I contacted him

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I contacted him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to communicate that you reached out to someone. For example, "I contacted him for more information about the job opening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

I contacted him, then hired him.

The New York Times

I contacted him and he mentioned a position at Sun, which I assumed meant Sun Oil.

The New York Times

In fairness, Nigel Jennings, who runs the company, was quick to intervene when I contacted him.

The Guardian - Money

When I contacted him, Doug Foy chose to put a positive spin on Romney's climate-change odyssey.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I hope your article can clear up all the confusion," Senator Al Franken told me when I contacted him.

The New York Times - Magazine

I contacted him recently to get his sense of how comfortable the American lead is in science publishing.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

Two weeks later, I received a Facebook notification suggesting that I contact him.

The New Yorker

I had sent a copy of the magazine to Patrick McGovern, head of International Data Group, which published Computerworld, and he suggested I contact him if I needed anything.

The New York Times

When I contact him through bewelcome.org, he instantly invites me to stay at his student flat near Sabana Grande, one of the city's main commercial arteries.

The Guardian - Travel

"I did not find many [problematic] things in there because the design of the app — the protocol — is quite straightforward," says Couprie when I contact him for comment.

TechCrunch

When I first contacted him, he said, "Oh yeah, I've had people contact me about doing a movie before".

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I contacted him" when you want to clearly and directly state that you initiated communication with someone. It's suitable for formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using the passive voice (e.g., "He was contacted by me") when the active voice ("I contacted him") is more direct and concise. Active voice makes your writing stronger and easier to understand.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I contacted him" serves as a declarative statement indicating that the speaker initiated communication with a third party. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Examples show it used in various contexts, primarily to report on actions taken.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I contacted him" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to express that you initiated communication with someone. According to Ludwig AI, it is perfectly acceptable in written English. Its straightforward nature makes it suitable for various contexts, especially in news and media, as showcased by the many examples provided by Ludwig. While alternatives like "I reached out to him" exist, "I contacted him" remains a clear and direct way to convey this action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I reached out to him

Replaces "contacted" with a more conversational synonym "reached out to", maintaining the same meaning.

I got in touch with him

Uses the idiom "got in touch with" to convey the act of initiating communication.

I communicated with him

Emphasizes the act of exchanging information, suitable when the content of the interaction is important.

I spoke with him

Implies a direct verbal interaction, either in person or by phone.

I had a conversation with him

Highlights a more extended and involved exchange of ideas or information.

I emailed him

Specifies the method of communication as email.

I called him

Specifies the method of communication as a phone call.

I wrote to him

Specifies the method of communication as written correspondence.

I got ahold of him

Uses the informal phrase "got ahold of" to indicate making contact, often after some difficulty.

I approached him

Suggests a more formal or deliberate attempt to make contact, perhaps to discuss a specific issue.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "I reached out to him", "I got in touch with him", or "I communicated with him" depending on the context.

Is "I contacted him" formal or informal?

The phrase "I contacted him" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The level of formality often depends more on the surrounding language and the overall tone of the communication.

How do I use "I contacted him" in a sentence?

You can use "I contacted him" to clearly state that you initiated communication with someone. For example: "I contacted him to schedule a meeting", or "I contacted him for more information".

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

While both phrases mean you initiated communication, "I reached out to him" often implies a more personal or informal approach, while "I contacted him" is more neutral and direct.