could not get in touch with him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "could not get in touch with him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that you were unable to contact someone, either by phone, email, or other means of communication. Example: "I tried calling several times, but I could not get in touch with him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Detective Rick Wall said two of McGregor's associates could not get in touch with him and that someone entered his room at The Grand America Hotel in downtown Salt Lake City and found the 48-year-old McGregor unconscious Tuesday morning.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

She could not get in touch with her parents.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

They go home". He said he could not get in touch with them again.

MIT Technology Review

"I couldn't get in touch with him at first," she told me.

The New Yorker

"Last September, I was in Paris, and when I came back, I couldn't get in touch with him.

The New York Times

I couldn't get in touch with them.

Vice

But as hard as I tried, I couldn't get in touch with them.

HuffPost

"They told her that if she couldn't get in touch with her husband, she could get him in some serious trouble and he could get locked up," Neloms says.

Vice

I lost my phone after being knocked down.I couldn't get in touch with Chris.

The Guardian - Sport

"I couldn't get a dime for claims, I couldn't get in touch with anyone, and the ones I could get in touch with, they didn't want to help me anyway," he said.

The Washington Post

Brown also allegedly took phones away from his ex-wife so she couldn't get in touch with police while she was being abused.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "could not get in touch with him", ensure the context clearly indicates who "him" refers to, avoiding ambiguity. If necessary, rephrase to include the person's name or a more specific identifier.

Common error

Avoid using "could not get in touch with him" when no attempt to contact was actually made. This phrase implies an effort to reach someone that was unsuccessful. If no effort was made, use "did not get in touch with him" or "had no contact with him" to avoid misleading the reader.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "could not get in touch with him" functions as a statement expressing an inability to contact a specific individual. It indicates a failure to establish communication. Ludwig AI confirms that this is a correct and usable expression in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Wiki

6%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "could not get in touch with him" is a grammatically correct and common expression used to describe an unsuccessful attempt to contact someone. Ludwig AI validates its proper usage in written English. The phrase is suitable for neutral contexts such as news reporting and general conversation. Related phrases include "was unable to reach him" and "couldn't contact him". When using this phrase, ensure clarity about who "him" refers to and be mindful of the implication that an attempt to contact was indeed made.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

could not reach him

A simpler, more direct way of expressing the inability to contact someone.

was unable to reach him

More formal alternative, using "unable" instead of "could not".

couldn't contact him

A contraction of "could not", making it slightly more informal.

was unable to make contact with him

More elaborate and formal way of saying the same thing.

failed to connect with him

Emphasizes the failure of establishing a connection.

was unable to communicate with him

Highlights the inability to exchange information.

had no way to contact him

Focuses on the lack of means for communication.

was out of contact with him

Highlights the state of being disconnected.

was unable to speak to him

Specifies that the inability to contact was through talking.

couldn't find him

Implies a search or effort to locate the person.

FAQs

What is a more formal way to say "could not get in touch with him"?

A more formal alternative to "could not get in touch with him" is "was unable to reach him" or "was unable to make contact with him". These options sound more professional and are suitable for formal writing.

What's the difference between "could not get in touch with him" and "did not get in touch with him"?

"Could not get in touch with him" implies an attempt was made but was unsuccessful. "Did not get in touch with him" simply states that no contact was made, without implying whether an attempt was made or not.

What can I say instead of "could not get in touch with him" to emphasize a lack of communication means?

If you want to emphasize the absence of communication methods, you can use phrases like "had no way to contact him". This highlights that there were no available means to establish contact.

Is it grammatically correct to say "could not get in touch with him"?

Yes, "could not get in touch with him" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English. It's a standard way to express an inability to contact someone.