Used and loved by millions
Since I tried Ludwig back in 2017, I have been constantly using it in both editing and translation. Ever since, I suggest it to my translators at ProSciEditing.

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
date of contact
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesTable of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
42 human-written examples
Many students use Excel spreadsheets that include names, emails, where the interaction took place, date of contact, and notes.
Academia
Attach the person's business card and save room for information such as areas of mutual interest, your last date of contact, what you discussed, personal details like children's names, and so on.
Science & Research
The date of exit for children who were lost to follow up (migration, refusal or exclusion) was the last date of contact with the passive or active surveillance systems.
Science
People who were lost to follow-up were censored at their last date of contact.
Patients known to be alive and progression free were censored at last date of contact.
Science
For those who died, date of death was taken as last date of contact.
Science
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
18 human-written examples
The document would also constitute the strongest evidence to date of contacts between extremists in Iraq and Al Qaeda.
News & Media
It is also possible to extract all contacts related to the specified roots (including all detail, i.e. individual identities, category, n, date of contacts), without information on the structure.
Science
The national patient register contains individual level data on all inpatients and outpatients in Danish hospitals, including personal identification number, dates of contact or admission and discharge, and diagnoses, classified according to the international classification of diseases (10th revision).
Science
Information abstracted included names, age, residential address, tribe, HIV status, admission date, basis of diagnosis, date of last contact, and status at last contact.
Science
The GP contacts are registered using the date, type of contact, International Classification for Primary Care (ICPC) -coded diagnosis and reimbursed costs.
Science
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
Specify whether you are referring to the 'initial', 'last' or 'only' date to avoid ambiguity in chronological records.
Common error
Do not use "date of contact" as a standalone term if your study or report involves multiple types of interaction (e.g. phone call vs. physical exam). Instead, clarify the mode of contact to ensure the data is reproducible.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.9/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
As observed in Ludwig, "date of contact" functions as a formal noun phrase used primarily as a temporal marker in data-driven environments. It establishes a specific point in time relative to a participant, patient or client interaction.
Frequent in
Science
78%
Academia
12%
Formal & Business
7%
Less common in
News & Media
2%
Wiki
0.5%
Social Media
0.5%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
The phrase "date of contact" is a robust and essential linguistic tool within professional and scientific writing. Ludwig AI results demonstrate its critical role in longitudinal research, where it serves as a baseline for measuring follow-up times and patient outcomes. While it can be substituted with "contact date" in casual or shorthand contexts, the full prepositional form remains the gold standard for formal reporting. Writers should ensure they specify the nature of the contact (e.g. last, initial or primary) to maintain the high level of precision expected in the contexts where this phrase most frequently appears.
More alternative expressions(10)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
contact date
A more concise version often used as a field header in spreadsheets or databases
last date of contact
Specifies the most recent interaction in a chronological series
time of contact
Broadens the scope to include the specific clock time alongside the calendar date
date of interaction
A more formal alternative that can apply to digital or face-to-face engagements
initial contact date
Focuses specifically on the first time a connection was made
date of meeting
Narrows the scope to a specific physical or virtual gathering
date of communication
Emphasizes the exchange of information rather than just the state of contact
engagement date
Commonly used in marketing and human resources to denote a specific touchpoint
correspondence date
Refers specifically to written contact such as letters or emails
follow-up date
Used when the contact is part of a planned sequence of events
FAQs
How do I use "date of contact" in a sentence?
You can use it to specify a timeline, such as: "The follow-up period was calculated from the "date of diagnosis" until the last "date of contact"."
What is the difference between "date of contact" and "contact date"?
Both are correct, but "date of contact" is more formal and common in scientific literature, while "contact date" is often preferred in business spreadsheets for brevity.
Should I use "date of last contact" or "date of contact"?
Use "date of last contact" if you are referring to the most recent time you spoke with someone. Use "date of contact" if you are referring to a single, specific interaction.
Can I say "time of contact" instead?
Yes, if the exact hour and minute are important, "time of contact" is a suitable alternative.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
4.9/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested