Made a phone call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Made a phone call" is correct and usable in written English
You can use it when referring to the action of calling someone on the phone in both formal and informal contexts. Example: "After the meeting, I made a phone call to discuss the project further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The officer made a phone call.

The New York Times - Books

Instead, his office made a phone call.

The New York Times

Obama made a phone call.

The Washington Post

"Somebody made a phone call," and he was producing her.

The New York Times - Arts

That failed, so he made a phone call.

The New York Times

Shomaker made a phone call, while plugging and unplugging cables.

The New Yorker

Haven't made a phone call to Russia in years.

The Washington Post

But then, after blindfolding him, his three captors made a phone call that revealed baser motives.

The New York Times

(Luckily, I had first made a phone call to inform my colleagues of my whereabouts).

The New Yorker

GONZALES: Mr. Battle made phone calls that -- I made a phone call to Senator Kyl.

The Washington Post

Levy made a phone call and gave an estimate of about $2,000.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Made a phone call" when you want to emphasize the action of initiating a phone conversation, especially in narrative contexts.

Common error

While acceptable, repeatedly using "Made a phone call" can make your writing sound repetitive. Vary your language by using simpler alternatives like "called" or "phoned" to enhance readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Made a phone call" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the action of initiating a telephone conversation. Ludwig confirms its correct and usable nature in English, serving to describe a deliberate act of communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Made a phone call" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe the action of initiating a telephone conversation. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's perfectly acceptable in both formal and informal contexts. While synonyms like "called" are often more concise, "Made a phone call" can emphasize the deliberate act of communication. The phrase is most frequently encountered in news and media, and while versatile, avoiding overuse can enhance writing clarity. Ultimately, "Made a phone call" remains a reliable and readily understood expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Called

This is the most direct and common synonym for "Made a phone call".

Gave a call

This alternative maintains the same structure but uses "gave" instead of "made".

Placed a call to

This alternative uses a slightly more formal tone.

Telephoned

This alternative is a single-word verb that replaces the phrase with a more concise option.

Phoned up

This alternative uses a phrasal verb to convey the same meaning.

Contacted by phone

This alternative emphasizes the method of contact.

Rang

This is a simple, concise alternative, particularly common in British English.

Reached out via telephone

This alternative emphasizes the effort to communicate.

Got in touch via phone

This alternative is more descriptive, specifying the method of communication.

Dialed

This alternative focuses on the action of using a phone's dial function.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "Made a phone call"?

You can use alternatives like "called", "telephoned", or "placed a call" depending on the context.

Is it better to say "Made a phone call" or just "Called"?

Both are correct, but "called" is generally more concise and often preferred in modern writing. Use "Made a phone call" when you want to emphasize the action itself.

How to use "Made a phone call" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "After the meeting, I "Made a phone call" to follow up on the details."

What's the difference between "Made a phone call" and "Gave a call"?

The phrases "Made a phone call" and "gave a call" are largely interchangeable, with minimal difference in meaning or formality. "Made a phone call" is slightly more common.