started to call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'started to call' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the beginning of an action or process. For example, "When he heard the news, he immediately started to call his family."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He started to call out.

The New Yorker

Recently though, organizers started to call him.

The New York Times - Books

I started to call him Dr John.

The Guardian - Music

"And then they started to call me.

The Guardian

They started to call people by mobile.

The Guardian

"I've started to call this thing the miracle machine.

The New Yorker

Republicans have started to call the tactic the "constitutional option".

The New Yorker

We started to call each other at night.

The New York Times

But Amy and I started to call each other.

The New York Times

From early on, I started to call you Mater.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"The kids started to call me Uncle Herb," he said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "started to call" to clearly indicate the beginning of a calling action. For example, "After the meeting, he started to call potential investors."

Common error

Avoid using "started to call" when you mean to convey a completed action. Instead of "He started to call his mother", consider "He called his mother" if the call was completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "started to call" functions as a verb phrase, indicating the commencement of the action of making a phone call or contacting someone. Ludwig provides numerous examples where this phrase is used to describe the beginning of a communicative act.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "started to call" is a common and grammatically sound verb phrase used to denote the commencement of making a call or contacting someone. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely accepted and used across various contexts, primarily in news and media, but also in formal business settings. While alternatives like "began calling" or "initiated calling" exist, the phrase remains a straightforward and effective way to describe the beginning of a calling action. Remember to avoid ambiguity by ensuring the phrase accurately reflects the intended meaning of starting, rather than completing, the call.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

began calling

Uses 'began' instead of 'started', indicating the initiation of calling.

initiated calling

Replaces "started" with "initiated", emphasizing the formal beginning of the action.

commenced calling

Uses 'commenced' for a more formal tone.

proceeded to call

Emphasizes the sequential action of calling after a previous action.

took to calling

Implies a habitual or regular action of calling.

launched a calling campaign

Focuses on a concerted effort to call multiple people.

made the first call

Highlights the initial instance of calling someone.

rang up

A more informal way of saying someone started to call someone.

dialed

A more concise way of saying someone started to call someone.

contacted

Indicates the establishment of communication without specifying the method.

FAQs

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

Use "started to call" to indicate the beginning of the action of making a call, like "As soon as she heard the news, she "started to call" her friends".

What's a more formal alternative to "started to call"?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives like "commenced calling" or "initiated calling".

What's the difference between "started to call" and "called"?

"Started to call" implies the action of calling began but doesn't necessarily mean it was completed, whereas "called" indicates the action was fully carried out.

What can I say instead of "started to call" to indicate a habit?

If you want to imply a habitual action, you could use the phrase "took to calling", which suggests a regular pattern.