spike in calls

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "spike in calls" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a sudden increase in the number of phone calls received, often in a specific context such as customer service or emergency response. Example: "After the announcement was made, we experienced a significant spike in calls from concerned customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

32 human-written examples

"We saw this huge spike in calls," Mr. Kaplan said.

The New York Times

The East of England ambulance trust had a 6% spike in calls.

The Guardian

"There was a 30% spike in calls to Safe Steps when the royal commission was announced.

The Guardian

But the repo men anticipate a spike in calls once that time is up.

The Economist

Around mid-October, he said, "we started to see a spike in calls from people looking for deals".

The New York Times - Travel

Several major charities reported a big spike in calls and emails from people wanting to know how they could help.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

28 human-written examples

Photograph: Neil Hall/Reuters 1.32pm BST West Midlands Ambulance Service, which covers Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, is also reporting a noticeable spike in call-outs linked to breathing problems and chest pains, PA reports.

The Guardian

What's more, data from the International Securities Exchange (ISE) and the Chicago Board Options Exchange (CBOE) also points to a spike in call trading.

Forbes

Students expressed their support on Twitter for DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals immigration protection measure, sharing tweets such as "#WithDACA I don't feel like I need to hide". A Muslim girl in Plano, Texas, had her hijab forcibly removed, and LGBTQ youth-focused suicide prevention hotlines have experienced a spike in call volume following Trump's victory.

Los Angeles Times

As shown in Fig. 1A, emergencies trigger a sharp spike in call activity (number of outgoing calls and text messages) in the physical proximity of the event, confirming that mobile phones act as sensitive local "sociometers" to external societal perturbations.

Plosone

The temporally localized spike in call activity (Fig. 1A,B) raises an important question: is information about the events limited to the immediate vicinity of the emergency or do emergencies, often immediately covered by national media, lead to spatially extended changes in call activity [23]?

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "spike in calls" to describe a sudden, often unexpected, increase in the volume of phone calls, especially when highlighting the impact of a specific event or situation.

Common error

Avoid using "spike in calls" to describe a consistently high call volume over a long period. A "spike" implies a temporary surge, not a sustained level.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "spike in calls" functions as a noun phrase that typically acts as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its usage to denote a sudden increase. Examples show it describing increased demand on services like emergency lines or customer service.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "spike in calls" effectively describes a sudden surge in phone call volume and is commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread applicability. While alternatives like "surge in calls" and "increase in call volume" exist, "spike in calls" succinctly conveys the rapid nature of the increase. Remember to use it to describe temporary increases, not sustained high volumes.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

surge in calls

Emphasizes a rapid and significant increase.

increase in call volume

Focuses on the total number of calls.

rise in calls

A more general term for an upward trend in calls.

upswing in calls

Suggests a positive change or increase in calls.

jump in calls

Indicates a sudden and noticeable increase.

escalation in calls

Highlights a gradual but steady increase in calls.

heightened call activity

Focuses on the overall activity of calls.

influx of calls

Suggests a large number of calls arriving at once.

proliferation of calls

Emphasizes a rapid spread and increase in calls.

leap in calls

Conveys a dramatic and significant increase.

FAQs

What does "spike in calls" mean?

A "spike in calls" refers to a sudden and significant increase in the number of phone calls received, usually within a short period.

What can I say instead of "spike in calls"?

You can use alternatives like "surge in calls", "increase in call volume", or "rise in calls" depending on the context.

How do I use "spike in calls" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The company experienced a "spike in calls" after the product recall announcement."

What causes a "spike in calls"?

A "spike in calls" can be triggered by various events, such as product launches, service disruptions, media coverage, or emergencies.