substantially deferred

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "substantially deferred" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where a decision, action, or payment is significantly postponed or delayed. Example: "The project timeline has been substantially deferred due to unforeseen circumstances."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

As with most matters affecting human beings, early preventive action is far less costly than is substantially deferred intervention.

The New York Times

Addressing the Brighton conference, the president of the ECHR welcomed the fact that UK attempts to narrow the criteria for admissibilty of cases had been substantially deferred.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Bush softened his position substantially by deferring to the U.N. as well.

The New York Times

Today, however, European firms appear to be holding back, or deferring, substantially more of their top risk-takers' pay than American banks.

The New York Times

It is also important to understand that most economic partners defer substantially on many of these policies, including national support to state enterprises and greater flexibility when it comes to labor and environmental obligations.

Huffington Post

Judge Walter said that he would have liked to sentence Mr. Lerach to a "substantially" longer prison term, but deferred to a plea agreement with prosecutors that was reached Sept. 18, which called for a maximum of two years.

The New York Times

The rush of new licensing commitments also added substantially to Microsoft's so-called deferred revenue -- a balance sheet item that lets the company recognize revenue gradually over the course of a long-term license, typically two or three years.

The New York Times

Major upgrades -- which NASA believed would substantially improve safety on the shuttle -- were intentionally deferred until "a high-level national decision" was made on whether to replace the shuttle or fly it indefinitely.

The New York Times

"But I'll have to defer quite substantially to my doctors in charge of my treatment".

The Guardian

However, the risk of nosocomial transmission decreases substantially as soon as a patient receives adequate treatment and treatment should not be unnecessarily deferred.

European Respiratory Journal

"They were deferred.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "substantially deferred", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being postponed and the reason for the significant delay. This enhances clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "substantially deferred" when the delay is minor or insignificant. The adverb "substantially" implies a considerable degree of postponement; using it for trivial delays dilutes its impact and can mislead the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "substantially deferred" functions primarily as a compound verb phrase, where "substantially" modifies the verb "deferred", indicating the degree or extent of the deferral. According to Ludwig, this implies a significant postponement.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "substantially deferred" signifies a significant postponement. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically sound and apt for various contexts, especially those requiring a neutral to formal tone. While primarily found in News & Media and Science, its impact lies in emphasizing the considerable extent of the deferral. Alternatives such as ""significantly postponed"" or ""considerably delayed"" offer similar meanings, but "substantially deferred" underscores the magnitude of the delay, making it suitable when a strong emphasis is desired. Remember to use it when the delay is, in fact, substantial to maintain accuracy and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

significantly postponed

Replaces "deferred" with "postponed" and "substantially" with "significantly", focusing on the act of delaying.

considerably delayed

Emphasizes the extent of the delay using "considerably" instead of "substantially".

largely put off

Uses a phrasal verb to indicate deferral, highlighting the action of delaying something for a later time.

materially delayed

Replaces "substantially" with "materially", indicating a delay of considerable importance or impact.

greatly adjourned

Uses "adjourned" implying a formal deferral, and "greatly" emphasizing the extent.

extensively prolonged

Shifts the focus to the duration of the delay, using "prolonged" to indicate a lengthening of time.

appreciably deferred

Replaces "substantially" with "appreciably", suggesting the delay is noticeable or measurable.

noticeably postponed

Highlights that the postponement is easily observed or recognized.

markedly delayed

Indicates that the delay is distinct and easily identifiable.

considerably put on hold

Indicates the action has been "put on hold" implying a temporary deferral but one of considerable magnitude.

FAQs

What does "substantially deferred" mean?

The phrase "substantially deferred" indicates that something has been postponed or delayed to a significant extent. The postponement is not minor but rather considerable, affecting the timeline or progress in a meaningful way.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "substantially deferred"?

Use "substantially deferred" when you want to emphasize that a delay is significant and has a noticeable impact. For example, you might say "The project deadline was "significantly postponed"" or "The decision has been "considerably delayed"" due to unforeseen circumstances.

What are some alternatives to the phrase "substantially deferred"?

Some alternatives include ""significantly postponed"", ""considerably delayed"", or "largely put off". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is "substantially deferred" formal or informal?

"Substantially deferred" is suitable for formal and professional contexts. It conveys a sense of seriousness and is appropriate for business reports, academic papers, or official communications. In informal settings, simpler terms like "delayed a lot" or "pushed back" might be more fitting.