the call started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the call started" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate the beginning of a phone call or a conference call. Example: "As soon as the call started, everyone introduced themselves."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The call started at 11 a.m. and lasted about an hour.

The New York Times

"Maybe in Egypt the call started on social media," she added, "but here, everything started on the ground.

The New York Times

Wealthy investors dialing in from as far away as Europe and Asia listened to soothing classical music before the call started.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

The call starts with some niceties: Thorley: Okay.

The New York Times

The call starts at 11am eastern, 8am Pacific.

TechCrunch

In particular, for each user call we have the identifiers of the cell where the call starts and ends respectively and the date and time when the call starts, and its duration.

EPJ Data Science

The messages will play above the ring tone right before the call starts similar to the example embedded below.

TechCrunch

"The call starts [the hero's journey], and then?

Huffington Post

when the calls started pouring in.

The New York Times

The calls started pouring in around noon on Tuesday.

The New York Times

Anyway, the next day the calls started to come in.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "the call started" to clearly indicate the commencement of a phone call or conference call in both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses mid-sentence. For example, instead of writing "The call started, and then it will proceed with introductions," maintain consistency by writing "The call started, and then it proceeded with introductions."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "the call started" functions as a declarative statement indicating the beginning of a phone call or similar communication event. As Ludwig AI reports, it's a usable phrase in written English. Examples show it used to mark the commencement of meetings or conference calls.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "the call started" is a grammatically sound and understandable phrase used to denote the commencement of a phone call, meeting, or conference. While relatively simple, it serves a clear purpose in informing the audience that an event has begun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and usable in English writing. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. Alternatives include "the meeting commenced" or "the conversation began", each adding a slightly different nuance. It's important to maintain consistent tense when using the phrase in sentences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the conversation began

Substitutes "call" with "conversation" and "started" with "began", highlighting the communicative aspect.

the meeting commenced

Replaces "call" with "meeting" and "started" with "commenced", indicating a more formal setting.

the session initiated

Replaces "call" with "session" and "started" with "initiated", suggesting a structured event.

the conference initiated

Uses 'conference' instead of 'call' and 'initiated' instead of 'started', suggesting a structured professional event.

the broadcast launched

Uses "broadcast" instead of "call" and "launched" instead of "started", framing it as a transmission.

the transmission commenced

This replacement suggests a broadcast or formal communication.

the proceedings opened

Replaces the original phrase with more formal vocabulary, 'proceedings' and 'opened'.

the discussion unfolded

It shifts the focus to the development and progression of the dialogue.

the line went live

This alternative conveys the idea of a connection being established for a conversation.

the huddle began

This version uses 'huddle' to imply a close, collaborative conversation and 'began' to indicate its start.

FAQs

What does "the call started" mean?

The phrase "the call started" simply means that a phone call or conference call has begun.

What's a more formal way to say "the call started"?

For a more formal tone, you could say "the meeting commenced" or "the conversation began". These alternatives can be useful in professional settings.

Which is correct, "the call started" or "the call has started"?

Both "the call started" and "the call has started" are grammatically correct, but they imply slightly different things. "The call started" ("the call started") refers to a specific point in the past, while "the call has started" implies that the call began recently and is still ongoing.

What can I say instead of "the call started"?

You can use alternatives like "the conversation began", "the session initiated", or "the meeting commenced" depending on the context.