busy at present

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "busy at present" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is currently occupied or engaged in activities and cannot attend to other matters. Example: "I apologize for the delay in my response; I have been busy at present with several projects."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Academia

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

All our agents are busy at present.

The Guardian - Tech

I'm afraid our writer is busy at present, so you've been placed in a queue and will be dealt with shortly.

The Guardian

While her new TLC series, If Katie Hopkins Ruled The World is keeping her busy at present, she still wants to go into politics one day, though fully realises that none of the main parties would have her.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The silver-haired Daldry might just be Britain's busiest director at present.

Independent

B. Say you're too busy; money is tight at present and you never really liked them anyway.

The Guardian

They may be busy with other questions at present, answering to the US Congress you can read more about that here.

Vice

She has already enquired about facilities in the capital for electric cars (none at present), and is busy learning the knack of forging political alliances from the unlikeliest interests.

The Economist

At present, the Indian team is busy hosting the West Indies.

The New York Times

It is also busy privatising, thereby freeing from official control prices set at present by state firms.

The Economist

Dan: I don't have any mentees at present, as the studio is so busy with design work.

HuffPost

At present we are focussed on running our business as we head into the busy Christmas and New Year period.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "busy at present" to politely explain a temporary lack of availability, especially in professional or formal communication. For instance, "I am busy at present but will respond to your inquiry as soon as possible."

Common error

While "busy at present" is grammatically correct, overusing it can make your writing sound stilted or repetitive. Vary your language by using more specific terms to describe the nature of your busyness or by opting for simpler alternatives like "currently busy" or "unavailable now."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "busy at present" primarily functions as a descriptive phrase, indicating a temporary state of being occupied or engaged. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It modifies a subject, clarifying their current availability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Formal & Business

21%

Academia

13%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "busy at present" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase for indicating that someone is currently occupied, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. While "busy at present" is suitable for professional contexts or formal communications, it is considered somewhat uncommon. When writing, be mindful of overuse and consider more specific alternatives if appropriate, for instance "currently occupied", "presently engaged", or "unavailable now". These options may provide a more contemporary or contextually relevant tone. Be mindful, that overusing "busy at present" can make your writing sound stilted. It can be found in News & Media sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

currently occupied

Replaces "busy" with "occupied", emphasizing the state of being engaged.

presently engaged

Substitutes "busy" with "engaged", highlighting active involvement.

unavailable now

Focuses on the lack of availability due to being busy.

tied up at the moment

Uses an idiomatic expression to indicate being occupied.

currently working

Specifies the activity causing the state of being busy.

swamped right now

Emphasizes being overwhelmed with tasks.

occupied with current tasks

Highlights the tasks that are causing the state of being busy.

in the middle of something

Indicates being interrupted would be inconvenient.

engaged in ongoing activities

Formal alternative that emphasizes activity.

preoccupied presently

Stresses being absorbed in current activities.

FAQs

How can I use "busy at present" in a sentence?

You can use "busy at present" to politely indicate that you are currently occupied and unable to attend to something immediately. For example, "I am "busy at present", but I will get back to you as soon as I am available."

What are some alternatives to "busy at present"?

Alternatives include "currently occupied", "presently engaged", or "unavailable now". The best choice depends on the context and the level of formality required.

Is it more correct to say "busy at present" or "currently busy"?

Both "busy at present" and "currently busy" are grammatically correct and widely accepted. "Currently busy" is more common in contemporary English, while "busy at present" may sound slightly more formal.

What is the difference between "busy at present" and "simply busy"?

"Busy at present" specifies that the state of being busy is happening right now, whereas "simply busy" indicates a general state of being occupied, without necessarily implying it's only occurring at this moment. The phrase "busy at present" adds emphasis on the immediate situation.