I touched base with

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I touched base with" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in a professional context to indicate that you have made contact or communicated with someone, often to check in or update them. Example: "I touched base with the marketing team to discuss our upcoming campaign."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

I touched base with Naylor to find out how his secession plans were faring.

The New York Times

I touched base with him regularly for an update on that and subsequent delays.

The New York Times

Between meeting with my philosophy class and helping with the school evacuation, I touched base with Spectator staff members, urging them to stay safe and to take notes.

The New York Times

In preparing my defence of administrative criminology, I touched base with some ex-colleagues (now in their senior University posts).

Crime Science

In the event that I'm way too cynical, I touched base with Paradigm CEO Joelle Emerson, the startup founder working with companies like Pinterest, Airbnb and Asana on diversity, to see what she has to say about it.

TechCrunch

To digest the information, I touched base with Lisa Shannon, author of A Thousand Sisters.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Within hours of Dr. Dean's pulling out, the Kerry campaign said it touched base with every single elected official who had endorsed Dr. Dean.

The New York Times

Because I'm sure that every single friend I think I've touched base with feels the same way about me.

Huffington Post

For example, I've touched base with a handful of friends I only knew in passing in high school and college.

Huffington Post

I had touched base with Dexter over Facebook, and we planned to meet at his house after I'd had Christmas dinner with my step-mothers family.

Huffington Post

"I've touched base with most of them, quite often, actually," Roberts said.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I touched base with" when you want to convey a brief check-in or update, especially in professional settings. It suggests efficiency and a quick exchange of information.

Common error

Avoid using "I touched base with" too frequently in a single piece of writing. Vary your language by using alternatives like "I contacted", "I spoke with", or "I reached out to" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I touched base with" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the action of making contact or communicating with someone. Ludwig examples show its use to report on communication with individuals or groups, as in, "I touched base with Naylor to find out how his secession plans were faring."

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Formal & Business

11%

Science

11%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I touched base with" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to indicate that contact has been made with someone, often for a specific purpose. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's prevalent in news media and professional contexts. While it's generally acceptable, varying your language with alternatives like "I contacted" or "I reached out to" can enhance writing quality. Ensure you use it appropriately, especially in more formal settings where a slightly more formal alternative may be preferred.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I contacted

Direct replacement emphasizing the act of making contact.

I got in touch with

Emphasizes establishing communication with someone.

I reached out to

Highlights the effort made to initiate contact.

I communicated with

Focuses on the exchange of information.

I spoke with

Specifically refers to a verbal conversation.

I checked in with

Implies a brief follow-up or status update.

I consulted with

Suggests seeking advice or information from someone.

I conferred with

Indicates a formal discussion or meeting.

I connected with

A more general term for establishing a connection.

I had a discussion with

Highlights the interactive nature of the communication.

FAQs

What does "I touched base with" mean?

The phrase "I touched base with" means that you contacted someone briefly, usually to check in, update them on something, or exchange information.

What can I say instead of "I touched base with"?

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

Is it appropriate to use "I touched base with" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "I touched base with" leans towards informal. In very formal contexts, consider using "I contacted" or "I communicated with".

How to use "I touched base with" in a sentence?

You can use "I touched base with" to indicate you made contact. For example, "I touched base with the team to review the project timeline."