touch base with

USAGE SUMMARY

"touch base with" is correct and it is an idiomatic expression used in spoken and written English.
It is usually used to mean to contact someone to re-establish communication or to check up on something. Example: I need to touch base with my boss to make sure that the project is on track.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meaningful training on community-based approaches makes sense and enables trainees to touch base with reality when they are trained and practice within the same or similar environments.

Unicef

I wanted to touch base with haunts old and new.

The New York Times - Travel

Nice to touch base with Badger and Skinny Pete.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I'd love to touch base with [Watson and Crawford].

The Guardian - Sport

Touch base with others who might also be able to support and help?

Columbia University

Use of additional lists need to be documented; touch base with the Chief Cataloging Librarian.

Yale University

He would like you to touch base with him two or three times a week".

The New York Times - Sports

Travelers are advised to touch base with the American embassy; information is at travel.state.gov.gov

The New York Times - Travel

Mr. Bloomberg has yet to touch base with the city's traditionally conservative corners.

The New York Times

O.K., one more thing before I've got to run and touch base with Malcolm.

The New Yorker

It's partly why he feels the need to touch base with Australia so often.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "touch base with" when you want to re-establish communication, check on progress, or maintain contact with someone. It's suitable for both professional and informal settings.

Common error

While "touch base with" is generally acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal written communication. Opt for more professional alternatives like "contact" or "follow up" when addressing superiors or writing official reports.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "touch base with" functions as an idiomatic verb phrase. It serves as a lighter, less formal way to indicate making contact for a brief update or to reconnect. Ludwig's examples confirm its wide application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Formal & Business

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "touch base with" is a versatile and commonly used idiomatic phrase that signifies making brief contact for updates or reconnection. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in news, business, and academic contexts. While suitable for many situations, it's advisable to use more formal alternatives in highly professional written communications. Remember to consider your audience and the context when choosing this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

check in with

Implies a brief communication to assess a situation or someone's well-being.

get in contact with

Emphasizes the act of initiating or re-establishing communication.

reach out to

Focuses on the effort to connect with someone, often for assistance or support.

connect with

Highlights the establishment of a relationship or link with someone.

make contact with

A formal way of expressing the act of contacting or reaching out to someone.

follow up with

Suggests a subsequent contact to check on progress or maintain engagement.

get ahold of

An informal way of saying to contact someone, often when it's difficult.

get back to

Focuses on returning communication at a later time.

communicate with

A more general term for exchanging information or ideas with someone.

liaise with

Implies establishing a working relationship to facilitate communication.

FAQs

What does "touch base with" mean?

"Touch base with" means to make brief contact with someone, usually to check in or exchange information.

How can I use "touch base with" in a sentence?

You can say, "I'll "touch base with" you next week to discuss the project's progress".

What are some alternatives to "touch base with"?

You can use alternatives like "get in contact with", "reach out to", or "check in with" depending on the context.

Is "touch base with" appropriate for formal emails?

While generally acceptable, consider more formal alternatives like "contact" or "follow up" in very formal or official communications.