It wants a Hindu temple to Ram in Ayodhya, a goal the party has set aside for now.

The New York Times

Were your middle and high school students drawn into productive discussion, or pushed to consider things they would have preferred to set aside for now?

The New York Times

Set aside, for now, the graphic novelists you probably most like, if you like only a few: Art Spiegelman, Marjane Satrapi, Daniel Clowes.

The New Yorker

Set aside for now the particulars of the United States Senate candidates' positions on the earned-income tax credit or the normalization of trade relations with Cuba.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

40 human-written examples

Setting aside, for now, the obvious example of Iraq, where the United States did just that, Kerry's language raises big questions — and it's not obvious that the Obama Administration has any answers.

The New Yorker

Not surprisingly, the first group includes most members of the financial establishment, corporate financial officers, asset managers, actuaries and others who are responsible for figuring out how much today's older workers will cost when they retire, how much money to set aside for them now and how to invest the money so that it grows enough to pay their benefits.

The New York Times

The area set aside for camping now covers 50 acre and there is room for between 300 and 400 campers on the site.

Wikipedia

The government's Finance Minister has just estimated that to meet the "phenomenon of repatriation" twice the sum originally set aside for it will now have to be raised, which may even unbalance the 1962 national budget.

The New Yorker

Several single-occupancy bathrooms that were formerly set aside for faculty are now open to the general student body – a change that was already under way in order to satisfy a law recently passed by the city of New York.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "set aside for now" to temporarily exclude a topic from the current discussion, signaling it will be addressed later. It helps maintain focus and manage priorities in meetings or writing.

Common error

Avoid using "set aside for now" if you don't intend to revisit the topic later. It implies a temporary pause, so ensure you communicate the intention to return to it.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "set aside for now" functions as a phrasal verb indicating the temporary postponement of an action or discussion. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and usable in English. It's used to manage priorities and focus in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "set aside for now" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to indicate the temporary postponement of a topic or task. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used across diverse contexts, including news, media, and wikis. While adaptable to various settings, it's essential to ensure that the intention to revisit the matter is clear, preventing misinterpretations of permanence. Consider using more formal alternatives like "defer until later" in highly formal contexts. Understanding its function and purpose ensures effective communication, particularly in managing discussions and prioritizing actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone for the moment

Indicates a delay until a later, unspecified time.

defer until later

Suggests a more formal postponement, often with a specific future time in mind.

shelve temporarily

Implies putting something aside with the intention of revisiting it.

hold off for the time being

Suggests a temporary suspension of action or consideration.

put on ice for now

An idiom suggesting that something is being kept in a state of suspension.

table for the present

A more formal way of saying 'put aside', often used in meetings.

suspend for the interim

Implies a suspension during a temporary period.

park for the short term

Suggests placing something aside with an understanding that it will be dealt with soon.

disregard pro tempore

A more formal and less common way to say temporarily disregard.

leave aside for the moment

Emphasizes the act of intentionally leaving something untouched for a limited time.

FAQs

How can I use "set aside for now" in a sentence?

You can use "set aside for now" to indicate a temporary postponement of a topic or task. For example, "Let's "set aside for now" the budget discussion and focus on the marketing strategy".

What's a simple substitute for "set aside for now"?

Simpler alternatives include phrases like "put aside for the moment", "defer until later", or "hold off for the time being".

Is it appropriate to use "set aside for now" in formal writing?

Yes, "set aside for now" can be used in formal writing, but consider more formal alternatives like "defer until later" or "table for the present" for a more polished tone.

What's the difference between "set aside for now" and completely discarding something?

"Set aside for now" implies a temporary suspension with the intention of revisiting the issue later. Discarding something means it's permanently removed from consideration. The key difference is the intention to return to the subject.