Call it in vs Submit

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Call it in

Informal Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Submit

Top 2,000 (common) B2 verb

Most formal: Submit Most common: Submit

	Call it in	Submit
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //kɔːl ɪt ɪn// 🇺🇸 //kɔl ɪt ɪn//	🇬🇧 /["/səbˈmɪt/","/səbˈmɪts/","/səbˈmɪtɪd/","/səbˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/səbˈmɪt/","/səbˈmɪts/","/səbˈmɪtɪd/","/səbˈmɪtɪŋ/"]/
Meaning	To request or inform something by phone.	To give something for someone to look at or decide on.
Example	Please call it in when you arrive at the site.	Please submit your application before the deadline.
Register	Informal	Neutral
How common	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	-	B2
Part of speech		verb
Collocations	call it in to, call it in at, call it in afterwards	formally, respectfully, humbly, ask somebody to, invite somebody to, require somebody to, for, to, voluntarily, willingly, meekly, refuse to, agree to, be prepared to, to
Antonyms	-	withdraw, cancel
Common mistakes	Incorrectly using with formal language., Confusing with 'call out' which means to shout or announce., Using as a question, it should be a statement.	Confusing 'submit' with 'send' - 'Submit' often implies a formal process., Using 'submit' without a clear object., Overusing 'submit' instead of simpler verbs like 'give' or 'hand in' in informal scenarios.
Usage notes	Use in casual conversations, often about work or reporting. Avoid in formal settings.	Used in formal and neutral contexts, such as in applications or proposals. Avoid using ‘submit’ in very casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Call it in.

Call it in

Frequently asked questions: Call it in vs Submit

What's the difference between Call it in and Submit?

Call it in: To request or inform something by phone. Submit: To give something for someone to look at or decide on.

Which is more formal: Call it in and Submit?

Submit is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Call it in and Submit?

Submit is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Call it in: Please call it in when you arrive at the site. Submit: Please submit your application before the deadline.

Can I use Call it in and Submit interchangeably?

Not always. Call it in and Submit are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.