had called off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had called off" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something, such as an event or an arrangement, has been canceled or postponed. Example: "Due to unforeseen circumstances, they had called off the meeting scheduled for Friday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Other accounts said Mr. Mitchell had called off the meeting.

The New York Times

Fares expressed he was sorry that the Vatican had called off the visit.

The Guardian

It was the first time an American leader had called off such a trip in decades.

The New York Times

Rob had called off the wedding - obviously - and was trying to put his life back together.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The Israeli Army said on Saturday that it had called off the search for bodies.

The New York Times

Cameron had called off the talks through a mixture of frustration, pragmatism and principle.

The Guardian

He began increasing his stake after WebMD announced in January that it had called off efforts to sell itself.

The New York Times

In a statement to the Athens Stock Exchange, Pegasus said the potential buyer, Theodore Angelopoulos, had called off the talks.

The New York Times

German press reports said Chancellor Gerhard Schroder had called off a planned visit to the Islamic republic.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, nobody had called off the First World War, and Russia was still fighting the Central Powers.

The New Yorker

Two weeks ago, her fiancé, the men's player Radek Stepanek, announced that they had called off their engagement.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To create a more formal effect, replace the phrasal verb "had called off" with the single verb "had cancelled".

Common error

Avoid using "had called off" when the context requires a different tense. For example, use "called off" for simple past tense or "is calling off" for present continuous.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had called off" functions as a phrasal verb in the past perfect tense. According to Ludwig, it indicates that an action (cancelling something) was completed before another point in the past. It commonly modifies nouns representing events, meetings, or agreements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrasal verb "had called off" is a common and grammatically sound way to express the cancellation of an event or agreement in the past perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently found in neutral to professional registers, particularly within news and media contexts. When using this phrase, clarity regarding the decision-maker and awareness of tense are crucial. Alternatives such as "had cancelled" or "had terminated" can provide more formal options, depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had cancelled

Replaces the phrasal verb with a single-word verb, maintaining the same meaning.

had aborted

Implies stopping something before it's fully completed, similar to cancelling.

had terminated

Suggests a formal ending or discontinuation of something.

had scrapped

Indicates that a plan or project was abandoned.

had withdrawn

Implies retracting an offer or plan.

had suspended

Suggests a temporary cessation, distinct from a permanent cancellation.

had put an end to

A more emphatic way of saying something was stopped.

had ceased

Indicates that something has stopped or discontinued.

had reneged on

Implies breaking a promise or agreement.

had backed out of

Indicates withdrawal from a commitment.

FAQs

How can I use "had called off" in a sentence?

"Had called off" indicates that something was cancelled or terminated. For instance, "Due to the storm, the organizers "had called off" the outdoor concert."

What's a simple synonym for "had called off"?

A simple synonym for ""had called off"" is "had cancelled". Both indicate that an event or arrangement was terminated.

Is it better to say "had called off" or "cancelled"?

Both ""had called off"" and "cancelled" are correct, but "had called off" is a phrasal verb and might be considered less formal than "cancelled", depending on the context.

What is the difference between "had called off" and "had postponed"?

"Had called off" means to cancel something entirely, while "had postponed" means to delay it to a later time. Calling something off is a cancellation, while postponing it is a delay.