if you're not busy

USAGE SUMMARY

"if you're not busy" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are asking someone if they have free time to do something. For example: "Hey, do you want to grab lunch tomorrow? If you're not busy, I thought we could meet up around noon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

No "please" or "if you're not busy".

The New Yorker

If you're not busy having a life, and you've met a man who is not busy having one either, then by all means follow The Rules.

Independent

If you're not busy this weekend, torturing your existentialist self as only you can, stop by as your once-jilted teams do a double playoff jig in your native Jersey swamp.

The New York Times - Sports

If you're not busy cleaning up the coffee you've just undoubtedly spilled on your shirt, the camera also has a 1/8000 shutter speed, 4GB of storage, and a black case.

TechCrunch

Otherwise, as Dylan says, if you're not busy being born, you're busy dying".

Huffington Post

I mean, I try to keep busy because if you're not busy, you're unemployed.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

Bob Dylan said: "If you are not busy being born, you are busy dying".

The Guardian - Music

This is the almost never-ending arbitrary process of existing in a world where, if you are not busy explaining yourself to someone, then someone is usually explaining something back to you.

Vice

Even if you are not busy and free all day, do not lie down just to ease your body.

WikiHow

As if you weren't busy enough, now you have to handle a job search--and find a position--in 90 days... AAAAAaaaaaaa!!!!!

Science Magazine

If you weren't busy drinking coffee or staring out the window yesterday you could have seen Tag Heuer launch their new Android Wear device, the Carrera Connected.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "if you're not busy", consider the context and your relationship with the person. Adjust your tone to be more or less formal as appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "if you're not busy" repeatedly in a short span. Vary your language to maintain engagement and avoid sounding monotonous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if you're not busy" functions as a conditional clause, setting a condition upon which a request, suggestion, or statement depends. It introduces a polite inquiry about someone's availability before proceeding further, and according to Ludwig AI is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

30%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "if you're not busy" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to inquire about someone's availability before making a request or suggestion. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is suitable for a range of contexts, from informal conversations to more professional settings. While it's a useful phrase, remember to vary your language to prevent overuse. Alternatives include "if you're available" or "if you have some free time". The primary contexts where this phrase appears are News & Media and Wiki sources, indicating its broad applicability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

if you have some free time

Focuses on the availability of free time rather than the absence of being busy.

if you're available

Directly asks about someone's availability, simplifying the original phrase.

if you're free

A more concise way to ask if someone is not occupied.

should you be free

A more formal or polite way of asking about someone's availability.

if your schedule permits

More formal and emphasizes the constraints of a schedule.

assuming you're not tied up

Emphasizes the potential for prior commitments.

if time allows

Focuses on whether there is sufficient time available.

if you aren't occupied

A more formal way of asking if someone is not busy.

if you're not engaged in something else

Highlights the possibility of ongoing activities.

when you're at leisure

Suggests waiting until someone is relaxed and has no obligations.

FAQs

What does "if you're not busy" mean?

It's a polite way of asking someone if they have free time to do something or to take on a task. It acknowledges that they might have existing commitments.

How can I use "if you're not busy" in a sentence?

You can use it to preface a request or suggestion, such as, "If you're not busy, could you help me with this project?"

Which is correct, "if you're not busy" or "if you aren't busy"?

Both are correct. "If you're not busy" is a contraction of "if you are not busy", and both are grammatically sound.

What are some alternatives to "if you're not busy"?

Alternatives include phrases like "if you're available", "if you have some free time", or "if you're free", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.