is room occupied

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is room occupied" is not correct as it is missing an article. You can use it in contexts where you are inquiring about the status of a room, but it should be corrected to "Is the room occupied?" An example could be: "Before we enter, can you check if the room is occupied?" Alternative expressions include "Is the room taken?" and "Is the room in use?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I headed straight for the bathroom; the door was locked, room occupied.

The New York Times - Travel

Near the entrance to the base was a room occupied by ten Afghans, including the commander of the A.N.A. contingent.

The New Yorker

Room 2.62 was the room occupied for many years by Dr Hugh Wagner, who died last year, also of pancreatic cancer, aged 62. Coroner Nigel Meadows has ordered an inquest into the death of Reader.

The Guardian

"In that building there are 28 rooms, of which there are three rooms occupied by Pakistani nationals and the rest occupied by Bangladeshis," one resident of the building told Reuters.

BBC

Hotel receives note from the manager informing her that there are seven rooms occupied by men on the fourteenth floor and he hopes it meets with her approval.

The New Yorker

However, such UV-C devices cannot be used when the room is occupied and a lengthy cycle time is impractical if a rapid turn-over of beds is required.

BMC Infectious Diseases

In addition, indications of the occupancy of service units better directed patients, as noted by one participant: 'A sign on the door indicating that the room is occupied was introduced by the 5S program.

Global Health Action

I am escorted to a hospital room occupied by one or more patients (sometimes with visitors or family members).

Huffington Post

It won't be long before the room is occupied by one of the hundreds of thousands of people hoping to make a new life here in Germany.

BBC

HENDRIK HERTZBERG: The mosque will be a "prayer room" occupying about 10percentnt of a modern glass building.

The New Yorker

The walls of the large room being occupied are covered in banners, slogans and messages of support.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the article "the" before "room" when asking if a specific room is occupied. For example, use "Is the room occupied?" not "Is room occupied?"

Common error

Avoid omitting the definite article "the" before "room". Saying just "Is room occupied?" sounds unnatural to native English speakers. Instead, always ask "Is the room occupied?".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is room occupied" functions as an interrogative clause fragment. It's an attempt to inquire about the state of a room, specifically if it is currently being used by someone. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically incomplete without the article "the".

Expression frequency: Missing

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is room occupied" is grammatically incorrect due to the omission of the article "the". While its intent is clear—to inquire about a room's availability—it should be phrased as "Is the room occupied?" for grammatical correctness. Ludwig AI analysis points out that correcting the phrase improves its formality and makes it suitable for a wider range of contexts. Related phrases, such as "is the room in use?" or "is the room available?", can also be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Is the room in use?

Uses 'in use' instead of 'occupied' to inquire about whether the room is currently being utilized.

Is the room currently occupied?

Adds 'currently' for emphasis on the present occupancy status.

Is the room available?

Asks about the opposite condition: whether the room is free for use.

Is someone in the room?

Focuses on the presence of a person within the room.

Is there anyone in the room?

Similar to the previous, but using 'anyone' to emphasize the possibility of no one being present.

Is the room vacant?

Inquires whether the room is empty.

Is the room taken?

A more informal way of asking if the room is occupied.

Is the room being used?

Focuses on the action of using the room, rather than just occupancy.

Can I enter the room?

A request based on the assumption that the room is unoccupied

Is the space occupied?

Uses the more general term 'space' instead of 'room'.

FAQs

What's the correct way to ask if a room is in use?

The grammatically correct way is to ask, "Is the room occupied?". Omitting the article "the" makes the sentence incorrect.

Are there alternative ways to inquire about a room's availability?

Yes, you can use phrases like "is the room in use?", "is the room available?", or "is someone in the room?".

Is "is room occupied" grammatically correct?

No, "is room occupied" is grammatically incorrect because it's missing the definite article "the". The correct phrase is "Is the room occupied?"

Which is more formal, "Is the room occupied?" or "Is the room taken?"

"Is the room occupied?" is more formal. "Is the room taken?" is more informal and conversational.