I would regularly phone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I would regularly phone" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a habitual action of making phone calls in the past or in a conditional context. Example: "When I lived in the city, I would regularly phone my parents to check in on them."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Mahon would regularly phone arts ministers, urging them not starve museums of their funding or interfere with their independence.

Independent

Trump, who during the Obama years was in the spotlight as a reality TV star, would regularly phone into the program to unleash tirades against the president.

The Guardian

"I would regularly get sick until I started doing that".

Forbes

I'd regularly bump into a VC going somewhere that I'd just been, and vice versa.

TechCrunch

I'd regularly drop my bundle.

Vice

Those would be the first ones I would pick to phone and call".

BMC Family Practice

But perhaps I would have phoned and asked 'what is it with this delay?'.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

"He'd show up to training, and regularly phoned me and several of the other players to check that we were OK.

The Guardian - Sport

I'd phone a couple of people.

The Guardian - Film

Group 4 Participant: "…I would like a phone call.

Genetics in Medicine

"I would get phone calls.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past habits, consider using "used to call" or "often called" for a more straightforward and common way to express the action, instead of "I would regularly phone".

Common error

Avoid overusing "would" to describe past habits, as it can sometimes sound unnatural. Vary your sentence structure by incorporating "used to" or adverbs of frequency like "often", "frequently", or "regularly" with simple past tense forms.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I would regularly phone" functions as a statement of past habitual action or a conditional statement. It indicates a repeated action of making phone calls, as confirmed by Ludwig's analysis of similar examples.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I would regularly phone" is grammatically correct, though not very common. As Ludwig indicates, it describes a past habit or a conditional situation. Alternatives such as "I used to call" or "I often called" are more frequently used. While the phrase is valid, considering context and audience can help in choosing a more conventional wording. This phrase can be understood across different registers, yet aiming for more common alternatives can enhance clarity and naturalness in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I would frequently call

Substitutes "regularly" with "frequently" to keep the original structure while offering a synonym.

I used to call frequently

Emphasizes past habit, replacing "would" with "used to" for a more direct indication of a past routine, and replaces "regularly phone" with a more direct synonym.

I often called

Simplifies the phrasing by using "often" instead of "regularly", making it more concise and direct.

I habitually phoned

Replaces "regularly" with "habitually" to emphasize the routine nature of the calls, adding a slightly more formal tone.

I regularly made calls

Changes sentence structure and uses a more neutral tone.

I consistently made phone calls

Replaces the verb "phone" with "made phone calls", changing the structure slightly and adding emphasis on the action of making calls.

I was in the habit of calling

Highlights the habitual nature using a descriptive phrase, distancing it slightly from a simple action.

I made it a point to phone

Emphasizes the intention and effort behind making the calls, rather than just the frequency.

I had a tendency to call regularly

Implies a natural inclination to call regularly, rather than a deliberate or planned action. Can also implies that the author changed this tendency.

I'd regularly give someone a call

Adds colloquial feel and is less direct.

FAQs

What's a more common way to say "I would regularly phone"?

You can use alternatives like "I used to call" or "I often called". These phrases are generally more common and straightforward.

Is it incorrect to say "I would regularly phone"?

No, it's not grammatically incorrect, but it's less common. Phrases like "I regularly called" or "I would call regularly" might sound more natural to native speakers.

What's the difference between "I would regularly phone" and "I used to phone"?

"I used to phone" implies a past habit that is no longer practiced. "I would regularly phone" suggests a past habit without necessarily implying it has stopped. However, "I would regularly phone" can also describe a hypothetical situation.

Can I use "I will regularly phone" to talk about future habits?

While grammatically correct, "I will regularly phone" isn't as common as "I will call regularly" or "I plan to call regularly". Consider these alternatives for a more natural sound.