ahead of calling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ahead of calling" is not standard in written English and may cause confusion.
It could be used in contexts where you want to indicate something that should be done before making a call, but it is not a common expression. Example: "Please review the documents ahead of calling the client to discuss the project."

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It's also handy to keep a paper copy close-by to help you prepare ahead of calling universities during Clearing.

Independent

Another member of the SDLC puts considerable emphasis on becoming "better, faster, cheaper" ahead of calling what it is doing "Agile". This entails risks.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Earlier this month, Sight and Sound's critics' poll of the finest films of 2017 put David Lynch's drama at No 2, ahead of Call Me By Your Name, The Florida Project and Dunkirk.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Syria has closed the country's only casino and reversed a ban on teachers wearing the Islamic veil – moves seen as an attempt to reach out to conservative Muslims ahead of calls for pro-democracy demonstrations.

The Guardian

That's nearly three times the total views for videos about Grand Theft Auto, which Octoly estimated was the second most popular gaming brand on YouTube with nearly 12 billion views, ahead of Call of Duty (10.2 billion), Angry Birds (six billion) and Halo (4.8 billion).

The Guardian - Tech

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Sunday the Trump transition team had yet to contact the State Department for information and recommendations ahead of calls with foreign leaders.

Huffington Post

Do you find any progress indicator ahead of Call of Duty Ghosts game icon?

WikiHow

Fianna Fail's Michael McGrath has briefly interrupted Noonan's speech to protest that the opposition had not received budget documentation ahead of time, calling it unprecedented.

The Guardian - Business

The "Housewives" star went on to blast the former "View" co-host for judging her ahead of time, calling her tough to get along with and saying she tried to take over the show.

Huffington Post

A few weeks ago he called me in a state of rage because I had left him a note saying I didn't need milk, instead of calling ahead of time as I was supposed to.

The New York Times

The ability to lock into fixed fuel prices months ahead of time — called hedging — can help offset these rising prices.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "ahead of calling", ensure the context clearly indicates what actions should be taken before the call. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "ahead of calling" in informal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "before calling" or "prior to calling" are often more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ahead of calling" functions as a prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or noun to indicate timing or sequence. It specifies that an action occurs before a phone call is made. Ludwig highlights the potential for confusion due to its non-standard usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

50%

Science

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "ahead of calling" is a prepositional phrase indicating actions to be taken before making a phone call. While grammatically acceptable, Ludwig indicates it's not a standard expression and may lead to confusion. Alternatives such as "before calling" or "prior to calling" are often clearer and more common. The phrase appears rarely, mostly in news and media sources. When using "ahead of calling", ensure clarity and consider if a simpler alternative would be more effective.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

before calling

Direct replacement using a more common preposition.

prior to calling

More formal alternative to "before calling".

in anticipation of calling

Emphasizes the expectation of making a call.

in preparation for calling

Highlights the act of getting ready to call.

before making a call

Rephrases the action to emphasize the call itself.

prior to making a call

Formal version of 'before making a call'.

in advance of calling

Similar to 'before', but emphasizes acting early.

to prepare for calling

Focuses on the purpose of the preparatory actions.

getting ready to call

Informal alternative that focuses on the preparation process.

with the intention of calling

Highlights the purpose or planned action of calling

FAQs

What does "ahead of calling" mean?

The phrase "ahead of calling" means to do something in preparation or anticipation of making a phone call. It suggests taking actions or making arrangements before the call takes place.

How can I use "ahead of calling" in a sentence?

You might say, "It's handy to keep a paper copy close-by to help you prepare "ahead of calling" universities during Clearing" or "Review the documents "before calling" to discuss the project".

What are some alternatives to "ahead of calling"?

Some alternatives include "before calling", "prior to calling", or "in preparation for calling", depending on the desired level of formality and emphasis.

Is "ahead of calling" grammatically correct?

While not incorrect, "ahead of calling" is less common than alternatives like "before calling". Ludwig AI indicates that it is not a standard phrase in written English and may cause confusion. Using simpler alternatives could improve clarity.