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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
Due to previous commitments
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "due to previous commitments" is correct and can be used in written English
You can use this phrase when referring to a reason why someone may not be able to attend something. For example, "I'm sorry, I won't be able to attend the meeting tomorrow due to previous commitments."
✓ Grammatically correct
News & Media
Wiki
Science
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
2 human-written examples
But Cash's spokesman told Guardian Australia she would not appear due to previous commitments in Perth.
News & Media
According to the Hollywood Reporter, Phoenix turned it down, while Driver was unavailable due to previous commitments.
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
58 human-written examples
A spokeswoman for Corker said the hearing was postponed because State Department officials were unavailable due to previous travel commitments.
News & Media
I was unable to attend, unfortunately, due to previous engagements.
News & Media
problems, due to previous living conditions, as well as neglect.
News & Media
Paul Bettany confirmed that he would be returning to voice J.A.R.V.I.S. Marvel entered into early talks with Emily Blunt to play the Black Widow, though she was unable to take the role due to a previous commitment to star in Gulliver's Travels.
Wiki
Due to a previous commitment, I missed her midnight showcase, but saw her perform a lively but abbreviated set at a Friday afternoon event put on by her talent booking agency.
News & Media
Oh, and I apologize in advance if anything important happens today, because I am writing this column a day in advance due to a previous commitment on Friday -- so late-breaking news will not be covered this week, sorry about that.
News & Media
Plant's name had previously been absent from the songwriting credits of the band's first album due to the previous contractual commitments that resulted from his earlier association with CBS Records as a solo artist.
Wiki
"That also means Greece sticking to its previous commitments".
News & Media
But he said the Greek government had to respect previous commitments.
News & Media
Expert writing Tips
✓ Best practice
When using "due to previous commitments", ensure it's followed by a clear explanation of the impact, such as "unable to attend" or "unable to complete the task on time", to provide context.
⚠ Common error
Avoid using "due to previous commitments" when the commitments are not the direct cause of the inability. For example, instead of "The project failed, due to previous commitments", consider revising it to clarify the causal link, such as "The project's timeline was impacted, due to previous commitments of key personnel".
Linguistic Context
The phrase "due to previous commitments" functions as an adverbial phrase, providing a reason or explanation for a situation. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal communication.
Expression frequency: Uncommon
✓ Frequent in
News & Media
60%
Wiki
20%
Science
20%
⚠ Less common in
Formal & Business
0%
Academia
0%
Reference
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "due to previous commitments" serves as a polite and clear explanation for one's inability to fulfill a request or attend an event. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness, although its frequency is relatively uncommon. The phrase is most often found in news and media, as well as Wiki articles, maintaining a neutral to professional tone. When using this phrase, ensure that the "commitments" are the direct cause and provide clear context for the impact of these commitments. Consider alternatives like "because of prior engagements" or "owing to existing obligations" for subtle variations in formality.
Alternative expressions
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
because of prior engagements
Replaces "due to" with "because of" and "commitments" with the more formal "engagements", maintaining the same meaning.
owing to existing obligations
Substitutes "due to" with "owing to" and "previous commitments" with "existing obligations", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.
on account of prior responsibilities
Replaces "due to" with "on account of" and "commitments" with "responsibilities", offering a more descriptive alternative.
because of earlier obligations
Uses "because of" instead of "due to" and "earlier" instead of "previous", providing a simple substitution.
prevented by prior arrangements
Shifts the focus to the prevention aspect using "prevented by" and replaces "commitments" with "arrangements".
unable to attend due to prior bookings
Specifically indicates inability to attend and substitutes "commitments" with "bookings", suitable for event-related contexts.
FAQs
How can I use "due to previous commitments" in a sentence?
You can use "due to previous commitments" to explain why someone cannot attend an event, meet a deadline, or take on a new task. For example, "I am unable to attend the meeting "due to previous commitments"".
What can I say instead of "due to previous commitments"?
You can use alternatives like "because of prior engagements", "owing to existing obligations", or "on account of prior responsibilities" depending on the context.
Is it better to say "due to previous engagements" or "due to previous commitments"?
Both phrases are grammatically correct, but ""due to previous commitments"" is more common and generally applicable. "Engagements" might imply more formal or social obligations.
What is the difference between "due to previous commitments" and "due to conflicting priorities"?
"Due to previous commitments" suggests a prior obligation that was already in place, while "due to conflicting priorities" suggests a choice between multiple current demands.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
84%
Authority and reliability
4.5/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested