owing to other commitments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "owing to other commitments" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to explain a reason for being unable to do something due to prior obligations or responsibilities. Example: "I regret to inform you that I cannot attend the meeting, owing to other commitments I have scheduled for that day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Sometimes even the coaches cannot attend every session owing to other commitments.

Independent

She continued: "It's something I would definitely be up for," also revealing that plans for a Christmas special had been dropped owing to other commitments.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Jones, 24, joined the radio soap at 15 through her drama group at Birmingham's Television Workshop, but has appeared as Emma Grundy only intermittently, owing to other commitments: roles in The Worst Witch and Joe Absolom's Servants and an English degree at Oxford, completed in 2006.

The Guardian

Simpson who is ranked number 48 in the world, is not part of Guernsey's team for next month's Island Games, owing to other commitments.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Of the remaining 37%, most declined owing to other work commitments and a few were deemed unsuitable as a result of their literacy levels being too low to deliver the curriculum (as determined from a short reading comprehension test designed and administered by us).

British Medical Journal

During discussions Jacob and Faraj offered the governing body precise details of the club's financial commitments regarding monies owed to other English clubs, HMRC – which served a winding-up petition on Fratton Park before Christmas – and the former owner SachaGaydamak, who is due at least £28m.

The Guardian - Sport

"In that there's £50million owed to banks, there's £40million owed to other clubs.

Independent

the time I always owe to other people.

Los Angeles Times

We should respect the prohibitive decencies we owe to others.

The Guardian - Opinion

Only President Hassan Rouhani was absent, due to other commitments.

The Guardian

Robert Piper left the group in 1985 due to other commitments.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "owing to other commitments", ensure the context clearly establishes what those commitments are, even if they aren't explicitly named. This provides clarity and avoids vagueness.

Common error

Avoid using "owing to other commitments" in casual conversations or informal writing. Simpler alternatives like "I'm busy" or "I have other plans" are more appropriate for these situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "owing to other commitments" functions as a causal adverbial phrase, explaining the reason or cause for a particular situation or inability to perform an action. It introduces a reason for absence or declining an offer. Ludwig AI shows this in various examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "owing to other commitments" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in formal English, used to explain the reason for being unable to fulfill an obligation. Ludwig AI confirms it's a valid explanation for why someone cannot participate in something. While not extremely common, it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedic sources. Remember to use this phrase appropriately in formal settings, and be mindful of the implied level of formality. For more casual situations, consider simpler alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

due to prior obligations

Replaces "owing to" with "due to" and "other commitments" with a more formal "prior obligations".

due to preexisting obligations

Similar to "due to prior obligations" but uses "preexisting" to emphasize the established nature of the commitments.

because of other responsibilities

Substitutes "owing to" with "because of" and uses the word "responsibilities" instead of "commitments".

as a result of conflicting commitments

Uses "as a result of" for a more emphatic causal connection and specifies that the commitments are conflicting.

on account of previous engagements

A more formal and sophisticated alternative, replacing "owing to" with "on account of" and "commitments" with "engagements".

constrained by existing appointments

Highlights the limiting factor of already scheduled appointments.

due to a conflict in schedule

Focuses specifically on scheduling conflicts as the reason.

prevented by prior arrangements

Highlights that previous arrangements are the obstacle.

due to other plans

A simpler and more direct way of expressing the reason.

because I have other things to do

An informal and straightforward alternative.

FAQs

What does "owing to other commitments" mean?

The phrase "owing to other commitments" means that someone is unable to do something because they have already made plans or have responsibilities that prevent them from being available.

What can I say instead of "owing to other commitments"?

You can use alternatives like "due to prior obligations", "because of other responsibilities", or "due to other plans" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "due to other commitments"?

Yes, "due to other commitments" is a correct and commonly used alternative to "owing to other commitments". Both phrases have the same meaning.

How formal is the phrase "owing to other commitments"?

The phrase "owing to other commitments" is relatively formal. Less formal alternatives include "because I'm busy" or "I have other plans".