called in to work

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "called in to work" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to being asked or required to come to work, often unexpectedly or outside of regular hours. Example: "I was called in to work last night due to a staffing shortage."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 human-written examples

Mr. Clark was called in to work at the private investigator's job he took after leaving the Pentagon.

The New York Times

We can work all day, every day, and even on time off we are called in to work.

The Guardian

He was off that day from his job at an auto repair shop, but was called in to work.

The New York Times

Foremost, he hopes to be called in to work by his union, Local 20 of the Cement and Concrete Workers.

The New York Times

Most of the expense was for overtime pay to sanitation workers who were called in to work on a holiday weekend.

The New York Times

Some workers complained that they were sometimes called in to work a shift, but would then be sent home after two hours because business was slow.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

It's a soft pain, looking at a toilet full of blood, taking Tylenol and calling in to work for a personal day.

The New Yorker

I was too sick to call in to work.

Huffington Post

The alarm goes off after a sleepless night and she fleetingly entertains the idea of calling in to work so she can stay in bed.

Huffington Post

Go ahead and call in to work sick for the rest of the week and click here for tickets and more info.

Vice

Say you need to get some fresh air, make an excuse about calling in to work, or even just spend five minutes in the bathroom, staring at your own reflection.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "called in to work" when someone is unexpectedly or urgently required to attend work, especially outside their regular schedule. For example: "Due to the sudden increase in patients, the nurses were called in to work."

Common error

Avoid using "called in to work" when the intent is to indicate someone is reporting an absence due to illness. The correct phrase for reporting sick leave is "calling in sick".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "called in to work" typically functions as a compound verb phrase, indicating the action of summoning or requesting someone to attend their workplace, usually unexpectedly or outside their regular working hours. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "called in to work" is a common and grammatically correct idiomatic expression used to describe a situation where an employee is requested or required to come to work, typically outside of their regular schedule. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources, reflecting its relevance in reporting events that require additional staffing. While "called in to work" is generally neutral in tone, it is important not to confuse it with phrases like "called in sick", which indicates an absence from work due to illness. Alternative phrases include "asked to come in" or "summoned to work", each with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

asked to come in

Focuses on the request aspect, omitting the potential urgency or unexpectedness.

required to work

Emphasizes the obligation to attend work, possibly unexpectedly.

summoned to work

Implies a formal or authoritative request to attend work.

brought in for work

Emphasizes the act of being recruited or selected for a specific work task.

requested to report for duty

Formal phrasing, often used in professional or military contexts.

drafted into work

Suggests a more forceful or mandatory call to work.

needed at the workplace

Highlights the necessity of the person's presence at work.

mobilized for work

Suggests a concerted effort to gather workforce for work, often implies urgency.

had to go to work

Indicates a necessity or obligation to go to work.

enlisted for duty

Formal, suggesting a structured obligation to work.

FAQs

How to use "called in to work" in a sentence?

You can use "called in to work" to indicate that someone was asked or required to come to work, often unexpectedly. For instance, "The mechanic was called in to work on his day off to fix the broken machine."

What can I say instead of "called in to work"?

Alternatives include "asked to come in", "summoned to work", or "required to work" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "called in to work" or "call in to work"?

"Called in to work" is used in the past tense to describe an action that has already occurred, whereas "call in to work" can be used when describing a general policy or future action.

What's the difference between "called in to work" and "called in sick"?

"Called in to work" means someone was asked to come to work, often unexpectedly, while "called in sick" means someone reported they are unable to work due to illness.