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I was invited to a conference call on Skype (it's a popular online conference call application, for those who aren't familiar). I texted a colleague who was also invited. I asked her, "Will you be attending the call?"

It occurred to me that "attending" would be correct for a face to face meeting, such as "Will you be attending the meeting?" or the more casual "Are you going to the meeting?" But it occurred to me that the word might not be precise. "Will you be joining the call?" is probably closer, as in "Bob just joined the call". But that still doesn't sound right. Is there a better word for attend when referring to an online call that no one has to leave their desk to be present at?

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  • Related : In a (conference) call or on a call ?.
    – Nigel J
    Commented Oct 23, 2018 at 19:24
  • Not that I post for the sake of getting upvotes or anything, but I just earned the "Famous Question" badge for this question. So, I have 10,000 views and one - just ONE - upvote for this extremely popular question. That should be a badge in itself.
    – CigarDoug
    Commented Sep 13, 2021 at 20:31
  • And now I get downvotes to reduce it to zero. Awesome.
    – CigarDoug
    Commented Sep 14, 2021 at 0:37

2 Answers 2

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A conference call is one where there are more than two interlocutors.

One does not attend a call (telephone). One can participate in a conference call. One can take part in a conference call. One can "be on a conference call".

  • Will you participate in the CC?
  • Will you be on the CC?
  • Will you take part in the CC?
  • Will you be joining the CC?
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  • I’ve heard all of above and you could add : will you join the CC ?
    – k1eran
    Commented Oct 23, 2018 at 20:10
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    @k1eran Oh for pete's sake. I tried to upvote you and got confused and hit flag also, and you don't get a second chance at it. What a pain. Sorry about that.
    – Lambie
    Commented Oct 23, 2018 at 20:19
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    no problem at all !
    – k1eran
    Commented Oct 23, 2018 at 20:22
  • I think you are picking up what I am putting down. When trying to decide what word to use, I rely on what my ear tells me sounds right. "take part" is what sounds best to my ear. I guess I was looking for a one word answer, because I prefer one word to two when possible. Joining only seems to fit when describing what someone has DONE, not something you ASK someone to do. I can't quite explain why that is.
    – CigarDoug
    Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 11:28
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    @CigarDoug Sure, I agree: what sounds best. take part is participate, isn't it?
    – Lambie
    Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 15:44
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"Will you be attending the skype call?"

And as Microsoft notes, meeting attendees do not need a Skype account to attend a Skype Call: They can simply use Skype for Web instead. thurrot.com

and

It would be unprofessional and distracting to attend a skype call from a coffee shop surrounded by loud neighbors, or a with a frappuccino. theyogimovement.com

support the use of to attend to such virtual calls/conferences. In addition @Lambie's suggestions are nice too!

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  • Thanks for that. I simply cannot get my head around, attend a call. It's attend a meeting virtually via a call. :)
    – Lambie
    Commented Oct 23, 2018 at 20:21
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    Microsoft is trying to pitch Skype as an event, not as an instrument. I find it a very dishonest use of language.
    – KarlG
    Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 1:22
  • Google created a product and made it a verb. Microsoft takes verbs and turns them into products. They... excel at doing that.
    – CigarDoug
    Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 11:29
  • @KarlG That's an excellent point. They sure do twist it up. [variation on mix it up, ha ha]
    – Lambie
    Commented Oct 24, 2018 at 15:46

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