establish contact

USAGE SUMMARY

"establish contact" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe the process of two or more parties making contact with each other to share information, communicate, or to otherwise interact. For example: "We need to establish contact with potential customers in order to make sales."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

Once they establish contact, the mission proceeds.

The New York Times

Llazari, however, said Capita did more than establish contact.

The Guardian

There is something profound & terrible in this eternal desire to establish contact.

The New Yorker

I advise students in this situation to establish contact with key course admin/academic staff".

The Guardian

"It was very clearly in Mr Bigley's interests to establish contact.

The Guardian

After a nerve-shredding four hours at the Jordanian border with Iraq they establish contact again.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

"We took a decision in 2012 to re-establish contact with him," Osborne said.

The Guardian

If so, re-establish contact with your favourite university lecturer.

The Guardian - Money

Efforts were made from time to time, unsuccessfully, to re-establish contact.

The New York Times - Arts

Dr Farquhar is now part of the ISEE-3 Reboot Project to re-establish contact.

The Economist

Manon says she has no desire to re-establish contact with her biological parents.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience when deciding whether to use "establish contact" or a more informal alternative like "get in touch". Choose the phrase that best suits the tone of your communication.

Common error

Avoid using "establish contact" in casual conversations. Opt for simpler phrases like "reach out" or "connect" to maintain a natural and friendly tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "establish contact" functions primarily as a verb phrase. It describes the action of initiating communication or connection between two or more entities. Ludwig shows examples where it's used to describe setting up first encounters or restoring broken communication.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

4%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "establish contact" is a versatile phrase used to describe the act of initiating communication or connection. Ludwig's AI indicates the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. It's most common in news and media, scientific, and formal business contexts. While "establish contact" is appropriate for professional settings, it may sound too formal in casual conversation. Consider using alternatives like "get in touch" or "reach out" in less formal situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

make contact

This alternative uses "make" instead of "establish", indicating a more general act of initiating contact.

get in touch

This phrase is more informal and suggests a less structured form of communication.

initiate communication

This alternative emphasizes the beginning of a communicative exchange, sounding more formal.

reach out to

This phrase implies an effort to connect with someone, often to offer help or support.

connect with

This suggests building a relationship or finding common ground during the contact.

establish communications

This is a more formal way to say "establish contact", highlighting the systems of communication.

open lines of communication

This emphasizes the creation of an ongoing channel for conversation.

forge a connection

This phrase is about creating a stronger, more meaningful bond when establishing contact.

make an introduction

This is used when the goal of establishing contact is to introduce people to each other.

liaise with

This term is often used in business or formal contexts when coordinating with another party.

FAQs

What does "establish contact" mean?

The phrase "establish contact" means to successfully make initial communication with someone or something. It suggests initiating a connection or relationship.

How can I use "establish contact" in a sentence?

You can use "establish contact" in a sentence like this: "The company aims to "make contact" with potential investors".

What's the difference between "establish contact" and "get in touch"?

"Establish contact" is generally more formal and suggests a deliberate effort to connect. "Get in touch" is more casual and implies a less structured form of communication.

What are some alternatives to "establish contact"?

Some alternatives to "establish contact" include ""make contact"", "reach out to", and "connect with", depending on the context.