had just called

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had just called" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that a phone call occurred very recently in the past, often in relation to another event or action. Example: "She was surprised to find that he had just called before she arrived home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Heather had just called.

The New York Times - Sports

Her daughter, Maria, a hostage, had just called.

The New York Times

He had just called about it that morning.

The New York Times - Arts

If he had just called me a dirty Jew, it would have been O.K.

The New York Times - Magazine

A French parliamentary committee had just called for a ban on the burqa in some public places.

The New York Times

Next, the singer came on to tell the crowd that Fox News had just called Vermont for Mr. Romney.

The New York Times

He mentioned that Obama had just called him, and among the many things they discussed was Afghanistan.

The New Yorker

My father had just called to inform us that he had a new girlfriend.

The New Yorker

They had just called from downstairs, more than a half hour late.

The New York Times

He had just called 911 and told them he had shot Tyler.

The Guardian

The dispatcher told him that the customer had just called to say he would be out shortly.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had just called" to clearly indicate that an action of calling occurred very recently before another action or event you are describing. This helps establish a clear sequence of events for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had just called" when the sequence of events is unclear. Ensure that the context makes it clear which event occurred immediately after the call. For example, avoid saying "He had just called," without specifying who he called or what happened afterwards.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had just called" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (calling) that was completed immediately before another action or time in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had just called" is a grammatically sound and very commonly used past perfect phrase that indicates an action of calling occurred immediately before another event in the past. According to Ludwig, its primary function is to establish a clear sequence of events, often providing context or explaining a situation. It's suitable for various registers, especially news and media, although also used in more formal settings. When using this phrase, ensure that the timing and sequence of events are clear to avoid any ambiguity. Related phrases like "had recently called" and "had immediately called" can offer similar meanings with slightly different nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had recently called

Emphasizes the recency of the call, similar to "had just called".

had immediately called

Highlights the immediacy of the call after an event.

had only just called

Adds a sense of surprise or unexpected timing to the call.

had shortly called

Indicates that the call happened a short time ago.

had promptly called

Emphasizes the quickness and readiness to make the call.

had then called

Sequences the call after a previous event.

had previously called

Indicates a call happened before a specific time.

had telephoned moments ago

Uses a more formal term and specifies the very recent timing.

had contacted by phone

Replaces "called" with a more general term for phone communication.

had been in touch by phone

Indicates a brief conversation occurred.

FAQs

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

Use "had just called" to describe an action of calling that happened immediately before another event in the past. For example, "She was surprised to find that he "had just called" before she arrived home".

What are some alternatives to saying "had just called"?

You can use alternatives such as "had recently called", "had immediately called", or "had shortly called" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has just called" instead of "had just called"?

No, "has just called" uses the present perfect tense, indicating an action that has relevance to the present. "Had just called" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "had just called" and "had called"?

"Had just called" implies that the call happened very recently before something else. "Had called" simply indicates that the call happened at some point before another event in the past, without emphasizing the recency.