More busy

USAGE SUMMARY

"more busy" is not correct in standard written English; the correct form is "busier." You can use it when comparing levels of busyness, but it should be in the comparative form.
Example: "I have been busier than ever this week with all the new projects."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Acting more busy and going about your business, might actually draw him back to you.

WikiHow

A business that loses the love of its customers might soon find itself more busy suing them than selling to them.

Huffington Post

The show has more busy sculpture.

The New York Times - Arts

I'd probably be more busy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Their journalism is more busy lying than telling the truth".

The Guardian - Sport

Turevich expects many more busy days in the near future.

The Guardian

"In Paris," M. Lang said, "the days are much more busy.

The New Yorker

"I'm actually more busy when I'm at home than when I'm on the road".

The New York Times

"I am more busy with Buddhism and feeling Zen," she said.

The Guardian - Sport

I am really more busy handling what I have to do for school".

The New York Times

And because the service was always on, there were no more busy signals or waits for a connection.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you aim for formal writing, substitute “busier” or “more busy” with alternatives like “more occupied” or “more engaged” depending on the context.

Common error

While "more busy" is somewhat common in informal speech, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect in formal writing. Always opt for "busier" to maintain credibility and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more busy" functions as a comparative adjective phrase, attempting to indicate a higher degree of being occupied or engaged. Although Ludwig AI indicates it's not correct, it appears to compare levels of activity, which is the intent of a comparative.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Wiki

23%

Science

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

While the phrase "more busy" is frequently encountered, Ludwig AI indicates that it is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "busier." Despite its prevalence in various sources like news, media, and even scientific articles, especially when aiming for formal or professional communication, it's best to replace "more busy" with "busier" or use alternatives such as "more active" or "more occupied". Using "busier" enhances clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Busier

A grammatically correct comparative form of 'busy'.

More active

Focuses on the increased level of activity rather than just being occupied.

More occupied

Emphasizes that one's time is filled with tasks or responsibilities.

More engaged

Highlights involvement or participation in activities.

More involved

Similar to 'engaged' but can also imply emotional investment.

Having more to do

A more verbose way of saying someone is busy or has more tasks.

Under increased pressure

Highlights the stress associated with increased demands.

More hectic

Emphasizes the frenetic and chaotic nature of being busy.

Swamped with work

Indicates being overwhelmed by a large amount of work.

Pressed for time

Highlights the lack of available time due to numerous obligations.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "more busy"?

The grammatically correct way to say "more busy" is "busier". The word "busy" already has comparative and superlative forms.

Is it ever correct to use the phrase "more busy"?

While "more busy" is sometimes used in informal contexts, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It's best to use "busier" instead.

What are some alternatives to saying "I am more busy"?

Depending on the context, you can say "I am "busier"", "I am "more occupied"", or "I am "more engaged"".

Why is "more busy" considered grammatically incorrect?

The adjective "busy" can form its comparative with the suffix "-er", resulting in "busier." Using "more" with such adjectives is generally redundant and considered non-standard.