English Expressions for Time Management: Are We Doing Good on Time?
Time management is crucial in our daily lives, especially when we have appointments, performances, or museum visits. In this post, we'll explore useful English expressions for discussing time constraints and schedules. Whether you're running early, perfectly on time, or a bit behind, these phrases will help you navigate time-related conversations with confidence.
Essential Time Management Expressions
"Doing Good on Time"
One of the most practical expressions for discussing time management is "doing good on time." This phrase indicates that you're managing your schedule well and are not at risk of being late.
Example situations:
- You need to catch a 3 PM train, and it's currently 12:30 PM
- You have 30 minutes before you need to leave for an appointment
- You're monitoring your progress through a scheduled activity
Common variations:
- "I'm doing good on time" (personal assessment)
- "We're doing good on time" (group assessment)
- "I'm doing great on time" (very comfortable with timing)
Checking Time Status
When you want to check if you're on schedule, these expressions come in handy:
"How are we doing on time?"
This question asks about the current time situation. It's a casual way to check if you're running on schedule or falling behind.
Context: When you're with others and want to know if the group is keeping pace with a schedule.
"Where are we at on time?"
This expression asks about your current position in relation to a schedule. The phrase "on time" here doesn't mean "punctual" but rather "regarding time" or "time-wise."
Context: When you need a more specific assessment of your progress against a timeline.
Expressing Time Concerns
When You're Running Late
Sometimes things don't go according to plan. Here's how to express that you might be running behind:
- "We're not doing so great on time"
- "We're not doing good on time"
Can stress be relieved by time management?
These expressions politely indicate that you're falling behind schedule and might need to hurry.
Planning Departures
When discussing when to leave, these expressions are commonly used:
"I'm going to head out"
Instead of saying "go out" (which can imply social activities), use "head out" or "leave" when you're departing from a location.
"In about [time period]"
When specifying when you'll leave, "in about" indicates an approximate time:
- "I'm going to head out in about 20 minutes"
- "Let's leave in about an hour"
This is more natural than saying "after 20 minutes."
Real-Life Examples
Example 1: Before a Bus Trip
Situation: You have a bus ticket for a trip in one hour. You're hungry and want to eat before the bus departs.
Conversation:
- Friend: "How are we doing on time?"
- You: "We're doing great on time. We still have 30 minutes before we need to head to the bus station."
Example 2: Running Late for an Appointment
Situation: You're getting ready for an appointment, but preparations are taking longer than expected.
Conversation:
- You: "We're not doing good on time. I think we should call a taxi."
- Friend: "You're right, let's hurry."
Example 3: Classroom Time Management
Situation: You're teaching a one-hour class but have too much material to cover.
Thought process: "How are we doing on time? We've only covered 50% of the material, but only 20 minutes remain."
Practical Usage Tips
- Use "doing good/great on time" when you have sufficient time before a deadline
- Ask "how are we doing on time?" to check the current time status
- Express concern with "not doing good on time" when you're running behind
- Use "head out" or "leave" rather than "go out" when departing
- Specify approximate departure times with "in about [time period]"
These expressions will help you navigate time-sensitive situations smoothly and communicate your time status effectively in English.
Common Mistakes
Here are 10 common mistakes learners make when using time-related expressions:
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Mistake: "I'm doing good on time."
Correction: "I'm doing well on time."
"Good" is an adjective, but when used with "doing," you need to use "well" (an adverb) to describe how you're performing. -
Mistake: "Where we at on time?"
Correction: "Where are we at on time?"
Always remember to use the correct subject-verb order (i.e., "Where are we") for grammatical accuracy. -
Mistake: "I'm going to head out in about 20 minutes later."
Correction: "I'm going to head out in about 20 minutes."
"Later" is unnecessary when using "about" to indicate approximate time. -
Mistake: "We’re not doing good on time."
Correction: "We’re not doing well on time."
"Well" should be used instead of "good" when referring to how you’re doing or performing in general. -
Mistake: "How are you doing on time?" (in a very formal setting)
Correction: "How are we doing on time?" or "How is the time looking?"
"How are you doing on time?" might sound a bit too casual for formal situations, so adjust based on the context. -
Mistake: "Let's leave in about 20 minutes after."
Correction: "Let's leave in about 20 minutes."
"After" is not needed here. You can simply say "in about 20 minutes." -
Mistake: "We need to go out in 30 minutes."
Correction: "We need to head out in 30 minutes."
"Head out" is more appropriate when you're leaving for a destination, rather than "go out," which is more casual and can imply socializing. -
Mistake: "We’re not on time."
Correction: "We’re running late."
"We’re not on time" is less common; "running late" is a more natural and widely used expression. -
Mistake: "How we are doing on time?"
Correction: "How are we doing on time?"
