will be on call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "will be on call" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone will be available to respond to calls or requests, typically in a work or emergency context. Example: "During the holiday season, I will be on call to assist with any urgent customer inquiries."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

34 human-written examples

Most of the part-time workers will be "on call". This means that they will agree to respond within an hour to a call to report for duty.

Bplans

An after-hours and weekend service is offered by one physiotherapist who will be on call on a rotational basis.

BMC Anesthesiology

At least one of the people will be on call 24 hours a day as a resource for customers that encounter difficulty.

Bplans

Lawyers will be on call.

The New York Times - Sports

The chiropractor will be on call at the Garden.

The New York Times - Sports

In Milwaukee, lawyers from the district attorney's office will be on call if tensions get out of hand.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

All our aircraft will be on-call 24/7.

The Guardian

In three weeks, he'll be on call for a nearby hospital to counsel people who have just been revived from an opioid overdose. .

Huffington Post

Known as a personal liaison manager, these people will be on 24/7 call to provide assistance for everything from troubleshooting engine problems to arranging concert tickets.

Forbes

I know I will be on the call on Tuesday, how about you? www.upwardspiral2011.org.upwardspiral2011.org

Huffington Post

A maximum of ten people will be on each call for two hours, and the cost will be $99.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "will be on call" to clearly indicate a period of availability for immediate response, such as in emergency services or customer support. This is very different from saying that somebody "will be available" which doesn't imply immediate response.

Common error

Avoid using "will be on call" when you simply mean someone is generally available. "On call" implies a specific duty to respond promptly, not just general accessibility. For example, a doctor "will be on call", but your account manager is only "available".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "will be on call" functions as a predicate adjective phrase within a sentence, describing the state or condition of a subject. Ludwig's AI identifies it as indicating availability and readiness to respond to calls or requests.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "will be on call" is a common and grammatically correct way to express availability and readiness to respond to requests or emergencies. As Ludwig's AI confirms, it's often used in news, science, and formal business contexts. While it can be used in many situations, it is important to remember that it implies active readiness and availability, and is not simply a synonym for “available”. Alternatives like "will be available" or will be on standby may be more appropriate depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

will be on standby

Implies readiness to respond if needed, typically in an emergency.

will be available

Focuses on general availability, less specific than being 'on call'.

will be available for contact

Similar to 'reachable' but more formal.

will be reachable

Emphasizes the ability to be contacted, less about immediate action.

will be accessible

Focuses on the ease of getting in touch.

will be ready for duty

Indicates preparedness to perform assigned tasks.

will be standing by

Suggests a state of readiness and anticipation.

will be ready to assist

Highlights the willingness to help when contacted.

will be at the ready

Similar to 'standing by', implying preparedness.

will be attending

Suggests someone is present and participating

FAQs

How is "will be on call" typically used in a sentence?

The phrase "will be on call" indicates that someone is available and prepared to respond to requests or emergencies, often outside of regular working hours. For example, "The IT support team "will be on call" over the weekend to address any system outages."

What's a more formal alternative to "will be on call"?

A more formal alternative could be "will be available for duty", which implies a structured readiness to perform tasks when required. However, "will be on call" is acceptable in most professional contexts.

Is it correct to say "will be on call 24/7"?

Yes, saying "will be on call 24/7" emphasizes that someone is available around the clock, every day of the week. This is commonly used in contexts like emergency services or critical IT infrastructure support.

What's the difference between "will be on call" and "will be on standby"?

"Will be on call" suggests an expectation to actively respond to requests or emergencies, while "will be on standby" implies a state of readiness, but not necessarily an active expectation of immediate action. Standby often suggests awaiting further instructions or a specific event.