hanging up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "hanging up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the action of ending a phone call by disconnecting the line. Example: "After a long conversation, she decided it was time to hang up and get back to work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

NOTHING!" before hanging up.

The New York Times

"O.K., I'm hanging up.

The New York Times

"Well," she said, hanging up.

The New Yorker

Then, after hanging up.

The New York Times

"I'm hanging up now".

The New York Times - Tech

"Bitch," he muttered before hanging up.

The New Yorker

For now, he is hanging up.

The New York Times

Hello!" he called out, after hanging up.

The New Yorker

Before hanging up, we exchanged names.

The New York Times - Magazine

After hanging up, I prayed.

The Washington Post

I'm hanging up on him.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "hanging up" to describe the action of ending a phone call, especially when the manner of ending the call might be abrupt or informal. For formal situations, consider "disconnecting the call" or "terminating the call".

Common error

Ensure context clarifies whether "hanging up" refers to ending a phone call or discontinuing a different type of activity. If ambiguity exists, rephrase to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "hanging up" is a verb phrase, acting as a present participle. Ludwig AI validates this through numerous examples showing its role in continuous verb tenses, as in "Someone was repeatedly ringing his cell phone and hanging up".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

15%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "hanging up" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase, primarily used to describe the action of ending a phone call. According to Ludwig AI, it's considered correct and usable in written English. While versatile, it's essential to ensure clarity and context, especially when the action could refer to something other than a phone call. The examples show its prevalence in news and media, with a neutral formality. Consider alternative phrases like "disconnecting the call" or "terminating the call" for more formal situations. Remember, while "hanging up" is widely understood, choosing the right synonym can enhance the precision and tone of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

disconnecting the call

Focuses specifically on the action of severing the phone connection.

ending the call

A more general term for concluding a phone conversation.

terminating the call

A more formal way of saying "ending the call".

putting down the phone

Emphasizes the physical action of placing the phone receiver down.

ringing off

A British English term for ending a call.

calling it quits

Implies stopping an activity, not necessarily a phone call.

ceasing operations

A formal term for stopping operations, suitable for business contexts.

discontinuing service

Related to stopping a service or subscription.

stopping

A generic term, referring to the general concept of ceasing an activity.

giving up

Similar to stopping but often implies resignation or defeat.

FAQs

How can I use "hanging up" in a sentence?

You can use "hanging up" to describe the action of ending a phone call abruptly, like in the sentence, "He was so angry that he ended up "hanging up" mid-conversation."

What can I say instead of "hanging up"?

Alternatives include "disconnecting the call", "ending the call", or "terminating the call", depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it correct to say "hang up" instead of "hanging up"?

The correct form depends on the tense and context. "Hang up" is the base form or imperative, while ""hanging up"" is the present participle, used in continuous tenses (e.g., "She is hanging up now").

What's the difference between "hanging up" and "putting down the phone"?

"Hanging up" usually refers to ending a call, while "putting down the phone" simply means setting the phone down, which might not necessarily end the call. They are often interchangeable, but "putting down the phone" focuses more on the physical action.