call upon

USAGE SUMMARY

"call upon" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, "The professor asked the students to call upon their collective knowledge in order to answer the question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I call upon its conscience.

The New York Times

Call upon us.

The New York Times

Friends and family may call upon Geo.

The New York Times

Enterprising companies should call upon them now.

The New York Times - Arts

I need to call upon a higher power for help.

The New York Times

Once again, we call upon the immediate release of David".

BBC

Hitchcock's choice to call upon Salvador Dali was inspired.

The New Yorker

"Sometimes you must call upon individuals with fairly rough backgrounds".

The New York Times

The Christian right can call upon megachurches and Evangelical colleges.

The Economist

The ones I build certainly call upon those instincts".

The New York Times

"Though of course you have that resource to call upon.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "call upon" when you want to formally request someone to do something or to utilize a resource. It often carries a sense of importance or urgency.

Common error

While "call upon" is grammatically correct, it can sound overly formal in casual conversations. Opt for simpler alternatives like "ask" or "use" in informal settings to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call upon" functions as a transitive verb phrase. It typically requires an object (a person or thing) to complete its meaning. As noted by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

51%

Academia

19%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

9%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "call upon" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase that signifies a formal request, summons, or invocation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for various contexts, but primarily appears in news, academic, and professional settings. While versatile, remember its formality and consider simpler alternatives for casual conversations. Its widespread usage ensures its relevance in both written and spoken English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appeal to

Focuses on making a serious or urgent request, often to a sense of justice or morality.

invoke

Suggests a more formal or ritualistic appeal, often to a higher power or authority.

request

A general term for asking for something politely.

enlist

Implies actively seeking help or support, often in a collaborative effort.

solicit

Suggests actively seeking or canvassing for something, such as opinions or contributions.

tap into

Focuses on utilizing or drawing from an available resource or potential.

draw upon

Similar to 'tap into' but emphasizes utilizing experience or knowledge.

make use of

A more general way to say to use something.

turn to

Implies seeking assistance or guidance from someone or something.

have recourse to

Suggests resorting to something as a final option or solution.

FAQs

How do I use "call upon" in a sentence?

Use "call upon" to formally request or summon someone or something for a specific purpose. For instance, "I "call upon" the council to address this issue immediately".

What are some alternatives to "call upon"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "appeal to", "request", "invoke", or "draw upon".

Is "call on" the same as "call upon"?

While similar, "call upon" often implies a more formal or urgent request compared to "call on". They can be interchangeable in some contexts, but consider the tone you wish to convey.

What does it mean to "call upon" someone's expertise?

To ""call upon"" someone's expertise means to request their knowledge or skills to help with a specific task or problem, recognizing their specialized abilities. It suggests you need their particular help to achieve something.