a busy spell

USAGE SUMMARY

"a busy spell" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a phrase that is often used in a business or professional context to refer to a period of especially active work or activity, such as an increase in the number of customer orders. For example, "We've been going through a busy spell lately, and are doing our best to work through the backlog as quickly as possible."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

I was a bit battered and bruised, but I've had plenty of physio and took a couple of extra days off this week, with a busy spell ahead".

Independent

The incident took place during a busy spell for Asian-American online-media activism, from a Fox News "Watters' World" segment lampooning Chinatown to murmurs of a reboot of Disney's "Mulan" starring a white male love interest to the release of a trailer about a new Bruce Lee film told from the perspective of one of his white disciples.

The New Yorker

However it is clear the club hierarchy, who backed Solskjaer to the hilt in the transfer window, will expect an improvement in a busy spell before the next international break in October.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"We go to Sunderland again on Tuesday night in the Capital One Cup and then we have a really busy spell of league games over Christmas, starting with Arsenal away on Monday week," the Blues captain said in his programme notes.

Independent

Parata will hope the momentum carries the team through a very busy spell in the coming months.

BBC

It was a really busy spell and we've come through that and played well in most of the games.

BBC

And the FA Cup winners are now set for another busy spell of games.

BBC

In busy spells -- which in the Broadway arena typically include the two weeks before Thanksgiving and the month before the various award deadlines in the spring -- it is not uncommon for critics and award nominators to find themselves at five or six a week.

Huffington Post

Jittery markets around the world have helped IG Group, the spread-betting firm that caters for amateur speculators, to report a 40% jump in annual profit and to record its busiest spell last month.

The Guardian - Business

Go on a busy server.

WikiHow

Go to a busy server.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a busy spell" to describe a temporary increase in activity or workload. It's often used in professional settings to explain delays or increased demands.

Common error

Avoid using "a busy spell" to describe a permanent state of being. It implies a temporary condition, not a constant situation. If the busy-ness is ongoing, consider using phrases like "always busy" or "consistently demanding".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a busy spell" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as a subject complement or object in a sentence. It describes a specific period characterized by increased activity or workload. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a busy spell" is a grammatically sound and usable noun phrase that describes a temporary period of increased activity. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and can be used in professional context. While commonly found in news and media, as well as informal contexts like wikis, it can also be applicable to science and formal contexts. Remember to use it to describe temporary situations and avoid it in permanent contexts. Alternative phrases include "a hectic period" or "a demanding time". Overall, it's a useful phrase for explaining temporary increases in workload or activity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a hectic period

Replaces "busy" with "hectic", emphasizing the chaotic and demanding nature of the time.

a demanding time

Focuses on the high demands and requirements of the period.

an active phase

Highlights the dynamic and energetic nature of the period.

a flurry of activity

Emphasizes the sudden and intense burst of activity.

a productive stretch

Focuses on the positive outcome of the busy period, highlighting productivity.

a taxing phase

Highlights the draining and exhausting nature of the period.

a vigorous season

Emphasizes the energy and intensity of the period using a seasonal metaphor.

an eventful period

Focuses on the occurrence of many events during the period.

a full schedule

Highlights the packed nature of the agenda during the period.

a packed agenda

Similar to 'a full schedule', but more directly refers to a list of things to do.

FAQs

How can I use "a busy spell" in a sentence?

You can use "a busy spell" to describe a temporary period of high activity. For example, "Our company is experiencing "a busy spell" due to the holiday season".

What's a more formal alternative to "a busy spell"?

In more formal contexts, you could use phrases like "a period of high demand" or "a phase of increased activity" instead of ""a busy spell"".

What does "a busy spell" imply about the situation?

"A busy spell" implies that the high level of activity is temporary and is expected to return to a normal level eventually. It suggests a surge in work or activity rather than a constant state.

Is "busy spell" applicable to personal life, or only work?

While commonly used in work contexts, ""a busy spell"" can also apply to personal life. For example, you might say, "I'm having "a busy spell" with family events this month".