returning your call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "returning your call" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are responding to someone who has previously called you and you are now getting back to them. Example: "Thank you for your patience; I am now returning your call regarding our last conversation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Speaking of which, I'm returning your call.

The New Yorker

She counsels parents, spending her days from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. printing out reams of e-mail messages to deliver to Bryn Mawr's 372 female campers and leaving voice mail messages for their parents that always begin, "Nothing's wrong, I'm just returning your call".

The New York Times

A voice mail message from months ago! "Hi Nancy, this is Brenda returning your call about the...".

Huffington Post

"Hey John Comma its Michael returning your call period... .. I've even done this whole making up a bedtime story for my son and accidentally dictated punctuation into it.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

They stop returning your calls.

The Guardian - Travel

"Nothing pisses me off more than people not returning your calls, not returning your emails.

The Guardian

"Tuesday, October 18th, 8 50 A.M". "Mr. Singer, it's Dr. Abravenel again, returning your calls.

The New Yorker

The ingredients are always there for you, waiting loyally in the pantry when more glamorous lunch options (cold cuts, leftovers) aren't returning your calls.

The New York Times - Food

I WOULD like to take this opportunity to make a public apology to R. Creigh Deeds, the Democratic candidate for governor of Virginia: Creigh, I'm sorry for not returning your calls.

The New York Times

Not returning your calls?

Forbes

Do they email you instead of returning your calls?

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When "returning your call", briefly mention the original reason for their call to provide context and show that you are prepared to address their needs.

Common error

Avoid delays when "returning your call". Promptness demonstrates respect for the caller's time and urgency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "returning your call" primarily functions as a present participle phrase often used as part of a sentence's verb phrase. Ludwig AI examples show its usage in conversational contexts, functioning to indicate an action in progress or a reason for the current communication.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

25%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

3%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "returning your call" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase that indicates a response to a previous phone call. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, it is most frequently found in News & Media and Academia contexts. While alternatives like "calling you back" or "responding to your call" exist, the original phrase effectively conveys the action of calling someone in return. Remember to be prompt when returning calls to show respect for the caller's time. Ludwig AI confirms the usability of this phrase in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

calling you back

This alternative is a more concise and direct way of saying the same thing.

getting back to you

This alternative broadens the scope to include methods beyond phone calls.

responding to your call

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the action of responding.

I'm calling in response to your message

This is a more formal and elaborate way to express the same action, emphasizing the message as the reason for the call.

returning the call

Omitting "your" makes it less personal and more generic.

calling you in return

This alternative emphasizes reciprocity, highlighting the act of calling back.

phoning you back

Replaces "calling" with "phoning", maintaining the meaning but using a slightly different verb.

getting in touch in response to your call

This alternative is a more verbose and formal way of saying you are responding to their call.

I'm following up on your call

This alternative highlights the action of following up, suitable in a business context.

calling in response

This alternative is shorter and more direct, suitable for quick communication.

FAQs

What does "returning your call" mean?

The phrase "returning your call" means you are calling someone back in response to a previous missed call or voicemail they left for you.

What's a more formal way to say "returning your call"?

A more formal alternative to "returning your call" is "responding to your call", which sounds more professional in business settings.

Is it better to say "returning your call" or "calling you back"?

Both "returning your call" and "calling you back" are acceptable, but "returning your call" emphasizes that you received their initial call.

What should I say when "returning your call"?

When "returning your call", start by mentioning their name, thanking them for calling, and briefly referencing the reason for their original call if known, before addressing their inquiry.