call was made

USAGE SUMMARY

"call was made" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to someone making a communication, such as a telephone call. For example, "An emergency call was made to the fire department immediately."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The call was made.

The New York Times

No such call was made.

The New Yorker

"The call was made by them.

The New York Times

That call was made at 8.32am.

The Guardian

A call was made to the child abuse registry.

The New York Times

The call was made six days after his disappearance.

The New Yorker

"This call was made by the Marines," an official said.

The New York Times

Mr. Lindsey's call was made from Air Force One.

The New York Times

A frantic call was made to Portman's publicity agent.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I don't know, no call was made," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

The call was made shortly before 6 p.m.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "call was made" when the actor initiating the call is unknown, irrelevant, or to maintain a formal tone. For example, "A call was made to emergency services."

Common error

Avoid overusing "call was made" when the subject making the call is clear and relevant. In such cases, active voice (e.g., "She made the call") provides clearer and more direct communication.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "call was made" functions as a passive construction, indicating that a phone call occurred. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for use in written English. The passive voice is useful when the agent performing the action is unknown or unimportant.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "call was made" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction suitable for various contexts, especially in news and scientific reporting. As noted by Ludwig, this phrase emphasizes the action of the call rather than the caller. While versatile, it's essential to avoid overuse in situations where active voice would provide a clearer and more direct message. When selecting alternatives, remember to consider the nuances each phrase conveys, such as whether the emphasis should be on communication, decision-making, or a formal request. Ultimately, choosing the most appropriate phrase depends on the specific context and intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a phone call occurred

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct statement about the occurrence of a phone call.

communication took place

Focuses on the act of communication itself.

contact was established

Emphasizes the act of establishing communication.

a decision was reached

Shifts the focus to a decision being made, rather than a communication.

a notification went out

Describes the dissemination of a notification.

a request was issued

Highlights the formal issuance of a request.

a report was filed

Highlights the submission of a formal report.

an appeal was launched

Focuses on a public or formal appeal being made.

the alert was triggered

Emphasizes the activation of an alert system.

the announcement happened

Replaces the passive construction with a direct statement of an announcement.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "call was made" for variety?

You can use alternatives like "a phone call occurred", "contact was established", or "communication took place" depending on the context.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "call was made"?

Using active voice, such as "She made the call", is more direct. However, "call was made" is appropriate when the caller is unknown or unimportant to the context.

What does "call was made" imply in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, "call was made" often implies that a necessary or official communication occurred, emphasizing the action rather than the actor.

When is it inappropriate to use "call was made"?

Avoid using "call was made" when the person who made the call is known and relevant to the sentence's meaning. Using active voice would be more effective in those cases.