called and said

USAGE SUMMARY

"called and said" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone is speaking on the phone or when someone is quoting what another person said. For example: "John called and said he would be late for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Gottlieb called and said, "I really like this".

The New Yorker

Another prospect called and said two words: "Astrology, botanics".

The New York Times

Theriault called and said: "Mildred, it's not working.

The New York Times - Magazine

And then Rutgers called and said, "Somebody didn't show up to teach a class.

University of California, Berkeley

The next day, he called and said: "Something magic happened.

The New York Times - Style

"He called and said: 'I want to come over.

The New York Times

My mother called and said: 'Is it true?

The New York Times

"Frank called and said, 'Did you ever issue that opinion?

The New York Times

At 6.30pm they called and said he was OK.

The Guardian

They called and said they were going to pick me.

The New York Times - Sports

"He called and said: 'I fired the guy.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "called and said" to directly quote or report a message someone conveyed over the phone. This construction is straightforward and easily understood.

Common error

Ensure that the context makes it clear who "called and said". If there's potential for confusion, specify the person or entity before using the phrase.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "called and said" functions as a reporting clause, introducing direct speech or conveying information communicated via a phone call. Ludwig examples confirm this function by showing how it's used to relay messages, provide updates, or report conversations.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "called and said" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase primarily used to report direct quotations or messages conveyed during phone conversations. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase functions effectively as a reporting clause, particularly in news and media contexts. While its usage is straightforward, considering alternatives such as "phoned to mention" or "contacted to inform" may enhance clarity or formality in certain writing scenarios. When using "called and said", ensure the context is clear and unambiguous, specifying who initiated the call for optimal understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

spoke on the phone and mentioned

Emphasizes the act of speaking on the phone while mentioning something during the conversation

phoned to mention

Focuses on the act of mentioning something during a phone call, rather than a direct quote.

contacted to inform

Highlights the purpose of the call as providing information.

gave a call to report

Focuses on the action of reporting something after calling.

rang to announce

Emphasizes the act of announcing something important via a phone call.

got in touch to state

Suggests a more formal communication to declare something.

reached out to relay

Implies an effort was made to pass on a message.

communicated to share

Broadly describes sharing information through communication.

left a message stating

Implies a message was left with a specific statement.

informed via telephone

A more formal way of saying someone was informed by phone.

FAQs

How can I use "called and said" in a sentence?

Use "called and said" to report a direct quote or message delivered via a phone call. For example, "My boss "called and said" the meeting is postponed."

What are some alternatives to "called and said"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "phoned to mention", "contacted to inform", or "reached out to relay".

Is it appropriate to use "called and said" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "called and said" is more common in informal or journalistic contexts. For formal writing, consider more precise alternatives like "informed via telephone".

What's the difference between "called and said" and "called to say"?

"Called and said" generally introduces a direct quote or specific message. "Called to say" is more general, simply indicating the purpose of the call was to communicate something. For example, "He "called and said", 'I'll be late,'" versus "He called to say he would be late."