telephoned about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "telephoned about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to a phone call made regarding a specific topic or issue. Example: "I telephoned about the job application status yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

(Ms. Hanrahan's husband telephoned about the errors after the second article was published).

The New York Times

Most people telephoned about real estate deals they participated in either never responded or refused to talk.

The New York Times

Because if Henry hadn't just happened to run into Walt, Mrs. Lewis could have telephoned about her second mortgage till the cows come home.

The New Yorker

But neither the new serjeant at arms, Jill Pay, who gave permission, nor the speaker, Michael Martin, whom she telephoned about it, thought to ask.

The Economist

A social service worker called at a mansion one day in connection with her work, and was greeted by a bluecoated, brass-buttoned butler, to whom she explained that she had come for the toys his mistress had telephoned about.

The New Yorker

By J. M. Waldheim, Francis Steegmuller, and Harold Ross The New Yorker, February 2 , 1935P. 13 A social service worker called at a mansion one day in connection with her work, and was greeted by a bluecoated, brass-buttoned butler, to whom she explained that she had come for the toys his mistress had telephoned about.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Jane Schreibman got a telephone call about 10 p.m. Saturday asking whether she was all right.

Los Angeles Times

May telephoned Rebekah Brooks and Dominic Mohan about the review of the Madeleine McCann case in May 2011.

The Guardian

He said the woman who telephoned him about this was apologetic.

BBC

The IRA had sent telephoned warnings about 90 minutes before the bomb detonated.

Wikipedia

To analyse the efficacy of the intervention through a telephone call about patients' compliance with lipaemia therapy.

Atención Primaria

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "telephoned about", ensure the context clearly indicates the subject of the phone call to avoid ambiguity. For example, "She telephoned about the missing documents" is clearer than "She telephoned about it."

Common error

While grammatically correct, "telephoned about" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "called about" or "phoned about" for a more natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telephoned about" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of making a phone call with a specific purpose or inquiry. It connects the act of calling with the subject or reason for the call. Ludwig confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "telephoned about" is a grammatically correct verb phrase used to describe making a phone call concerning a specific matter. According to Ludwig, the usage of the phrase is fine and the tool confirms that it's suitable for conveying that a call was initiated to discuss a specific topic. While its register leans toward neutral to formal, it's generally appropriate across diverse contexts such as news, science, and business. Consider simpler alternatives like "called about" or "phoned about" for more casual settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Called regarding

This alternative is a more formal and direct substitute, emphasizing the purpose of the call.

Phoned concerning

This alternative uses 'concerning' which introduces a slightly more formal tone than 'about'.

Made a call regarding

This version emphasizes the action of making the call and is slightly more descriptive.

Contacted by phone about

This alternative is more passive and emphasizes the method of contact.

Spoke on the phone about

This alternative highlights the conversation aspect and is less direct.

Rang up about

This alternative is less formal and implies a casual phone call.

Inquired by phone about

This alternative emphasizes the act of asking for information during the call.

Called to discuss

This alternative highlights the intent to have a conversation about something.

Telephoned to ask about

This alternative uses a slightly more verbose structure, specifying the reason for the call.

Got in touch by phone regarding

This alternative is more roundabout and focuses on the act of making contact.

FAQs

What does "telephoned about" mean?

The phrase "telephoned about" means to have made a phone call concerning a particular topic or issue. It indicates that the purpose of the phone call was related to the subject mentioned after "about".

What's a less formal way to say "telephoned about"?

You could use phrases like "called about", "phoned about", or "rang about" depending on the context.

Is it better to use "telephoned regarding" instead of "telephoned about"?

While both are correct, "telephoned regarding" is generally more formal. "Telephoned about" is acceptable in most contexts, but "telephoned regarding" may be preferred in formal or professional settings.

How can I use "telephoned about" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "I telephoned about the status of my application". Ensure that the subject of the call is clearly stated after "about".