Errands To Run: How To Correctly Use The Phrase (9 Examples)

Knowing all there is about sayings in English is impossible; there are simply too many out there! However, learning all we can about the ones we see as they appear is a great way to extend our knowledge and develop our vocabulary over time. Let’s look at the correct way to use “errands to run” in a sentence.

What Does “Errands To Run” Mean?

The meaning of “errands to run” is that someone has a task they need to do. Whether someone has asked them to do the task (like a boss or school assignment) or they’ve set it for themselves (like a household chore), an errand is a task needing completing.

9 Ways To Correctly Use “Errands To Run” In A Sentence

There are plenty of variations of “errands to run” in English. We thought it would be smart to run you through some examples using each variation we can think of. That way, you can see how it might come up in a sentence and what you can do to use it yourself. Most of them work regardless of the context; it just comes down to which one you prefer the look of.

  1. I have errands to run.
  2. She told me she had some errands to run.
  3. I have to run some errands.
  4. We have to run errands all day.
  5. I got some errands to run from my boss.
  6. My boss gave me errands to run.
  7. Do you have any more errands to run?
  8. You need some errands to run to keep you busy.
  9. We best run some errands before our mother gets back.

In each of these examples, you can see how easy it is to change the order. “Errands to run” and “run errands” or “run some errands” are all interchangeable with each other. Most people use “run errands” instead of any other form, but it’s up to you which one you like best.

I Was Running Some Errands Vs. I Had Some Errands To Run

What happens when we start changing the format around slightly then? Well, we’ll first look at the difference between “I was running some errands” and “I had some errands to run.”

Both sentences imply that there are multiple tasks in need of completion. When we include “some” before “errands,” it typically means that there are more than two (the “some” implies that we’re working with more than a lower amount of errands).

“I was running some errands” is the past tense form of saying that you’ve previously been running errands, but you are finished with them now. “I had some errands to run” means that somebody asked you to do some chores in the past, and that’s why you were previously busy.

Both sayings are interchangeable and mean roughly the same thing. The only noticeable difference is that you usually say “had some” when telling someone else that the errands were given to you. Even if you set the errands specifically for yourself to do at a certain time, this still counts as a good way to use the saying.

Some Errands To Make Vs. Some Errands To Run

Some people believe that there isn’t much difference between “some errands to make” and “some errands to run.” However, it’s worth mentioning straight away that “making errands” is incorrect and should not be used.

The only form of the phrase that works is “some errands to run.”

In the case of “errands,” we “run” them to imply that we’re moving around in a hurry to make sure we get them all done. The verb “to run” is used to show that we’re working on making sure all the errands are done in a particular time frame.

Using the verb “to make” instead doesn’t work. It’s impossible to “make” an “errand” because it would imply that we have to do something particular to fix a problem. Not all errands are problems that need fixing, and therefore we don’t have to “make” anything happen to complete them. The verb just doesn’t fit in any situation when we’re talking about running errands.

Is It Better To Say “Errands To Run” Or “Things To Do”?

While “errands to run” is fantastic, it’s just an elaborate way to say “things to do.” However, choosing which one to use is entirely up to you.

Both phrases have the same meanings and are synonyms of each other. Some people believe that “errands to run” is a more formal alternative and that most “errands” happen in the workplace or a household. However, this isn’t always the case.

You can say whichever one you think works best for the situation. “Things to do” is certainly more informal and shouldn’t be used in a business format, but otherwise, you can use either one you want. It’s mostly personal preference.

You’ll find most native speakers prefer saying they have “errands to run.” There’s no real reason or explanation that makes this the case. It might be something as simple as the fact that they prefer the way the phrase sounds.

Synonyms For “Errands To Run”

Finally, we’ll show you some alternatives to “errands to run.” That way, if you’re not sure you want to use the saying, or you’d instead just use something with the same meaning, you have options. All of these synonyms mean the same thing, so you will always convey your purpose in your writing no matter which one you choose.

  • Things to do

We’ve mentioned it above, but this is an excellent informal alternative if you want to use it.

  • Jobs to complete

Jobs is a good synonym for “errands,” and “complete” is a synonym for “run” or “do,” making it a good saying to replace the original phrase.

  • Tasks to get on with

“To get on with” implies that things need to be completed. This means that we can use this synonym as a good way of saying we have “errands to run.”

  • Busy with chores

This time, we’re telling people that our chores have kept us busy today and that might be why we’re not able to do something like meet up with them (until those chores are completed).