busy with students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "busy with students" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who is occupied or engaged in activities involving students, such as teaching or mentoring. Example: "I can't take your call right now; I'm busy with students preparing for their exams."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Harry's room used to be busy with students and meetings, but now it is hardly used, forgotten on the 10th floor of the hospital.

The Guardian - Books

La Ruine which runs between Str Lipscani and Str Gabroveni is a vast open beer garden serving drinks and barbecued food at wooden trestle tables, always busy with students and young people.

The Guardian - Travel

The location is busy with students rushing to class, and also a bit chaotic with vehicular traffic, which is why Mr. Votta, over the past decade, had appointed himself the university's unofficial traffic cop — and screamed at drivers to slow down.

The New York Times

Kelly expects that once the word is out, the center will be busy with students unafraid to discuss what they're going through.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The glazed ground floor - the buses pull in on both sides - is busy with shoppers, students and teenagers hanging around.

The Guardian - Arts

Oregon's too busy with her student union stuff, and the inspirational book she's written, The Short Walk to Freedom, for anything academic; she only just has time to dive into a TS Eliot seminar with a brain-dump.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

In this intimate atmosphere, where many administrative decisions are left to the vice-chancellor, formerly the president of Swarthmore, Sexton is free to busy himself with student gossip rather than with finances.

The New Yorker

Eighty-four studenteredtheed thirdhird week of our contest, and many were taken with an article that seems to have hit a universal nerve: "The Busy Trap" was popular not just with students, but also with readers Times-wide, enjoying the top spot on the Most E-Mailed list for several days that same week.

The New York Times

While the students were busy with their task, Pearson did what he does best: wandering about, observing.

Science Magazine

The present study aimed at determining if the addition of spaced education to traditional face-to-face lectures increased the time students kept busy with the learning content of a theoretical radiological science course.

BMC Medical Education

Two mentors discussed the fact that students were too busy with the demands of the course, to focus on prescribing, as illustrated in the quote below: M2: He was always of the opinion let's not run before I can walk, let's get through the course first and then I'll give it some thought.

BMC Medical Education

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a specific time or event, use "busy with students" to convey that someone's time is dedicated to student-related activities. For example: "The professor is busy with students during office hours."

Common error

Avoid using "busy with students" when a more specific description would be more informative. Instead of saying "The administrator is busy with students", specify the activity, such as "The administrator is busy advising students on course selection".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "busy with students" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (implied or stated) to describe a state of being occupied or engaged in activities related to students. As Ludwig confirms, this phrase is correct and can be used to depict active involvement with students.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "busy with students" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to describe someone actively engaged in student-related activities. As Ludwig AI confirms, the expression is perfectly acceptable in the English language. Predominantly found in News & Media and Science contexts, this phrase effectively communicates an occupation centered around student engagement. Consider using more formal synonyms such as "occupied with students" for enhanced professional nuance, and always ensure contextual clarity to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occupied with students

Replaces "busy" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the state of being engaged.

involved with students

Highlights the active participation and engagement with students.

working with students

Focuses on the act of collaborating or assisting students in their activities.

engaging with students

Emphasizes the interaction and connection with students.

preoccupied with students

Suggests that students are the primary focus of attention, potentially to the exclusion of other things.

dealing with students

Indicates handling or managing student-related tasks or issues.

attending to students

Highlights the act of providing care or assistance to students.

consumed with students

Implies an overwhelming involvement with student matters, potentially to a negative extent.

handling student affairs

Refers to managing administrative or organizational tasks related to students.

managing student activities

Focuses on overseeing and coordinating events or programs for students.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "busy with students" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "occupied with students", "engaged with students", or "involved with students" depending on the specific context.

What does it mean to be "busy with students"?

Being "busy with students" generally means that someone is actively engaged in tasks or activities that directly involve students, such as teaching, advising, or mentoring.

Is it appropriate to use "busy with students" in professional communication?

Yes, "busy with students" is generally appropriate in professional communication, particularly in educational settings. However, ensure the context is clear and specific to avoid ambiguity. You could also consider alternative phrasings like "occupied with students" for a more formal setting.

When should I use "busy with students" versus other similar phrases?

Use "busy with students" when you want to convey that someone's time and attention are currently focused on student-related activities. If you want to emphasize active participation or collaboration, consider phrases like "working with students" or "engaging with students".