call it really

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "call it really" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express a strong opinion or emphasis, but it lacks clarity and context for proper usage. Example: "If you want to call it really, then you should consider all the facts before making a decision."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

"Well, I wouldn't call it — " "Really?

The New Yorker

I don't know what to call it, really.

The Guardian

And as you'll see, the establishment of the BCTR, as we call it, really addresses a lot of the barriers to translational research that Elaine just highlighted.

Cornell University

Perhaps that's why the smear test is now officially known in the UK as a cervical screening test, though smear is still what we call it really.

The Guardian - Opinion

"Why not say what you really think and call it Really for Pain". Asked about the "Radio 3 audience" on a radio phone-in, Drummond explained: "There isn't one Radio 3 audience, there are several early music, modern music, jazz and so on.

The Guardian

And with the conference call it really invites team members to participate in those conversations, so it's not just a one-to-one thing".

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

West compared with the more compact stadiums in the A.L. East., calling it "really difficult".

The New York Times - Sports

Later, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. read back most of a sentence in the plaintiffs' brief to their lawyer, calling it "really striking".

The New York Times

Foy detected pineapple in the nose and called it really enjoyable.

The New York Times - Food

He called it "really, really bad -- as bad or worse than Abu Ghraib," recalled one Pentagon official.

The Washington Post

The (male) editor of the magazine clearly thought it was fun, and admirers called it really "edgy".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

If you intend to emphasize the truthfulness of a statement, replace "call it really" with "honestly call it", providing context for the statement to appear truthful.

Common error

Avoid using "really" immediately after "call it" as it often creates redundancy and grammatical awkwardness. Instead, opt for stronger verbs or more descriptive adjectives to convey your intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call it really" functions as a verbal phrase attempting to emphasize a subsequent description. Ludwig AI marks this phrase as not grammatically correct. This usage aims to intensify the naming or describing of something, but its structure is awkward.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Academia

17%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

8%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while "call it really" appears in various contexts, including news and media, its grammatical correctness is questionable, as pointed out by Ludwig AI. It attempts to add emphasis but is often awkward. For clearer and more effective communication, consider using alternative phrases such as ""call it what it is"" or "honestly call it". To avoid confusion, ensure that your verb choices are precise and supported by grammatically sound structures.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

call it what it is

Replaces "really" with "what it is", emphasizing directness and accuracy in naming something.

call it like it is

A common idiom that means to describe something truthfully and directly, without euphemism.

call it frankly

Replaces "really" with "frankly", focusing on honesty and openness in the description.

really call it

Inverts the order, but does not correct the issue of this unusual syntactical form.

honestly call it

Emphasizes the sincerity behind the act of naming or describing something.

accurately name it

Shifts the focus to precision and correctness in identifying something.

properly term it

Highlights the use of appropriate terminology.

appropriately designate it

Focuses on giving a suitable and fitting title or label.

describe it accurately

Shifts the focus from naming to providing a correct and detailed description.

define it precisely

Focuses on providing a clear and exact definition.

FAQs

How can I use "call it what it is" instead of "call it really"?

Using "call it what it is" emphasizes directness. For example, instead of saying "Let's call it really, a mistake", you can say "Let's "call it what it is": a mistake."

Is "call it really" grammatically correct?

According to Ludwig AI, the phrase "call it really" is not grammatically correct and lacks clarity. Consider alternatives such as ""call it what it is"" or "put it plainly" for better phrasing.

What are some alternatives to "call it really" for emphasizing honesty?

If you want to emphasize honesty, you might use "honestly call it" or "frankly call it" to convey sincerity and truthfulness in your description.

What's the difference between "call it really" and "call it like it is"?

"Call it really" is awkward and not grammatically recommended, while "call it like it is" is a common idiom used to describe something truthfully without sugarcoating it.