have other commitments

USAGE SUMMARY

“have other commitments” is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It means that someone has other prior obligations or responsibilities that may prevent them from being available. Example: I would love to attend the meeting, but I have other commitments that day. In this sentence, the speaker is indicating that they cannot attend the meeting because they have other preexisting obligations. This phrase can be used in various contexts, such as work, school, personal life, etc. It is a polite way to decline an invitation or explain why one is unable to fulfill a request.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

We have other children, we have other commitments.

The Guardian

"Lots of the girls have other commitments now," Athanason told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

Q: I have other commitments during the week of the graduate writing exam.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

All my PAs have other commitments; working for me is a small part of their lives.

The Guardian

Osborne and Crover see no need to postpone operations when Big Business have other commitments, however.

The Guardian - Music

Lecturers in healthcare are a broad group of people, many of which have other commitments and may lack prior formal teaching experience.

Currents in Pharmacy Teaching and Learning

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

In reality the first period of emissions cuts under the treaty runs out in 2012, but it was always the intention that we'd then have other commitment periods, each one forcing countries to cut their carbon deeper and deeper.

Huffington Post

Even Jade had other commitments.

The Guardian - Film

The Marine Corps Band had other commitments.

The New York Times

Regretfully, she has other commitments.

The New York Times - Arts

Like Mr. Muti at La Scala, Mr. Robertson has other commitments.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "have other commitments", be specific if possible. Briefly mentioning the nature of the commitment (e.g., "a prior engagement", "a family matter") adds clarity and politeness.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "have other commitments" as a generic excuse. Providing vague or insufficient reasons can come across as insincere or dismissive. Ensure that you communicate effectively and respectfully by briefly stating the reason.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have other commitments" functions as a declarative statement used to express an inability to participate in an activity or fulfill a request due to existing obligations. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Academia

21%

Formal & Business

13%

Less common in

Science

13%

Wiki

13%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "have other commitments" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to politely decline invitations or explain unavailability due to existing obligations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, ranging from formal to informal, and conveys a clear message of prior obligations. When using this phrase, providing brief context enhances clarity and sincerity. While "have other commitments" is widely accepted, consider using more formal alternatives in professional settings. Examples from Ludwig show its prevalence in news media, academic discussions, and business communications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have prior engagements

Replaces "commitments" with "engagements", suggesting a formal or scheduled obligation.

have previous obligations

Substitutes "commitments" with "obligations", emphasizing a sense of duty or requirement.

are already scheduled

Focuses on the scheduling aspect, highlighting that time is already allocated.

have existing responsibilities

Highlights the presence of ongoing responsibilities.

am/is/are unavailable due to other duties

Explains unavailability because of responsibilities.

have conflicting appointments

Specifies the conflict as related to appointments or meetings.

can't attend due to a prior obligation

Specifically states the inability to attend because of a prior commitment.

can't make it due to previous plans

Informal expression indicating inability to attend because of existing plans.

am/is/are tied up with other matters

Indicates being occupied with other issues or tasks.

am/is/are otherwise occupied

A more formal way of saying that one is busy with something else.

FAQs

How can I politely decline an invitation using "have other commitments"?

You can say "Thank you for the invitation, but I "have other commitments" that day". Adding a genuine expression of regret can also help.

What are some alternatives to saying "I have other commitments"?

Alternatives include "I "have prior engagements"", "I "have previous obligations"", or "I'm "already scheduled"".

Is it appropriate to use "have other commitments" in a formal setting?

Yes, "have other commitments" is generally appropriate in formal settings. However, consider using more formal alternatives like ""have prior engagements"" for added politeness.

What does it mean when someone says they "have other commitments"?

It means they have other obligations, responsibilities, or scheduled activities that prevent them from being available. They "are already scheduled".