table for later

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "table for later" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to suggest postponing a discussion or decision to a later time. Example: "Let's table this issue for later and revisit it in our next meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

You will have to stand in line between 5 30 and 6 p.m. to ensure a table for later that night, but Mr. Worster's unusual pairings are worth the inconvenience.

The New York Times - Travel

One weekend, when he had gone out to spend the bright summer day with his parents at their country club, I was sitting alone watching an old movie on TV, the tortoise on my lap, a book on the table for later.

The New York Times

And to be sure, hitting more Syrian air power or defense capability is still on the table for later.

HuffPost

Validation errors are recorded in a data table for later analysis.

BMC Pediatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

The deep irony of Richard's situation that his ultimate goal, presumably, is to become a Goliath himself either has not yet come up in the writer's room or is being tabled for later.

The New Yorker

Well, that could be tabled for later.

Forbes

Table it for later.

Forbes

Nevertheless, all relevant particle characteristics are summarized in Table 1 for later comparison and interpretation.

Environmental Health Perspectives

While we provide all results and further analysis details in Figure S7 and Table S2, for later discussion we focus on the fastest measured kon,ultrafast.

Cell

The target sequences were then amplified from cDNA derived from larval and pupal stages using specific primers containing the recombination sequences attL1 and attL2 (Additional file 11: Table S10) for later recombination in binary vectors for plant transformation, followed by cloning in pGEM-T.

BMC Genomics

Let's agree to disagree for the moment (or, let's not take this further right now) and table it for later, okay?

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "table for later" in a formal context, ensure it's clear whether you're postponing a discussion, decision, or physical object. This can be achieved by explicitly stating what is being tabled.

Common error

Avoid confusing "table for later", which means to postpone, with situations where "table" refers to a literal table. Ensure the context makes it clear whether you are discussing a physical table or the act of tabling an item.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "table for later" functions as a prepositional phrase. It modifies a verb, adverb, or noun by indicating when something will happen. The Ludwig examples confirm its use in various contexts, indicating postponement of actions or discussions.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "table for later" is a grammatically sound prepositional phrase used to indicate the postponement of something, such as a discussion, decision, or physical object, to a future time. Ludwig indicates that while the phrase is usable in written English, it is not very common. It appears in a variety of contexts, ranging from news and media to scientific publications and wikis. When using this phrase, ensure that the context makes it clear what is being postponed to avoid any ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defer until later

This suggests a more formal postponement, particularly of a decision or action.

set aside for later

Indicates segregating something for subsequent utilization.

postpone for future consideration

Emphasizes that the item is not being rejected, only delayed.

put off until a later date

Indicates rescheduling to a specific, but unspecified, time.

revisit at a later time

Implies a return to the matter, focusing on reconsideration.

hold off on until later

Suggests a temporary delay, often implying anticipation.

delay until a later stage

Refers to postponing a specific part or step of a process.

save for a future time

Implies preserving something for use in the future.

reserve for future use

Focuses on keeping something available for later application.

shelve for the time being

Suggests temporarily setting aside a project or idea.

FAQs

What does "table for later" mean?

The phrase "table for later" generally means to postpone something, such as a discussion, decision, or action, to a future time or date.

What can I say instead of "table for later"?

You can use alternatives like "defer until later", "postpone for future consideration", or "set aside for later" depending on the context.

Is "table this for later" grammatically correct?

Yes, "table this for later" is grammatically correct. The word "table" is used as a verb meaning to postpone or delay discussion of a topic.

How do I use "table for later" in a sentence?

Example: "Let's table this discussion for later and move on to the next item on the agenda."