a small call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a small call" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a brief or minor phone call or communication. Example: "I just need to make a small call before we head out to dinner."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

"I consider that a small call effect".

The New York Times

Working together, Mr. Bigari and software engineers from Exit41 put a small call center in the back of one of his restaurants in May 2003.

The New York Times

And I answer them most mysteriously "Are birds free from the chains of the skyway?" — "Ballad in Plain D" Or this from "New Morning": I went down to the lobby To make a small call out A pretty dancing girl was there And she began to shout "Go on back to see the gypsy He can move you from the rear Drive you from your fear Bring you through the mirror He did it in Las Vegas And he can do it here".

The New Yorker

Yesterday we promoted this feature on the dashboard with a small call to action message below our posting icons.

TechCrunch

It was a small call, but engaging personally was surprisingly confronting.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The Fifth Avenue Esprit store will include a small cafe called Elixir, operated by a tenant.

The New York Times

So, imagine a small time – call it dt – passes, so t becomes t + dt.

The Guardian

A few minutes into it, I heard a small child call out, 'Mom-MIEEEE!!!!'.

Huffington Post

If you have a small pond, call it "The Lake".

WikiHow

One group, called M cells, regulates activity in the morning and also produces a small molecule called PDF.

eLife

"Outside a small town called Zashkiev.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "a small call", ensure the context clearly indicates you are referring to a phone call or brief communication. Consider using more specific language if there's a risk of ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "a small call" to describe a significant request or important communication. The word "small" implies brevity or unimportance, which could misrepresent the true nature of the call.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a small call" functions as a noun phrase, where "small" modifies the noun "call". Ludwig confirms its usability in written English. It generally refers to a brief or minor phone call or communication.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a small call" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a brief or minor phone call or communication. According to Ludwig, it is usable in written English. While not extremely common, with limited examples found, it appears primarily in news and media contexts. For more formal situations, alternatives like "a brief communication" may be more appropriate. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity by providing context or specifying "phone call" to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a brief phone call

Replaces "small" with "brief" emphasizing the short duration of the phone call.

a quick phone call

Substitutes "small" with "quick", highlighting the speed of the call.

a short call

Uses "short" instead of "small", focusing on the limited length of the call.

a minor phone call

Replaces "small" with "minor", suggesting the call is of little importance.

a brief communication

Broadens "call" to "communication", encompassing methods beyond just phone calls and replaces "small" with brief.

a quick communication

Broadens "call" to "communication", encompassing methods beyond just phone calls and replaces "small" with quick.

a short communication

Broadens "call" to "communication", encompassing methods beyond just phone calls and replaces "small" with short.

a brief contact

Replaces "call" with "contact", referring to a short interaction.

a quick contact

Replaces "call" with "contact", referring to a speedy interaction.

a short contact

Replaces "call" with "contact", referring to a limited interaction.

FAQs

What does "a small call" mean?

The phrase "a small call" generally refers to a short, brief, or unimportant phone call or communication.

What can I say instead of "a small call"?

You can use alternatives like "a brief phone call", "a quick call", or "a short communication" depending on the context.

Is "a small call" appropriate in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "a small call" might sound informal in some contexts. For formal writing, consider using phrases such as "a brief communication" or "a minor inquiry".

How can I make it clear that I am referring to a phone call when I say "a small call"?

To avoid ambiguity, specify that it's a phone call by saying "a small phone call" or by providing context within the sentence. For example, "I need to make a small call before we leave."