prevented by prior commitments

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prevented by prior commitments" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when explaining that someone is unable to participate in an event or activity due to existing obligations or responsibilities. Example: "I would love to attend the meeting, but I am prevented by prior commitments."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

These effects of suckling, however, could be prevented by prior activation of ductal mechanoreceptors.

Physiology & Behavior

This was prevented by prior heparinization [42].

Clinical and Translational Medicine

Viral contamination of the syringe was not prevented by flushing the infected needle prior to removal.

Duke University

The bacterial contamination of the syringe can be prevented by flushing the contaminated needle prior to changing.

Duke University

Surprisingly, however, this aggregation was almost completely prevented by the addition of cycloheximide prior to the temperature shift (Figure 4A).

Plosone

Anemia may be prevented by compatible homologous red cell transfusion prior to chemotherapy.

Cancer Medicine

Alas, he had left, probably due to "prior commitments".

Vice

Canada needs to live up to prior commitments".

Vice

By mid-July, the film had gone through five assistant directors and innumerable crew members, many whom left because of prior commitments to other films.

Los Angeles Times

Dhani Harrison was unable to attend because of prior commitments.

Los Angeles Times

Each of these behavioral responses is prevented by pretreatment with the neurosteroid biosynthesis inhibitor finasteride and/or by prior adrenalectomy.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "prevented by prior commitments" when you want to politely explain that you cannot accept an invitation or fulfill a request due to existing obligations. This conveys respect for the person making the request while clearly stating your unavailability.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of passive constructions like "prevented by" can sound less direct. Consider rephrasing to use an active voice construction such as "prior commitments prevent me from..." for a more assertive tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prevented by prior commitments" functions as an adverbial phrase, specifically a causal phrase. It modifies a verb by explaining the reason why an action cannot be performed or an invitation cannot be accepted. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "prevented by prior commitments" is a grammatically sound and polite way to explain that one is unable to accept an invitation or fulfill a request due to pre-existing obligations. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for use in various contexts, particularly in professional settings. While there are no exact matches in the given data, the absence of examples doesn't negate its validity. Alternatives such as "unable to attend due to prior engagements" or "precluded by existing obligations" can be used for variety. When using the phrase, consider the tone and ensure that the context aligns with the polite and respectful intention of the expression. Overuse of passive voice should be avoided for a more direct delivery.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Unable to participate because of prior obligations

Directly states inability to participate and uses "obligations" as a synonym.

Prior obligations make attendance impossible

Highlights the impact of prior obligations on attendance.

Unable to attend due to prior engagements

Replaces "prevented" with "unable to attend" and "commitments" with "engagements".

Due to previous engagements, I cannot attend

Rearranges the sentence structure to lead with the reason for absence.

Precluded by existing obligations

Uses "precluded" instead of "prevented" and emphasizes the binding nature of the obligations.

Existing duties prevent participation

Emphasizes the duties that impede participation.

Restrained by previous responsibilities

Substitutes "prevented" with "restrained" and uses "responsibilities" instead of "commitments".

Conflicted with earlier scheduled activities

Focuses on the conflict in scheduling that makes attendance impossible.

Previous scheduling conflicts impede participation

Focuses on the scheduling conflicts that hinder participation.

Tied up with pre-existing arrangements

Highlights the binding nature of the arrangements already in place.

FAQs

How can I use "prevented by prior commitments" in a sentence?

You can use "prevented by prior commitments" to explain why you cannot attend an event or take on a task. For example, "I would love to help with the project, but I am "prevented by prior commitments"." Note: The link is solely for demonstration and is not a true related phrase page.

What is a more direct way to say "prevented by prior commitments"?

A more direct way to express the same idea is to say "I have existing obligations" or "I am already scheduled to do something else". These options are more concise and avoid the passive construction of "prevented by". Note: The links are solely for demonstration and are not true related phrase pages.

Is it acceptable to use "prior commitments" in a formal setting?

Yes, "prior commitments" is perfectly acceptable in formal settings. It's a professional and polite way to decline an invitation or request. The level of formality will be slightly adjusted by your audience. Note: The links are solely for demonstration and are not true related phrase pages.

What's the difference between saying "I have a prior commitment" and "I'm busy"?

Saying "I have a prior commitment" is more polite and specific than saying "I'm busy". It suggests that you have a pre-existing obligation that you must attend to, rather than simply being generally unavailable. "I'm busy" can sound dismissive. Note: The links are solely for demonstration and are not true related phrase pages.