Questions tagged [telephone]
The telephone tag has no usage guidance.
31
questions
47
votes
6answers
518k views
“Call me through/at/on this number”
What is the difference between the following when referring to telephone calls?
Please call me on this number. You can reach me on this number.
Please call me at this number. You can reach me ...
19
votes
6answers
103k views
Cell phone? Cell? Mobile phone? What's the “correct” term?
What's that type of phone called that you don't need a cable for and you can use everywhere in the world (provided there's coverage ;-))?
And what differences are there between the regions? USA/UK/...
18
votes
8answers
973k views
What is the most polite way of saying “I called you but you didn't answer”? [closed]
We try to reach people on their phones but sometimes they don't answer.
Later while addressing them an email or while speaking to them if we want to inform them about the call then what is the best ...
9
votes
10answers
4k views
Phrase meaning exceptionally busy phone lines
I'm a professional translator looking for an English equivalent of a phrase that literally means 'the phones were hot' (–which doesn't really cut it in English!) I would actually associate a 'hot line'...
8
votes
8answers
46k views
How to answer “Is this John?” on phone [closed]
What is the most appropriate answer (American way)?
Yes, John speaking.
Yes, it is him.
Yes, it is he.
Yes.
Yes, speaking.
I need to answer calls when interviewers/hiring managers call.
8
votes
1answer
3k views
Why in a phone call we use “this is” instead of “I am”?
Why is the right form
Hello, this is yzT from english.stackechange.com.
instead of
Hello, I’m yzT from english.stackexchange.com.
I guess non-natives tend to use the latter due to literal ...
6
votes
3answers
172 views
If a picture of a screen is a Screenshot what is a video of a screen?
I'm looking for a catchy and nice-sounding word a really nice sounding phrase would although be better than nothing.
I record my computer screen a lot and never really found a nice word to describe ...
5
votes
2answers
2k views
How should one answer a business phone?
I am still a bit confused how to receive an external phone call at work.
Browsing the internet I find:
* Hello? (informal)
* Thank you for calling Boyz Autobody. Jody speaking. How can I help you?
* ...
5
votes
3answers
10k views
Is “This is from xxx” correct usage?
I placed a phone call and introduced myself this way: "Hi, This is from " and a coworker pointed out that the sentence is grammatically wrong.
While I understand that it sounds a bit weird, I'm ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
How was “tin can phone”/“string phone” called before telephone invented?
Or was anything carrying sound to remote already called phone before telephone?
4
votes
4answers
47k views
“To call” vs. “to ring”
What is the difference between the verbs "call" and "ring" in the meaning of telephoning? For example:
I will ring you back shortly.
I will call you back shortly.
4
votes
3answers
6k views
Answering a phone call with “Yes, XX, tell me” [closed]
I have heard a lot of people pick their phone and go "Yes, XX, tell me" (highly used in India).
I think the right way should be "Hey, XX, what's up?" or "Hey, XX, what's going on"? But does this work ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
What do you call words that are typed the same way on a phone keypad?
Words that are pronounced the same are homophones.
Words that are spelled the same are homonyms.
What do you call words that are typed the same way on a telephone keypad? (you have to watch out for ...
3
votes
4answers
848 views
A word or phrase for phone service working only one-way
I have a monthly phone subscription, and I need to recharge it. Since I have not yet paid for it, the service is only working one-way. Meaning that I can only receive calls, but I cannot make any ...
3
votes
3answers
13k views
The most natural way of asking for telephone call redirection [closed]
What is the most natural way to ask a hotel receptionist or a secretary to transfer your call to a hotel room or an office?
Could you please connect me with room number 321?
Could you please ...
3
votes
1answer
683 views
Is “checking my résumé” ok?
Is the following sentence correct (when I call a company’s HR department)?
Could you please call me back after checking my résumé?
3
votes
1answer
40 views
vocabulary related to phone put down or something else
What's the word in English when in a phone conversation, one party suddenly put down the reception without saying goodbye or completing the conversation, just because of a tense conversation?
Thank ...
2
votes
3answers
986 views
“Who wants to know” on a phone conversation
Caller: "Hello. Is Jane at home?"
Answerer: "Who wants to know?"
I think I heard this kind of conversation on a TV show once. Probably it was a comedy show. I guess what the answerer meant was "...
2
votes
1answer
25k views
What do you say when you talk over phone but you can't quite hear what other person says?
I bought my first phone in my life and I now sometimes get calls from friends and co workers. Sometimes the signal of phone doesn't work well and I can't hear them.
What do I say when there is ...
1
vote
4answers
1k views
Opening-conversation for requesting a service over the phone
As a non English speaker with a non English name, I find myself opening quite a long question before I even get a confirmation about the fact that, the person in the other side can even help me in ...
1
vote
3answers
32k views
“On the other end / side” of the phone line
What's the proper way to reference somebody who're you talking with by a peer-to-peer phone line, usually if you don't know who's there exactly?
Russian language, for example, has the idiom
(они) на ...
1
vote
1answer
824 views
help translating automated call for registration [closed]
I would like to register to Amazon web services and the during the verification's phone call I need to type 4 digit on my phone.
But the registration always fails, the truth is that i dont understand ...
1
vote
1answer
158 views
Should I say “These are …” when I answer a video call with company? [closed]
We usually answer a phone saying "This is ... " to introduce who is answering.
But if I have company and want to introduce me and my company, can I say "These are ..." instead of "This is ..." ?
Or ...
0
votes
2answers
80 views
Word for the action or result of expressing a telephone number as letters/words
You can use the letters on a standard telephone keypad to encode/decode a number to/from letters, eg
439225563 -> HEY CALL ME
Is there a name from either the result "HEY CALL ME" or the action of ...
0
votes
1answer
81 views
How to ask to repeat a phrase?
If voice during phone conversation become gibberish, how to ask a person to repeat last words? I'm living in Cyprus and all local people when speak English just use 'tell me' for this. It this a ...
0
votes
1answer
3k views
“She is speaking” vs. “I am speaking”
Tom: "Hi this is Tom, May I speak with Linda please?"
Linda: "Yes, she is speaking"
Can Linda say "yes, she is speaking" or does she have to say "yes, I am speaking"?
0
votes
2answers
63 views
How would i ask for application process completed succesfully [closed]
We applied to International Revenue Service for obtaining ein for our new established USA based company, filled out and thereafter sent SS-4 form through fax and I need to check out on the phone ...
0
votes
0answers
152 views
How to reply on telephone conversation [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How to answer to 'Is this John?' on phone?
When I get a call from some sales agents/shops and they ask, 'Am I speaking with Akpa?' should I just say 'Yes,' or 'yes, ...
-1
votes
4answers
8k views
Telephone Conversation [closed]
When you call an acquaintance and she is struggling to recognize you what do native speakers say to make sure that she recognized him?
Person A: Hey, this is Joseph from the math class.
...
-1
votes
2answers
53k views
How to ask politely for the caller's name on a phone call [closed]
In case I've received a call and I don't know the caller I want to politely ask the name of the caller. What should I say in this situation?
-1
votes
2answers
583 views
What one should reply to - “Can I talk to Jeremy?”
Situation I receive a call caller asked me;" Can I talk to Jeremy?"
What is correct reply and What should I respond to this situation with.
he has gone for lunch.
he went for lunch.
he is ...
