overlapping commitments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "overlapping commitments" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe situations where multiple obligations or responsibilities coincide or conflict with each other. Example: "Due to my overlapping commitments, I am unable to attend both meetings scheduled for the same time."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

Formal & Business

News & Media

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Met approved the switch even though Ms. Shaw had a partly overlapping commitment to direct Britten's "Rape of Lucretia" for the Glyndebourne Festival's fall tour back in England, a project she had no intention of shortchanging.

The New York Times - Arts

The three most prominent reasons are overlapping concepts, commitment to resource, and logistical complexities.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Participants nonetheless argued that their concentration and/or attendance at on-site training had suffered because of overlapping work-related commitments, especially the pressure of patients awaiting consultations.

BMC Health Services Research

The Paris agreement is a sprawling, rolling, overlapping set of national commitments brought about by a broad conglomeration of parties and stakeholders.

The Guardian

Their goals overlap with the commitment that Google has already made to ensure online security for our users.

TechCrunch

Overlapping but different facets of initial commitment were measured in order to yield an enriched, elaborated understanding of that phenomenon and potential leverage points for future intervention.

Plosone

Principles of socio-linguistic conversation analysis and documentary method [ 51] will be applied, – based on the reconstruction of the sequential order of the discussion, to draw special attention to sequences in which participants show a high commitment (i.e. overlapping contributions of several participants) or in periods of silence within the group discussion.

BMC Family Practice

But even with well-intentioned pledges from companies to protect forests, the realities of operating in Indonesia, issues such as overlapping concession maps and corruption, can complicate commitments on the ground, admitted Dr Eric Meijaard, a conservation scientist from Borneo Futures.

The Guardian

There had also been a commitment from International Airlines Group - owner of BA and Iberia - to run overlapping Aer Lingus/Ryanair routes between Dublin and London Gatwick to ensure competition.

The Guardian - Business

The building blocks reflect a strong commitment to human rights, equality and democratic renewal which encompasses a multiplicity of overlapping relationships.

Stanford University

His main research interests involve the overlapping fields of lexical semantics and lexicology, with a specific descriptive interest in social variation, a strong methodological commitment to corpus analysis, and a theoretical background in Cognitive Linguistics.

Springer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "overlapping commitments", clearly specify which commitments are overlapping and what consequences or challenges arise from this overlap. This provides clarity and context for the reader.

Common error

Avoid simply stating you have "overlapping commitments" without addressing how you are managing them or which takes precedence. Not prioritizing leaves an impression of disorganization and inefficiency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "overlapping commitments" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. It describes a situation where multiple obligations or responsibilities coincide or conflict. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "overlapping commitments" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe concurrent or conflicting obligations. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, its frequency is currently missing, suggesting it may not be the most common way to express this concept. When using this phrase, clarity is key: specify which commitments overlap and any resulting challenges. Alternatives like "conflicting obligations" or "concurrent responsibilities" may be more appropriate depending on the context. The phrase maintains a neutral to professional register, making it suitable for various communication styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting obligations

Focuses on the conflict between duties rather than their mere coexistence.

concurrent responsibilities

Emphasizes the simultaneous nature of duties.

clashing engagements

Highlights the incompatibility of scheduled events.

competing priorities

Underscores the need to choose among important tasks.

scheduling conflicts

Specifically refers to problems with time management.

time constraints

Highlights that time is limited, causing commitments to compete.

dual responsibilities

Implies two main areas of accountability which may compete.

multiple obligations

Simply indicates a large number of duties.

packed schedule

Describes a full agenda which makes adding more obligations difficult.

tight schedule

Indicates a schedule with very little free time, causing conflicts in commitments.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "overlapping commitments" to sound more formal?

In formal contexts, you could use phrases like "concurrent responsibilities", "competing priorities", or "conflicting obligations" to replace "overlapping commitments".

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

It means they have multiple responsibilities or obligations that are scheduled at the same time or require attention simultaneously, creating a potential conflict or difficulty in managing them all effectively.

Is it better to say "overlapping commitments" or "conflicting commitments"?

The choice depends on the context. "Overlapping commitments" simply indicates that commitments coincide, while "conflicting commitments" suggests a direct incompatibility or competition between them.

How do I politely decline a request due to "overlapping commitments"?

You could say, "Thank you for the invitation, but due to "previous engagements"/commitments, I am unable to attend. I apologize for any inconvenience."