because time is short

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "because time is short" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when explaining a sense of urgency or the need to act quickly. Example: "We need to finalize the project today because time is short." Alternative expressions include "due to time constraints" and "since time is limited."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

But because time is short, she said, the workers can research only big differences between the two lists.

The New York Times

It is precisely because time is short, the tools limited, and the political context consuming that good public managers are so hard to find.

Harvard Business Review

Because time is short, the House Appropriations Committee plans to take up the transportation appropriations bill on Thursday, skipping the usual subcommittee mark-ups, and the proposal will be introduced there.

The New York Times

But because time is short, and a lot happens in a day, we don't often take the time to think about this bidirectional process.

Huffington Post

Mr President, the Irish presidency has other merits, which I shall not list here because time is short.

EU Parlament

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Because time was short and I wanted to take advantage of the lake, I chose one of these.

The New York Times - Travel

He put his hand into his flight-suit pocket and — fumbling, because time was short — took out a dozen M&M's and opened his hand.

The New Yorker

But not for long, because time was short and the real work of saving Detroit, of course, has nothing to do with Detroit.

The New Yorker

He was not asked about the Eva Carneiro situation, partly because time was short and the situation unsuitable, but mostly because he would have declined to speak on that subject too.

The Guardian - Sport

"They do need to be out there because time's short now.

BBC

Let me go on, because my time is short.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal reports, consider placing this phrase at the beginning of a sentence to immediately establish the reason for the subsequent actions.

Common error

Writers sometimes mistakenly say "because time is small" or "because time is little" when they mean the duration is insufficient. While 'time' can be 'short' or 'limited', it is rarely described as 'small' in this context. Stick to "because time is short" or "since time is limited" to ensure natural phrasing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "because time is short" functions as a causal subordinate clause. It consists of the subordinating conjunction 'because' followed by a simple subject-verb-complement structure. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it serves to explain why a certain action (like skipping a subcommittee markup or researching only big differences) was necessary. It provides a logical bridge between an environmental constraint (lack of time) and a resulting behavior.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "because time is short" is a robust and effective way to signal urgency in written English. Based on data from Ludwig, it is frequently employed by world-class journalists and business leaders to explain the necessity of quick decision-making. While it is classified as 'Rare' based on exact string matches in this specific dataset, its variants (such as 'as time is short' or past tense versions) are extremely common in formal literature. It is grammatically sound, contextually versatile and highly recommended for any writing that requires a clear, concise justification for moving quickly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

since time is limited

Substitutes the conjunction for a slightly softer tone while retaining the core meaning.

due to time constraints

Uses a more formal, nominalized structure preferred in professional and technical reporting.

as time is of the essence

Employs an idiomatic expression that emphasizes the legal or critical importance of speed.

because time is running out

Increases the sense of urgency by using a continuous verb form.

owing to the lack of time

A more formal and slightly more wordy alternative often found in academic writing.

as there is little time left

Shifts the focus to the remaining duration rather than the abstract concept of time.

given the time constraints

Sets the context as a premise for the following statement.

because time is scarce

Uses the adjective 'scarce' to treat time as a limited resource.

as time is pressing

Adds a sense of psychological pressure or external demand.

because the deadline is near

Specific to tasks or projects with a defined end point.

FAQs

How do I use "because time is short" in a professional email?

You can use it to justify a brief reply or an urgent request, for example: "I am sending a summary rather than a full report "because time is short"."

What can I say instead of "because time is short" to sound more formal?

You might consider using "due to time constraints" or "owing to the limited time available" for a more academic or business-appropriate tone.

Is it correct to start a sentence with "Because time is short"?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in modern English. According to Ludwig, many high-quality sources like The New York Times use it as an introductory subordinate clause followed by a comma.

Is there a difference between "because time is short" and "as time is short"?

The meaning is identical, but "as time is short" can sometimes sound slightly more formal or literary than using 'because'.