Do you want to find out someone’s availability right now? “Are you free?” seems like a good choice, but is it effective formally?
This article will explore some synonyms you can use to find out how to ask someone if they are free to talk. There are quite a few useful options available!
Other Ways to Ask “Are You Free?”
- Do you have a moment to talk?
- Have you got the time?
- Are you available?
- When are you free to do this?
- Can you do it right now?
- Does now work?
- Are you around?
- Have you got a moment?
- Can we do this now?
- Let’s do it now
- Please tell me you’re free
- When will this work for you?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Are you free?” works well in some cases but usually requires more words to create a polite question.
- “Do you have a moment to talk?” is a suitable formal synonym that works in emails and writing.
- “Have you got the time?” is a more informal option that works well in many cases.
There are plenty of synonyms available! It’s worth looking into them deeper, so keep reading to learn about the most important ones.
You can skip to the end to learn more about “are you free?” as well. We’ve touched on whether it’s correct to use the question both formally and informally.
Do You Have a Moment to Talk? (Formal)
Firstly, “do you have a moment to talk?” is an excellent professional synonym for “are you free?” It checks to see whether someone has the time immediately to discuss something important.
Generally, most people will be happy to talk to you after you ask this question. “Moment” is the key here. It shows that you’re trying to take a few minutes out of their day to discuss something with them.
Try using it when asking your boss a question. It shows respect toward them, especially if you know they are quite busy during the workday.
We certainly think “do you have a moment to talk?” is just as effective as “are you free?” in most cases. You can use either phrase in formal emails to let someone know you need to speak with them.
Check out these examples to show you how to use it:
Dear Harry,
Do you have a moment to talk? It’s important that we run through these options before the meeting tomorrow.
Kind regards,
Georgina
Do you have a moment to talk? I’m still interested to hear what you have to say regarding the situation.
Have You Got the Time? (Informal)
“Have you got the time?” is a much more informal alternative you can use on a call or in person. After all, it shows you are keen to speak with someone and want to check whether they can speak right away.
Using “have you got” in a question like this generally makes it sound more conversational. That’s why it’s not all that effective formally.
You will succeed with “have you got the time?” when asking colleagues whether they can talk to you inside or outside the workplace. This allows them to check whether they’re free before agreeing to anything.
We don’t think that “have you got the time?” is more effective than “are you free?” in formal settings, though. So, stick with “are you free?” if you need to know someone’s immediate availability in business emails.
Here are a few examples to show you how you might use it:
I’m sorry, but have you got the time right now? I’d love to pick your brain and see what you think.
Have you got the time? If not, I’m sure we’ll be able to find another way to go about this.
Is It Correct to Say “Are You Free?”
“Are you free?” is grammatically correct and formal. It’s very common to see this phrase in formal emails when someone wants to check your immediate availability.
However, you should add more words if you want to be polite. “Are you free?” on its own can be a bit snappy. Instead, try saying one of the following variations:
- Are you free to talk?
- Are you free tomorrow?
- So, are you free for a call?
- Are you free for a quick call?
- Are you free now?
Each of these allows you to be more specific. This will generally come across as more polite, allowing you to ask for someone’s specific availability in business contexts.
Hopefully, we’ve answered all your questions right now! Feel free to bookmark this page and come back later if you ever have to remind yourself of the best synonyms, though!
