What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
shelved
Example
The company has shelved the new product launch until next year. [shelved: verb]
Example
The old books were shelved in alphabetical order. [shelved: past participle]
Example
The meeting was shelved due to unforeseen circumstances. [shelved: past tense]
postponed
Example
The concert has been postponed due to bad weather. [postponed: past participle]
Example
We have decided to postpone the trip until next month. [postpone: verb]
Example
The project has been postponed indefinitely. [postponed: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Postponed is more commonly used than shelved in everyday language. Postponed is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while shelved is less common and refers to a specific type of delay.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between shelved and postponed?
Postponed is more formal than shelved. While postponed can be used in both formal and informal contexts, shelved is typically associated with a casual and informal tone.
