would be postponed

USAGE SUMMARY

"would be postponed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when you are talking about something that has been planned or scheduled for a certain date, but may be moved to a later date. For example, "Due to the current circumstances, the meeting would be postponed until next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the "ifs" would be postponed.

The New York Times - Sports

Alitalia said that meeting would be postponed until Tuesday.

The New York Times

He said an investment decision on a new approach would be postponed until 2014.

The New York Times

For a while, however, it seemed as though the trial would be postponed indefinitely.

The New Yorker

The report intensified speculation that Mr. Mubarak's court date would be postponed.

The New York Times

But officials announced Tuesday night that the test would be postponed, pending further analysis.

The New York Times

As a result, the military's transfer of power would be postponed.

The New York Times

Fiscal consolidation would be likely to slow; structural measures would be postponed.

The Economist

There had been some speculation that a critical debate on welfare reform would be postponed.

The Guardian

Soon it was confirmed that all games would be postponed across Italy's top two divisions.

The Guardian - Sport

If any country other than China were involved, the summit would be postponed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "would be postponed" when you want to express a conditional or hypothetical future delay, often depending on certain circumstances or decisions.

Common error

Avoid using "will be postponed" interchangeably with "would be postponed" in contexts where conditionality or speculation is essential. "Would be postponed" correctly conveys uncertainty or dependence on other factors, which "will be postponed" doesn't always capture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "would be postponed" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a conditional or hypothetical future delay. It's used to express that an event or action is likely to be delayed, contingent on certain circumstances or decisions. This aligns with Ludwig's analysis of its correct and usable nature in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "would be postponed" is a versatile expression used to indicate a conditional or hypothetical delay of a future event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in English. Its usage is very common, particularly in contexts related to news and media, but also appears in scientific and business communications. When writing, it's crucial to use it when expressing uncertainty or conditionality around a future delay, distinguishing it from "will be postponed", which implies a definite delay.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be delayed

Indicates a future event is being pushed back, similar to postponement but can imply a shorter delay.

will be rescheduled

Specifically refers to moving an event to a later date, often used for appointments and meetings.

is to be deferred

A more formal alternative, emphasizing official postponement.

is going to be put off

An informal alternative suggesting deferral to a later, unspecified time.

is subject to postponement

Highlights the possibility of delay, focusing on conditionality.

faces deferment

Emphasizes the possibility or likelihood of postponement.

is liable to be adjourned

Often used in legal or formal settings, referring to a temporary suspension of proceedings.

is to be suspended

Indicates a temporary cessation, which can act as postponement.

will suffer a setback

Implies postponement due to problems, emphasizing the negative impact.

will be carried over

Refers to moving something to a later date, typically in a series or schedule.

FAQs

How to use "would be postponed" in a sentence?

The phrase "would be postponed" is used to indicate that an event or action is likely to be delayed to a later time. Example: "Due to the weather conditions, the outdoor event "would be postponed"."

What can I say instead of "would be postponed"?

You can use alternatives like "will be delayed", "will be rescheduled", or "is going to be put off" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "would be postponed" or "will be postponed"?

"Would be postponed" implies a conditional or hypothetical delay, while "will be postponed" indicates a definite delay. The correct choice depends on the certainty of the postponement.

What's the difference between "would be postponed" and "was postponed"?

"Would be postponed" refers to a future or conditional delay. "Was postponed" indicates that the delay has already happened in the past.