agent on duty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "agent on duty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a person who is currently working or available to perform their responsibilities, often in a service or security context. Example: "If you have any questions, please approach the agent on duty at the front desk for assistance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"We're getting real familiar with the documents," said Jesus I. Solis, an agent on duty one recent afternoon, who voiced confidence that he could detect alterations and forgeries.

The New York Times

Patrol chiefs like Mr. Finley consider themselves lucky to have one agent on duty for every 50 miles or more of boundary.

The New York Times

When traffic stops, the agent on duty leaves the booth in the catwalk car and rides to the scene.

The New York Times

"We got varying reports from the Army about the B.F.V.," says Chris Whitcomb, an agent on duty for the hostage rescue team.

The New York Times - Magazine

People besieged the agent on duty, he said, "firing away with questions about is there an outstanding lien and why is the maintenance so high and what's the reserve and when does the heat go on and off".

The New York Times

A check at the Mount Kisco Metro-North station on a recent Saturday afternoon found no teenagers en route to the city, and the ticket agent, on duty since 8 45 in the morning, reported seeing "almost no teenagers traveling to Grand Central all day".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

Any one of about a dozen agents on duty will feed the sort of coverage desired into the firm's computer and, in a matter of minutes, will emerge with the name of the insurance company providing the best premium.

Los Angeles Times

There were two agents on duty and nine of us in line.

The New York Times - Travel

On the first day of the new operation, the two Prowler agents on duty were directed to leave their position on the Ellipse, the public park directly south of the executive mansion, minutes before President Obama departed on his helicopter.

The Washington Post

With more Border Patrol agents on duty than ever before, apprehensions of would-be immigrants along the 2,000-mile 2,000-milee dropped from a peak of 1.8 million in fiscal 2000 to 556,000 in fiscal 2009.

The Economist

Just when a passenger figures out the shoe thing, her hand lotion registers as nitroglycerine on a scan in tiny Presque Isle, Me., where the security agents on duty sometimes outnumber the travelers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "agent on duty", ensure the context clearly indicates the type of agent (e.g., ticket agent, border patrol agent) to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid assuming an "agent on duty" has authority beyond their actual responsibilities. Always verify their specific role and limitations before making requests.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "agent on duty" functions as a noun phrase, specifically a noun ("agent") modified by a prepositional phrase ("on duty"). Ludwig AI indicates this phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

News & Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "agent on duty" correctly identifies an individual currently performing their job. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a grammatically sound and usable phrase, primarily found in news and media contexts. While alternatives like ""officer on duty"" or "attendant on duty" exist, the specific context should guide your choice. Remember to clarify the type of agent when using the phrase to avoid ambiguity. It is important to avoid assuming an agent has authority beyond their actual responsibilities. Overall, "agent on duty" is a reliable way to describe someone currently at work in a service or official capacity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

attendant on duty

Replaces "agent" with "attendant", focusing on a service-oriented role.

officer on duty

Substitutes "agent" with "officer", implying a position of authority or law enforcement.

staff member on duty

Replaces "agent" with "staff member", generalizing the role to any member of staff.

personnel on duty

Uses "personnel" instead of "agent", referring to employees or workers.

representative on duty

Emphasizes the role of representing an organization or company.

employee on duty

Highlights the employment aspect of the person's role.

security guard on duty

Specifies the type of agent as a security guard.

employee at work

A more general way to indicate someone is working.

person currently working

A descriptive phrase indicating someone is currently performing their job.

individual assigned to duty

A formal way to describe someone who has been given a specific task or responsibility.

FAQs

What does "agent on duty" mean?

The phrase "agent on duty" refers to an agent who is currently working or available to perform their responsibilities. The specific type of agent depends on the context, such as a ticket agent, a security "officer on duty", or a border patrol agent.

How can I use "agent on duty" in a sentence?

You can use "agent on duty" to indicate who is currently working. For example, "If you have any questions, please ask the "representative on duty" at the information desk".

What are some alternatives to "agent on duty"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "attendant on duty", ""officer on duty"", or "staff member on duty".

Is "agent on duty" formal or informal?

The phrase "agent on duty" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language and the overall situation.