she rang him up

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she rang him up" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone made a phone call to another person. Example: "After thinking about it for a while, she finally decided to ring him up and discuss their plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

So much so that pre-launch she apparently rang him up during his daily school run with the Beckham brood to request several bottles (presumably to share with friends).

Huffington Post

We rang him up and booked him.

The Guardian - Travel

Inappropriately, I rang him up at his home.

Huffington Post

He rang him up and told him so.

Vice

"So they'd stop ringing him up, almost.

The Guardian - Music

When he admitted that he would like to meet Prince Charles, she simply rang him up.

The New York Times

I rang him up.

The Guardian - Business

Says she'll send him a check, or that she'll ring him up the first chance she gets.

The New Yorker

If she rang up tomorrow I'd be really happy.

Independent

She rang up a travel agent and requested the cheapest ticket to wherever.

The Washington Post

"Moldova," was the reply, as she rang up a navy belt dotted with green whales.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context. While acceptable, "she rang him up" might sound slightly old-fashioned or less common to some audiences, especially outside of British English.

Common error

Avoid using "she rang him up" in contexts where a formal tone or American English is preferred. The phrase is more common in British English, so using it in other contexts might sound out of place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she rang him up" functions as a phrasal verb, where "rang up" acts as a single unit indicating the action of making a phone call. Ludwig's examples confirm its use in everyday conversation and narrative contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she rang him up" is a phrasal verb indicating a phone call was made. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and primarily used in News & Media. However, it leans toward British English and may sound slightly informal. While acceptable, consider "she called him" for broader clarity. Therefore, while the phrase is correct, be mindful of your audience and desired tone when choosing between it and its alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she called him

A more common and direct way of saying someone made a phone call.

she phoned him

Similar to 'called', but slightly more formal and less frequently used.

she gave him a call

An idiomatic way of saying someone made a phone call.

she contacted him by phone

More descriptive and emphasizes the mode of communication.

she reached out to him via phone

Emphasizes the effort made to contact the person.

she got in touch with him by telephone

A more formal way to indicate contact was made via phone.

she communicated with him by phone

Focuses on the act of communication rather than the act of calling.

she made a call to him

More formal and emphasizes the action of making the call.

she telephoned him

A less common and slightly antiquated way of saying someone called.

she put a call through to him

Emphasizes connecting the call successfully.

FAQs

What does "she rang him up" mean?

The phrase "she rang him up" means that she made a phone call to him. It's a slightly less common and more informal way of saying "she called him".

Is "she rang him up" British English?

Yes, the phrase "she rang him up" is more commonly used in British English. In American English, "she called him" is more prevalent.

Are there more formal alternatives to "she rang him up"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "she phoned him" or "she contacted him by phone". These options may be more appropriate in professional or academic contexts.

When should I use "she rang him up" instead of "she called him"?

Use "she rang him up" when aiming for a slightly informal tone or when writing for an audience familiar with British English. In most other contexts, "she called him" is a safer and more universally understood choice.