planned to call

USAGE SUMMARY

"planned to call" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to an intention or arrangement to make a phone call in the future. Example: "She had planned to call her friend yesterday." Alternative expressions include "intended to call" and "meant to call."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

He originally planned to call them "Terrorists".

The New York Times - Arts

(Bezos once planned to call his company Relentless.com).

The New Yorker

He didn't say what he planned to call it.

The New Yorker

Ahmad planned to call Zazi and Ahmedzay as witnesses.

The New Yorker

Ms. Shaw asked whether Ms. Lord planned to call on each prospect personally.

The New York Times

Depomed, which is based in Newark, Calif., planned to call its hot-flash version Sefelsa.

The New York Times

He was making plans to open a cigar store, which he planned to call Fumar.

The New York Times

Williams planned to call Beanie Wells, his competition in Arizona, for help with the playbook.

The New York Times - Sports

This was the ideal behind the work he had planned to call "American Rhapsody".

The New Yorker

She planned to call everyone she knew who'd attended and ask, "What were you wearing?

The New Yorker

Mr. Dickens planned to call "Tale of Two Cities", "Memory Carton".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "planned to call" when you want to clearly state that someone had an intention and made arrangements to make a phone call at some point.

Common error

Avoid using the present tense "plan to call" when describing a past intention. Using "plan to call" suggests a current or future intention, while "planned to call" refers to a past intention.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "planned to call" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past intention to make a phone call. This construction is commonly used to describe scheduled or intended actions, as shown by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Encyclopedias

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "planned to call" is a very common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to indicate a past intention to make a phone call. Ludwig's analysis confirms its widespread usage across diverse contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific sources. Although its register is generally neutral, writers should be mindful of using the correct tense and avoid substituting it with the present tense "plan to call" when referring to a past intention. Alternatives such as "intended to call" and "was going to call" can be used to add nuance, but the phrase remains a clear and effective way to express a past intention to contact someone by phone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made plans to call

Emphasizes the planning aspect, similar to the original phrase.

intended to call

Replaces "planned" with "intended", suggesting a similar level of intention.

scheduled to call

Emphasizes the act of scheduling or arranging the call.

was going to call

Indicates a past intention to make a call.

meant to call

Similar to "was going to call", implying a forgotten or delayed intention.

arranged to call

Highlights the arrangement or preparation for making the call.

had decided to call

Focuses on the decision-making process before planning the call.

was set to call

Indicates a high likelihood or certainty that the call would occur.

contemplated calling

Suggests a less firm intention, more of a consideration.

envisaged calling

Similar to contemplated calling, but leaning towards a visualized plan.

FAQs

How can I use "planned to call" in a sentence?

You can use "planned to call" to indicate a past intention to make a phone call. For example, "She planned to call her mother yesterday, but she ran out of time."

What is a good alternative to "planned to call"?

Alternatives to "planned to call" include "intended to call", "was going to call", or "scheduled to call", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "planned to call" and "going to call"?

"Planned to call" suggests a more deliberate arrangement or intention than "going to call", which can be more spontaneous.

Is it correct to say "had planned to call"?

Yes, "had planned to call" is grammatically correct and emphasizes that the planning occurred further in the past. For example, "She had planned to call before she heard the news."