Make sure the subject ("we") and verb ("are") are correctly ordered in questions. -
Mistake: "I think we will head out in about a hour."
Correction: "I think we will head out in about an hour."
"A hour" should be "an hour" because the vowel sound in "hour" makes it take "an" instead of "a."
Quiz
1. Which of these is correct?
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a) I’m doing good on time.
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b) I’m doing well on time.
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Correct Answer: b) I’m doing well on time.
2. Which expression would you use when you're asking about the status of time?
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a) How is we doing on time?
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b) How are we doing on time?
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Correct Answer: b) How are we doing on time?
3. Which phrase is more natural for saying you're leaving soon?
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a) I’m going to head out in about 20 minutes.
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b) I’m going to go out in about 20 minutes.
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Correct Answer: a) I’m going to head out in about 20 minutes.
4. What is the correct phrase to use when you're running late?
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a) We’re not doing great on time.
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b) We’re doing great on time.
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Correct Answer: a) We’re not doing great on time.
5. What is the mistake in the following sentence? "We need to go out in 30 minutes later."
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a) "Go out" should be "head out."
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b) "Later" is unnecessary.
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Correct Answer: b) "Later" is unnecessary.
6. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
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a) Where we are at on time?
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b) Where are we at on time?
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Correct Answer: b) Where are we at on time?
7. Which of these is a good way to say that you’re running on schedule?
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a) I’m doing good on time.
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b) I’m doing well on time.
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Correct Answer: b) I’m doing well on time.
8. Which expression is used when you need to hurry because you're behind?
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a) We're doing well on time.
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b) We're not doing so great on time.
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Correct Answer: b) We're not doing so great on time.
9. What does "head out" mean?
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a) To go out for fun.
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b) To leave for a specific purpose.
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Correct Answer: b) To leave for a specific purpose.
10. What’s the correct expression to ask about time when you’re with a group?
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a) How are you doing on time?
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b) How are we doing on time?
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Correct Answer: b) How are we doing on time?
FAQ
1. What does "doing well on time" mean?
It means you're managing your time effectively and aren't at risk of being late.
2. Can I use "schedule conflict" instead of "scheduling conflict"?
No, "scheduling conflict" is the correct term because "scheduling" refers to the action of planning or organizing, while "schedule" is a noun.
3. When should I use "head out"?
"Head out" should be used when you are leaving a location for a specific destination, like heading out to a meeting or event.
4. Is it okay to say "We're doing good on time"?
While it’s commonly used in informal conversations, the grammatically correct form is "We're doing well on time."
5. How do I ask if we are on schedule in a group?
You can say, "How are we doing on time?" to check if the group is on schedule.
6. What’s the difference between "on time" and "doing well on time"?
"On time" means you're punctual, while "doing well on time" means you're managing your time effectively with no immediate concerns about being late.
7. Can I say "We need to go out in 30 minutes later"?
No, the correct phrase is "We need to head out in 30 minutes." The word "later" is unnecessary.
8. When should I use "in about [time period]"?
Use this when giving an approximate time for when you’ll leave or do something, like "in about 20 minutes."
9. What’s the meaning of "We’re not doing so great on time"?
It means you're behind schedule and may need to hurry up to stay on track.
10. Is it correct to say, "How we are doing on time?"
No, the correct question is "How are we doing on time?" The word order needs to be adjusted for proper grammar.
Key Takeaways
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"Doing well on time" is the correct way to express that you are managing your time effectively.
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Use "How are we doing on time?" to ask about the status of time in a group or event.
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"Head out" is the best phrase to use when leaving for a specific purpose, like an appointment or event.
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"In about [time period]" is a natural way to give an approximate time for when you’ll leave or take action.
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To express being behind schedule, use phrases like "We're not doing so great on time" or "We're running late."
Real-Life Scenarios
Scenario 1: Catching a Flight
You're at the airport, and your flight departs in 45 minutes. You're doing well on time, but you want to check how much time you have before boarding.
Conversation:
You: "How are we doing on time?"
Friend: "We’re doing great. We still have 40 minutes before we need to head to the gate."
Scenario 2: Running Late for a Meeting
You're scheduled for a meeting at 2 PM, but your preparations are taking longer than expected.
Conversation:
You: "We’re not doing so great on time. I think we need to leave now to make it on time."
Colleague: "Okay, I’ll get the car ready."
Scenario 3: Managing a Workshop Schedule
You’re running a workshop and need to manage time so that all topics are covered.
Thought process: "How are we doing on time? We still need to go over the last two topics in 30 minutes."
Conclusion
Managing time effectively is an essential skill, and having the right expressions to discuss timing helps ensure everyone stays on the same page. Whether you're doing great on time or need to hurry, these phrases will help you communicate clearly about schedules and timing in English.
