I called him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I called him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past action of making a phone call to a male individual. Example: "After the meeting, I called him to discuss the project further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I called him up.

The New Yorker

I called him names.

The New Yorker

I called him back.

The New York Times

I called him.

The New York Times

So I called him.

The New York Times - Sports

I called him right back.

The New York Times

"I called him," she said.

The New York Times

I called him Mr. Ken.

The New York Times

I called him Sugar Daddy.

The New Yorker

Ms. Tsarnaeva: I called him.

The New York Times

I called him Friday morning.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your vocabulary by using synonyms like "I phoned him" or "I rang him" to make your writing more engaging.

Common error

Avoid using "I called him" when you actually communicated through a different medium, such as email or text message. Instead, use more appropriate phrases like "I emailed him" or "I texted him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I called him" functions as a simple declarative statement describing a past action. It indicates that the speaker made a phone call to a male individual. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I called him" is a grammatically sound and highly frequent phrase used to describe the action of making a phone call to a male individual. According to Ludwig AI, its correct and can be applied in numerous contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, it serves to convey information about a past event in a neutral register. For variety and nuance, consider alternatives like "I phoned him" or "I reached out to him", but remember that "I called him" is direct and easily understood in most situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I phoned him

Uses an alternative verb with the same meaning.

I rang him

Employs a different verb to indicate a phone call.

I gave him a call

Rephrases the action using a more descriptive expression.

I reached out to him

Indicates an attempt to make contact, not necessarily by phone.

I contacted him

A more formal way of saying you made contact.

I spoke to him on the phone

Specifies that the conversation happened over the phone.

I got in touch with him

Indicates establishing communication.

I communicated with him

Suggests a broader exchange of information.

I had a conversation with him

Focuses on the interaction rather than the act of calling.

I had words with him

Suggests a discussion, potentially an argument.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I called him"?

You can use alternatives like "I phoned him", "I rang him", or "I gave him a call" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify that I called "him"?

No, you can use "I called" if the person you called is already clear from the context. However, including "him" can provide clarity if it's not immediately obvious who you called.

What's the difference between "I called him" and "I reached out to him"?

"I called him" specifically means you made a phone call. "I reached out to him" is broader and can refer to any form of communication, including phone calls, emails, or messages.

When is it more appropriate to say "I contacted him" instead of "I called him"?

"I contacted him" is generally more formal and can be used when the specific method of communication is less important than the fact that communication occurred.