a quick phone call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a quick phone call" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a brief conversation conducted over the phone. Example: "I just need to make a quick phone call to confirm our meeting time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A quick phone call to reception will confirm this.

The Guardian

If she needs to, she will make a quick phone call.

The New York Times - Health

Mr. Walsh made a quick phone call and got Mr. Taylor into a halfway house.

The New York Times

Maybe a quick phone call to CampMinder.com would banish it for now.

The New York Times

A quick phone call to Tesla support in California resulted in the company pushing new software codes to the ailing car and to reset both Superchargers".

The New York Times

And be hesitant to call meetings yourself; you can deal with most issues through e-mail or a quick phone call.

The New York Times

Say something only the real you would say: O.K., let me get that password for you, right after I make a quick phone call -- to the Internet police!

The New York Times

It would be nice to have three hours to sit and puzzle something out, but now we do it with four e-mails and a quick phone call".

The New York Times

A quick phone call in their language can help speed things along, while joking around in meetings can build camaraderie and morale".

The Guardian - Money

A quick phone call to the Census Bureau or the American Bureau Of Labor Statistics might give them figures between 12m and 15m.

The Guardian

A quick phone call to the Parks Department led us to David Künstler, the Bronx wildlife manager, who offered to guide us on a Bronx safari.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a quick phone call" when emphasizing the brevity and efficiency of the call. It's suitable when the call's speed is a key factor in the context.

Common error

Avoid using "a quick phone call" in highly formal writing where a more professional term like "brief communication" or "short discussion via phone" might be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a quick phone call" functions as a noun phrase, often serving as the object of a verb. It describes the act of making a brief telephone call, as demonstrated by Ludwig's examples across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

15%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a quick phone call" is a common and grammatically correct noun phrase used to describe a short telephone conversation. As confirmed by Ludwig, its usage spans across various contexts, including news, general writing, and science. The phrase implies efficiency and brevity, making it suitable for situations where the speed of communication is important. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "brief communication" may be preferred in certain professional settings. Therefore, consider "a quick phone call" an effective means of conveying the idea of a brief conversation by telephone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief phone call

Replaces "quick" with "brief", maintaining a similar meaning but potentially suggesting a slightly more formal tone.

a short phone call

Substitutes "quick" with "short", offering a direct synonym that emphasizes the call's duration.

a speedy phone call

Replaces "quick" with "speedy", emphasizing the fast nature of the call.

a fast phone call

Similar to 'speedy', 'fast' stresses the rapid completion of the call.

a hurried phone call

Suggests the call was made quickly due to time constraints or urgency.

a swift phone call

Uses "swift" to convey the promptness and efficiency of the phone call.

a momentary phone call

Focuses on the very short amount of time the call takes.

a fleeting phone call

Implies the call was very brief and perhaps insubstantial.

a brief chat on the phone

Replaces "call" with "chat", softening the formality and suggesting a casual conversation.

a rapid conversation over the phone

This phrase highlights conversation aspect alongside the speed of it.

FAQs

How can I use "a quick phone call" in a sentence?

You can use "a quick phone call" to describe a short telephone conversation, as in, "I'll make "a quick phone call" to confirm the details."

What's a more formal alternative to "a quick phone call"?

In formal settings, consider using "a brief phone conversation" or "a short telephone discussion" instead of ""a quick phone call"".

Is it okay to use ""a quick phone call"" in professional emails?

Yes, it's generally acceptable in emails, especially when the tone is relatively informal. However, consider using "a brief call" for more formal communication.

What's the difference between ""a quick phone call"" and "a short phone call"?

While similar, "a quick phone call" emphasizes the speed and efficiency of the call, whereas "a short phone call" simply highlights the duration.