call for assistance

USAGE SUMMARY

'call for assistance' is correct and usable in written English.
Use it when you need help with something. For example: "The project was proving difficult, so I decided to call for assistance from my colleagues."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

She did not, however, immediately call for assistance, they said.

The New York Times

Opposition figures were encouraged to call for assistance.

The New York Times

The reservation was far to the south, but he had heard a call for assistance.

The New Yorker

Worried staff call for assistance and after 20 minutes Rose walks away and enters the building.

The Guardian - Business

Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for assistance relating to domestic abuse.

The Guardian

Officer Kelly, who was critically wounded, managed to call for assistance.

The New York Times

A group of police officers had rushed there just ahead of him in response to a radio call for assistance.

The New York Times

There's nowhere to run, nobody to call for assistance, and something — time, oxygen, water — is always running out.

The New York Times - Books

Two police officers, responding to a police call for assistance, crashed their patrol car early yesterday, the police said.

The New York Times

Does the president lack for contemporaries on whom he can call for assistance in a time of national need?

The New York Times

She told Mr. Wong that a phone number that he could call for assistance provided information in Chinese or Japanese.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "call for assistance", be specific about the type of assistance needed to ensure an effective response. For example, instead of simply stating "call for assistance", specify "call for medical assistance" or "call for technical assistance".

Common error

Avoid using "call for assistance" in very informal situations. Simpler phrases like "need help" or "ask for help" are often more appropriate and natural in casual conversations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call for assistance" functions primarily as a verb phrase, indicating an action of requesting help. Ludwig shows it's widely used in contexts where aid or support is required due to an emergency, a problem, or a task beyond one's individual capacity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

35%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "call for assistance" is a commonly used and grammatically correct way to request help, as confirmed by Ludwig. It appears most frequently in news, science, and wiki contexts, suggesting a neutral to formal tone. When using this phrase, it's beneficial to be specific about the type of assistance needed for a more effective response. While generally appropriate, consider using simpler alternatives like "need help" in very informal situations. The Ludwig AI confirms the acceptability of "call for assistance" in written English, highlighting its utility across diverse scenarios requiring support.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

request support

Replaces "call" with "request" and "assistance" with "support", focusing on the action of asking for aid.

seek help

Uses more general terms to express the act of searching for aid.

summon aid

Implies a more urgent or formal request for help.

enlist aid

Suggests actively recruiting or engaging assistance.

solicit support

Indicates a formal or persuasive request for assistance.

ask for backup

Specifically refers to requesting additional resources or personnel.

appeal for aid

Emphasizes the urgency or importance of the request.

get assistance

Focuses on the reception of aid rather than the act of requesting it.

require assistance

Indicates a necessity for help due to a specific situation.

need assistance

Simply states the requirement for help.

FAQs

What does "call for assistance" mean?

The phrase "call for assistance" means to request help or support, typically in a situation where one is unable to manage on their own.

How to use "call for assistance" in a sentence?

You can use "call for assistance" in sentences like: "The hiker was injured and had to "call for assistance"", or "If you experience a technical issue, "call for assistance" from our support team".

What can I say instead of "call for assistance"?

You can use alternatives like "request support", "seek help", or "summon aid" depending on the context.

Is "call for assistance" formal or informal?

While "call for assistance" is generally considered neutral, it leans towards the formal side. In very casual contexts, simpler phrases like "ask for help" might be more appropriate.