telephone with him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "telephone with him" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward.
It could be used in a context where you want to indicate that you are making a phone call to someone, but it is more natural to say "call him" instead. Example: "I need to telephone with him to discuss the project details."

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

He consults regularly with Mr. Bruno, whom Mr. Spitzer had stopped speaking to altogether, visiting his office to chat about legislation and talking on the telephone with him several times a week.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Jay: Have you had any telephone discussions with him?

The New York Times

After his conviction Allsopp spoke with Buckley on the telephone, pleading with him to resign.

The Guardian

Negotiators had made telephone contact with him before the blaze started.

The New York Times

Lest Mr. Lanham appear superhuman, consider the denouement of a long-scheduled telephone interview with him.

The New York Times

HIS daughters, Pamela and Ann Jaquith, began to suspect something was wrong from their telephone conversations with him.

The New York Times

But she says she stopped believing in the war last month after a telephone conversation with him.

The New York Times

While Savory was in London, I managed to secure a telephone interview with him, to ask him about these challenges.

The Guardian

Then I stole the tape of the telephone conversation with him that you can hear on the track".

The Guardian - Music

After discovering the document destruction, the firm's lawyers conducted only a single, short telephone interview with him.

The New York Times

Mr. Frayn never met Brandt, but his wife, Claire Tomalin (author of the Whitbread Prize-winning biography "Samuel Pepys: the Unequalled Self"), once had a memorable telephone conversation with him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Opt for more common and natural-sounding alternatives like "call him", "speak to him on the phone", or "phone him" for clearer communication.

Common error

Avoid using "telephone with him" in casual contexts. It can sound overly formal or unnatural. Simpler phrasing is generally preferred in most situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telephone with him" functions as a prepositional phrase, indicating a means of communication. While grammatically understandable, it's not the most idiomatic choice. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrasing may sound awkward in contemporary English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "telephone with him" is grammatically acceptable but not commonly used in modern English. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it can sound awkward or overly formal. More natural alternatives include "call him", "speak to him on the phone", or simply "phone him". Usage is primarily found in News & Media contexts, but simpler alternatives are generally preferred for clearer communication. While understandable, opting for more common phrasing will improve clarity and naturalness in writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

phone him

A more concise and direct way to say "telephone with him".

call him on the phone

Specifies the medium of communication, emphasizing the instrument used.

speak to him by phone

Indicates a conversation happened via telephone.

give him a call

An idiomatic and informal way to say call him.

talk to him over the phone

Replaces the verb "telephone" with "talk", emphasizing the action of speaking.

have a phone conversation with him

Highlights the conversational aspect of telephoning.

reach him by telephone

Focuses on making contact via phone.

contact him by phone

Refers to establishing communication, not just necessarily talking, on the phone.

have a telephonic discussion with him

More formal phrasing highlighting a structured discussion.

exchange words with him via phone

Emphasizes the exchange of information.

FAQs

How can I use "telephone with him" in a sentence?

While grammatically correct, "telephone with him" sounds awkward. A better phrasing is "I need to "call him" to discuss the details".

What can I say instead of "telephone with him"?

You can use alternatives like "call him on the phone", "speak to him by phone", or simply "phone him".

Which is correct, "telephone with him" or "call him"?

"Call him" is more common and natural. Although "telephone with him" isn't incorrect, it's rarely used and can sound stilted.

What's the difference between "telephone with him" and "have a phone conversation with him"?

"Have a phone conversation with him" /s/have+a+phone+conversation+with+him is more descriptive and highlights the conversational aspect, while "telephone with him" focuses on the act of using the telephone. The former is also more common.