he called me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he called me" is a correct and usable part of sentence in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone made some form of contact with you, either by calling you on the phone or calling your name. For example: "I was sitting in the yard when he called me over to join him for lunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He called me nuts.

The New York Times

He called me".

The New Yorker

He called me up.

The New Yorker

He called me about it.

The New York Times

"He called me the Antichrist".

Independent

One day he called me.

The New York Times - Sports

"He called me," he said.

The New Yorker

He called me Papi, Papi".

The New York Times

He called me 'darling'darling

The Guardian - Lifestyle

He called me ballast".

The New York Times - Sports

He called me names".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he called me" to clearly indicate that someone initiated contact with you, whether by phone or other means. It's a straightforward and easily understood way to convey this information.

Common error

Be specific about the context when using "he called me". If it wasn't a phone call, clarify with additional information like "he called my name" or "he called me over".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he called me" functions as a simple declarative statement indicating that someone initiated contact with the speaker. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and common usage. Examples show various contexts, from simple phone calls to being addressed by a particular name.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he called me" is a straightforward and commonly used way to indicate that someone contacted you. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples across various contexts, primarily within news and media sources. While versatile in register, being suitable for both formal and informal settings, clarifying the context can improve clarity. Consider alternatives like "he phoned me", "he messaged me", or "he contacted me" depending on the nature of the interaction. Remember to avoid ambiguity by specifying how the person 'called' if it wasn't a phone call. Overall, it's a simple and effective way to report a past communication event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he phoned me

Replaces "called" with "phoned", specifying a phone call.

he rang me

Uses "rang" instead of "called", another way to say someone phoned you.

he gave me a call

Uses a more descriptive phrase with "gave me a call".

he contacted me

Replaces "called" with the more general term "contacted".

he got in touch with me

Indicates a more deliberate effort to establish communication.

he reached out to me

Suggests an attempt to connect, often for assistance or support.

he paged me

Refers to contacting via pager, implies urgency (less common now).

he messaged me

Uses "messaged" instead of "called", indicating a message was sent.

he texted me

Specifies that the contact was made via text message.

he emailed me

Specifies that the contact was made via email.

FAQs

How can I use "he called me" in a sentence?

You can use "he called me" to describe a past phone conversation or instance where someone addressed you. For example, "He called me yesterday to discuss the project" or "He called me by my nickname when we were kids".

What's a more formal way to say "he called me"?

A more formal alternative would be "he contacted me". This phrase is suitable for professional or official communication, as it avoids the casual connotation of a phone call. See also: "he contacted me".

What can I say instead of "he called me" if it wasn't a phone call?

If the person didn't use a phone, you could say "he messaged me", "he emailed me", or "he reached out to me". The best choice depends on the method of communication. See also: "he messaged me", "he emailed me".

Is there a difference between "he called me" and "he gave me a call"?

The phrases "he called me" and "he gave me a call" are nearly interchangeable. However, "he gave me a call" is slightly more informal and emphasizes the action of calling. See also: "he gave me a call".