contacted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "contacted" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the act of reaching out or communicating with someone, typically in a past context. Example: "I contacted the support team to resolve the issue I was facing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

4. To enter the Competition you must submit your entry to the relevant Guardian Witness assignment, providing an email address by which the photographer of the image can be contacted.

The Guardian

"After an earlier post calling Karl Oyston an 'odious ferret' I've been contacted by my lawyers," Manford wrote.

The Guardian - Sport

The New York Times reported that individuals called from the seized phone had contacted the ISI, the main Pakistani military intelligence agency.

The Guardian

All the Leader's Group attendees contacted said that while the events were enjoyable, they were also used to develop policy and debate how to improve the country.

The Guardian

"When Concacaf contacted us to say they were conducting an inquiry into its accounts, we provided information about our donation," Lowy said.

The Guardian - Sport

But when contacted previously, his lawyer had said it was a private matter and involved no impropriety.

The Guardian - Business

I have repeatedly contacted them showing them proof the order still says pending but again, that is ignored.

The Guardian - Money

For information and support about suicide in the UK, the Samaritans can be contacted on 08457 908457908457

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Perkins said parents across the country had contacted him after similar experiences.

The Guardian

A journalist contacted one of my friends in England who does electro music, who then told me all about it.

The Guardian - Music

A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said that the CPS had yet to be contacted by the IPCC in relation to Orgreave.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "contacted" to indicate that you have communicated with someone in the past. Ensure that the context clearly states who initiated the contact and the means of communication, if relevant.

Common error

Avoid using "contacted" when you intend to convey that you are currently in the process of contacting someone. Use "contacting" instead.

Linguistic Context

The word "contacted" functions as the past tense and past participle form of the verb "contact". It's used to indicate that someone has communicated with someone else. Ludwig confirms this with numerous examples showcasing its past tense usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "contacted" is the past tense of the verb "contact", used to describe a completed act of communication. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in News & Media sources. While it is appropriate for various contexts, ensuring the correct tense is crucial. Alternatives such as "reached out to" or "got in touch with" offer similar meanings depending on the nuance you want to convey. When writing, ensure clarity regarding who initiated the contact and whether the communication was successful. Avoiding these errors will help you to effectively utilize the term "contacted" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made contact with

Highlights the act of successfully establishing a connection with someone.

reached out to

Highlights the effort made to establish contact, suggesting a proactive approach.

got in touch with

Emphasizes the initiation of communication, often implying a friendly or informal approach.

been in touch with

Indicates a prior or continuing connection with someone.

communicated with

Focuses on the exchange of information, suitable for formal or neutral contexts.

been in communication with

Indicates an ongoing exchange of information over a period of time.

got ahold of

Suggests successfully reaching someone, often after some effort or difficulty.

liaised with

Implies a professional or collaborative communication, often between organizations or teams.

corresponded with

Highlights communication through letters or email.

spoken to

Emphasizes verbal communication or a conversation.

FAQs

How to use "contacted" in a sentence?

Use "contacted" to describe a past event where you or someone else communicated with another person or entity. For example, "I "contacted" the support team yesterday."

What can I say instead of "contacted"?

You can use alternatives like "reached out to", "got in touch with", or "communicated with" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "contacted" or "contacting"?

"Contacted" refers to a completed action in the past, while "contacting" refers to an action in progress. Use "contacted" when the communication has already occurred.

What's the difference between "contacted" and "attempted to contact"?

"Contacted" implies that communication was successfully established. "Attempted to contact" implies that an effort was made to communicate, but it does not guarantee that communication was successful.