to table a motion

USAGE SUMMARY

"to table a motion" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it in formal contexts, particularly in meetings or legislative discussions when proposing to postpone or set aside a motion for later consideration. An example: "The committee decided to table a motion regarding the budget until next week." Alternative expressions include "to postpone a motion" and "to defer a motion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

But if Cameron is going to table a motion, it is going to have to say something.

The Guardian

And he seems to have dropped the threat to table a motion of no confidence in the PM personally.

The Guardian

Despite this, Palestine might try to table a motion to improve its prospects of statehood next month.

The Economist

He was the first MP to table a motion on apartheid, following his father's lead, as in many other aspects of his life.

The Guardian

Evan Harris, the former Lib Dem MP, and Lady Williams, are planning to table a motion in Birmingham demanding more changes to the health and social care bill.

The Guardian

Yesterday a gay rights group, Outrage! complained that one of the mayor's advisers had blocked its attempt to table a motion "regretting" his stance towards Dr Qaradawi.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

Downing Street reiterated its commitment to tabling a motion to parliament on 13 February but hinted that any voting could be delayed until the following week when parliament was originally scheduled to be in recess.

The Guardian

He also proposes changes to make it easier for the left to table motions at the Labour conference after Corbyn failed in a bid to table a contemporary motion on Trident.

The Guardian

Cooper urged Cameron to table a parliamentary motion or short addition to the immigration rules that would put minds to rest.

The Guardian

The high-stakes warning by the government came after Lady Meacher, a crossbencher who is the former chair of the East London NHS Trust, threatened to table a "fatal motion" to kill off the cuts to tax credits.

The Guardian - Money

Molly Meacher, who had planned to table a fatal motion in the Lords to kill the tax credit cuts, accused Osborne of resorting to unspeakable "bullying tactics" to frighten peers.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "to table a motion" in formal settings like meetings or parliamentary procedures when you want to postpone discussion until a later time. Be clear about when the motion will be revisited to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "to table a motion" when you actually intend to reject the motion outright. Tabling is meant for postponement, not dismissal. If you want to reject, use phrases like "to reject the motion" or "to vote against the motion".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to table a motion" primarily functions as a verb phrase. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it describes the act of postponing or deferring discussion or action on a motion within a formal setting.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "to table a motion" is a verb phrase used to describe the act of postponing discussion or action on a motion. As Ludwig indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used in news and formal business settings. While the phrase is accurate, it's essential to understand its intended meaning. Remember to use it only when postponement is the goal, and not to reject the motion completely. Consider alternatives like "to postpone a motion" or "to defer a motion" if they better suit the context. Overall, understanding the nuances of this phrase ensures clear and effective communication in formal proceedings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to postpone a motion

Replaces "table" with "postpone", indicating a delay.

to defer a motion

Substitutes "table" with "defer", suggesting a temporary delay.

to lay a motion on the table

More verbose and formal version of the original phrase, emphasizing the act of setting aside.

to suspend a motion

Uses "suspend" instead of "table", implying a temporary halt.

to shelve a motion

Replaces "table" with "shelve", suggesting putting the motion aside.

to set aside a motion

Uses "set aside" instead of "table", indicating a deliberate choice to postpone.

to hold over a motion

Replaces "table" with "hold over", suggesting a delay to a later time.

to delay consideration of a motion

More descriptive, clarifying that the delay concerns the consideration of the motion.

to put off a motion

Uses "put off" instead of "table", indicating postponement.

to park a motion

Informal alternative suggesting the motion is temporarily set aside.

FAQs

What does "to table a motion" mean?

The phrase "to table a motion" means to postpone or defer discussion or action on a particular motion or proposal until a later time. It's a procedural move often used in meetings and legislative settings.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "to table a motion"?

It's appropriate to use "to table a motion" when you need more time to consider the motion, when other pressing matters need to be addressed first, or when there isn't enough information available to make a decision at that moment. It's commonly used in formal meetings and parliamentary settings.

What are some alternatives to "to table a motion"?

You can use alternatives like "to postpone a motion", "to defer a motion", or "to shelve a motion", depending on the specific context and the desired level of formality.

Is "to table a motion" the same as rejecting a motion?

No, "to table a motion" is not the same as rejecting it. Tabling a motion means postponing it for later consideration, while rejecting a motion means voting against it and not proceeding with it. They are distinct procedural actions.