In today’s fast-paced world, there are many ways to convey that you are busy with work. Whether it’s in a formal email or a casual chat, using the right phrase can set the tone of your communication. Below are 17 different ways to express “I’m working,” each with a practical scenario to show how they can be used.
Struggling to find a new way to say “I’m working”? This article offers a variety of phrases to express your availability professionally and casually. Enhance your communication skills by using alternatives like “I’m currently occupied,” “I’m on a task,” or “I’m in the middle of something.”
List Of Different Ways to Say ‘I’m Working’ in English
- I’m in the middle of something.
- I’m tied up with work.
- I’m engaged in a task right now.
- I’m currently occupied.
- I’m on a work call.
- I’m in a meeting.
- I’m focused on a deadline.
- I’m dealing with some tasks right now.
- I’m working on a project.
- I’m in the zone.
- I’m knee-deep in work.
- I’m swamped right now.
- I’m buried in work.
- I’m hard at work.
- I’m putting in some overtime.
- I’m heading down right now.
- I’m on a tight deadline.
1. “I’m in the middle of something.”
Scenario:
Email to Mia:
Subject: Follow-Up on the Proposal
Hi Mia,
I hope you’re doing well. I’m just in the middle of something right now, but I’ll get back to your request as soon as I finish. I appreciate your patience in the meantime.
Best regards,
Hannah
2. “I’m tied up with work.”
Scenario:
Text Message to Mia:
Hey Mia,
I’d love to catch up, but I’m tied up with work at the moment. Let’s plan for the weekend instead!
Cheers,
Hannah
3. “I’m engaged in a task right now.”
Scenario:
Message in a group chat:
Hi team,
I’m currently engaged in a task that requires my full attention. I’ll review the documents and respond in an hour. Thanks for understanding!
Warm regards,
Hannah
4. “I’m currently occupied.”
Scenario:
Phone Call:
Mia calling
Hey Mia,
I’m sorry I can’t talk right now. I’m currently occupied with a project, but I’ll give you a call once I’m free.
Talk soon,
Hannah
5. “I’m on a work call.”
Scenario:
Email Autoresponder:
Subject: Out of Office Reply
Hi,
Thank you for your message. I am on a work call at the moment, and I’ll respond to your email as soon as I’m available.
Best,
Hannah
6. “I’m in a meeting.”
Scenario:
A quick message to Mia:
Hey Mia,
I’m sorry, but I’m in a meeting right now. I’ll call you when I’m done.
Best,
Hannah
7. “I’m focused on a deadline.”
Scenario:
Email to Mia:
Hi Mia,
I hope you’re doing well. I wanted to let you know that I’m focused on a deadline today, so I might be slower in responding. I’ll circle back once I’ve wrapped things up.
Kind regards,
Hannah
8. “I’m dealing with some tasks right now.”
Scenario:
Text to a colleague:
Hi,
I’m currently dealing with some tasks that require immediate attention. Could we reschedule our meeting for later today?
Thanks,
Hannah
9. “I’m working on a project.”
Scenario:
Slack Message:
Hey Mia,
I’m working on a project that’s taking most of my time today. I’ll be available to catch up later this afternoon.
Best,
Hannah
10. “I’m in the zone.”
Scenario:
Casual conversation:
Hey Mia,
Just a quick note—I’m really in the zone with this new project. I’ll catch up with you once I’ve made some progress.
Take care,
Hannah
11. “I’m knee-deep in work.”
Scenario:
Text to a friend:
Hey Mia,
I’m knee-deep in work today, but I’ll be free this evening. Let’s chat then!
Best,
Hannah
12. “I’m swamped right now.”
Scenario:
Email to a client:
Hi Mia,
I just wanted to inform you that I’m a bit swamped right now with some urgent tasks, but I’ll get back to you by the end of the day.
Thanks for your patience,
Hannah
13. “I’m buried in work.”
Scenario:
Quick text:
Hey Mia,
I’ve been buried in work all day, but I’m hoping to finish up soon. I’ll reach out later.
Best,
Hannah
14. “I’m hard at work.”
Scenario:
Email to a manager:
Hi Mia,
Just a quick update: I’m hard at work on the new project and should have a draft ready by tomorrow.
Best regards,
Hannah
15. “I’m putting in some overtime.”
Scenario:
Text message:
Hey Mia,
I’m putting in some overtime tonight, but I’m hoping to be done by 8 PM. Let’s chat after that!
Best,
Hannah
16. “I’m heading down right now.”
Scenario:
Email:
Hi Mia,
Just a quick heads-up—I’m currently heading down on a few projects and will respond to your email by the afternoon.
Thanks for understanding,
Hannah
17. “I’m on a tight deadline.”
Scenario:
Email response:
Hi Mia,
I’m working on a few things at the moment and am on a tight deadline for the next few hours. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
Best,
Hannah
These are just a few ways to creatively express that you are working. It’s always good to adapt your communication style depending on the formality of the situation and your relationship with the recipient. Keep the language professional when needed but feel free to use casual phrases in less formal contexts!
