telephone conversation

USAGE SUMMARY

"telephone conversation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a conversation that took place over the phone. For example: "We had a long telephone conversation about our plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's called a telephone conversation," she said.

The Guardian - Tech

Tells about his telephone conversation with Miss Perkins.

The New Yorker

How, exactly, do you initiate a telephone conversation?

The New York Times

In a brief telephone conversation, Mr. Culver declined to comment.

The New York Times

(Weeks later, in a telephone conversation, he seemed friendlier).

The New York Times

Talk story about telephone conversation with 48 yr.

The New Yorker

Cameron and Kenny had a long telephone conversation on Sunday.

The Guardian - Opinion

Telephone conversation with Dr. Urey and Mr. Thomas Gold.

The New Yorker

In a telephone conversation, Mr. Holbrooke criticized the Bush approach.

The New York Times

They have both called attention to the hourlong telephone conversation they had this week.

The New York Times

In a recent telephone conversation, Selig said that the committee had not completed its study.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, use "telephone conversation" to maintain a professional tone. In more casual contexts, "phone call" or "call" might be more appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "telephone conversation" in casual writing or speech; simpler terms like "call" or "phone call" are often more natural.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telephone conversation" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the subject or object of a sentence. It identifies a specific instance of communication via telephone, as shown in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "telephone conversation" is a grammatically correct and widely used term, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as a noun phrase, referring to a discussion via telephone. While versatile, it tends towards a neutral or professional register, suitable for news, business, or formal contexts. Simpler alternatives like "phone call" or "call" are often preferred in informal settings. With high source quality and frequent usage across various domains, "telephone conversation" remains a valuable and precise way to describe communication over the phone. Ludwig's examples provide ample context for its correct application.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

phone call

Replaces the more formal "telephone conversation" with a simpler term.

call

Shortest and most common substitute for "telephone conversation".

phone discussion

Emphasizes the discussion aspect of the telephone exchange.

telephonic discussion

More formal alternative using the adjective "telephonic".

conversation over the phone

Rephrases the term to specify the medium of conversation.

talk on the phone

Focuses on the act of talking using a phone.

chat over the phone

Suggests a more casual and informal exchange.

mobile conversation

Specifies that the conversation is on a mobile device.

virtual meeting

Implies a more structured and formal discussion held via phone.

communication by phone

Highlights the means of communication rather than the conversation itself.

FAQs

How can I use "telephone conversation" in a sentence?

You can use "telephone conversation" to describe an interaction between two or more people over the phone. For example, "We had a lengthy telephone conversation about the project's budget".

What can I say instead of "telephone conversation"?

You can use alternatives like "phone call", "call", or "phone discussion" depending on the context.

Is "telephone conversation" formal or informal?

"Telephone conversation" is generally considered more formal. In informal contexts, "phone call" or "call" are more appropriate.

What's the difference between "telephone conversation" and "phone call"?

While often interchangeable, "telephone conversation" emphasizes the exchange of ideas and information, while "phone call" simply refers to the act of calling someone on the phone.