being contacted by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "being contacted by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of someone reaching out to you, typically in a formal or professional context. Example: "I appreciate being contacted by the recruitment team regarding the job opportunity."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Now she's being contacted by all these labs right now".

The New York Times

"And Brendon originally did it without being contacted by anyone".

The New York Times - Sports

But after being contacted by Money, BT put their hands up.

The Guardian - Money

But it appears that the commission began its inquiry before being contacted by Mr. McCall.

The New York Times

We are already being contacted by investors and firms to help assess their losses".

The Guardian - Business

Bachmann deleted his profile shortly after being contacted by the Dresden Morgenpost newspaper.

The Guardian

Last month, after being contacted by Adobe, Elcomsoft stopped selling the controversial software.

The New York Times

We were being contacted by people in the bathroom, about 15 people.

The Guardian

Twitter suspended the account last week after being contacted by the Goodwins.

The New York Times

On being contacted by AP, Omalu denied suggestions he had exaggerated his role.

The Guardian - Film

After being contacted by The Independent, it deleted the guidance from its website.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Remember that “being contacted by” indicates a passive voice construction, which can sometimes make your writing less direct. Consider whether an active voice would be more impactful.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice. While "being contacted by" is grammatically correct, excessive use can make your writing sound weak or unclear. Rephrase sentences to emphasize the actor rather than the recipient of the action for a more dynamic style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "being contacted by" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something is the recipient of an action. Ludwig shows examples across news, business and academic contexts, supporting its broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "being contacted by" is a grammatically correct and very common passive construction used to indicate that someone has initiated communication. Ludwig confirms this through numerous examples across various domains. While versatile, remember to use it judiciously to maintain clarity and avoid overusing the passive voice. Alternative phrases like "someone contacted me" or "I was reached out to" can provide a more active and direct tone when appropriate. "Being contacted by" is widely used in news, science and business contexts, reflecting its suitability for both neutral and professional communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

being reached out to by

Similar meaning, slightly more informal and emphasizes the act of extending communication.

being approached by

Implies a more direct or deliberate initiation of contact, often face-to-face or with a specific purpose.

being notified by

Suggests a formal or official communication, often conveying important information.

receiving communication from

More formal and general, encompassing various forms of communication.

being informed by

Focuses on the transmission of information, implying that the contact served to educate or update.

hearing from

Informal and emphasizes the act of receiving information or news.

getting in touch with by

Suggests initial contact being established.

being solicited by

Implies that the contact was initiated to request something, such as a donation or business.

being called by

Specifies that the contact was made via a phone call.

being emailed by

Specifies that the contact was made via email.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "being contacted by" to sound more active?

Consider using phrases like "someone contacted me" or "I was reached out to". These alternatives shift the focus to the initiator of the contact.

Is it more appropriate to use "being contacted by" in formal or informal contexts?

"Being contacted by" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts, as Ludwig AI confirms. However, for very informal situations, phrases like "heard from" might be a better fit.

What's the difference between "being contacted by" and "being approached by"?

"Being contacted by" is a general term for any form of communication initiation. "Being approached by" often implies a more direct, sometimes face-to-face, initiation of contact with a specific purpose.

When should I use "being contacted by" instead of "contacted me"?

Use "being contacted by" when you want to emphasize that you were the recipient of the action and the initiator is less important or unknown. Use "contacted me" when you want to be more direct and focus on who initiated the contact.