reach out to

USAGE SUMMARY

"reach out to" is a correct and commonly used phrase in English.
You can use it to describe the action of attempting to communicate with someone, either directly, by phone or email, or indirectly, such as through a third party. For example: "Jim decided to reach out to his old friend to see if he could help him find a job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Reach out to recruiters.

The New York Times

And reach out to former employers.

The New York Times

People just reach out to him".

The New York Times - Sports

"How do we reach out to students?

The New York Times

I want to reach out to everyone.

The New Yorker

I want to reach out to them".

The New York Times

"Will he quickly reach out to Republicans?

The New York Times

So we reach out to regional theater".

The New York Times

"He had to reach out to moderates".

The New York Times

Use this to reach out to Iran.

The New York Times

Others reach out to teammates and trainers.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "reach out to" when you want to emphasize making an effort to communicate or offer assistance.

Common error

Avoid using "reach out to" in situations that demand more formal or direct language. For instance, in legal documents, it's better to use "contact" or "notify" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reach out to" functions primarily as a phrasal verb, signifying the act of attempting to establish communication or connection with someone. As shown by Ludwig, this can encompass contacting someone directly or offering help and support.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Wiki

27%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Science

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "reach out to" is a versatile phrasal verb used to describe the act of making contact with someone, often with the intention of offering help or establishing a connection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase. While it's suitable for many contexts, more formal situations might require alternatives like "contact" or "communicate with". Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, its neutral register makes it widely applicable. Understanding its nuances, as presented in this guide, helps ensure effective and appropriate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

get in touch with

This phrase emphasizes the act of initiating communication.

make contact with

Similar to 'get in touch', but may imply a more formal approach.

communicate with

A more general term for exchanging information.

contact

This is a more direct term for establishing communication.

connect with

Focuses on establishing a relationship or bond.

approach

Indicates taking the first step to communicate or interact.

get ahold of

An informal way to say 'contact'.

engage with

Suggests a more active and involved interaction.

liaise with

Suggests a more formal or professional connection.

extend a hand to

Emphasizes offering help or support.

FAQs

How can I use "reach out to" in a sentence?

You can use "reach out to" to describe contacting someone, offering help, or establishing a connection. For example, "I will "reach out to" the recruiter next week".

What's a more formal alternative to "reach out to"?

In formal contexts, consider using "contact", "communicate with", or "liaise with" instead of "reach out to".

Is it correct to say "reached out to"?

Yes, "reached out to" is the past tense form of "reach out to" and is perfectly correct. For example, "She "reached out to" me for help".

What is the difference between "reach out to" and "contact"?

"Reach out to" often implies making an effort to connect or offer assistance, while "contact" is a more general term for getting in touch.