Cool MateCall vs Summon every able-bodied man
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Call
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
Summon every able-bodied man
FormalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: Summon every able-bodied manMost common: Call
| Call | Summon every able-bodied man | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/kɔːl/","/kɔːlz/","/kɔːld/","/ˈkɔːlɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kɔːl/","/kɔːlz/","/kɔːld/","/ˈkɔːlɪŋ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈsʌmən//🇺🇸 //ˈsʌmən// |
| Meaning | to shout or say someone's name loudly | Call all the strong men to come. |
| Example | I will call you later this evening. | The general decided to summon every able-bodied man to join the fight. |
| Register | Neutral | Formal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | - |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | commonly, frequently, formerly, by, you could hardly call something…, you would hardly call something…, back, ahead, free, commonly, frequently, formerly, by, you could hardly call something…, you would hardly call something…, softly, loudly, out, for, to, softly, loudly, out, for, to | summon help, summon troops, summon a witness, summon courage |
| Antonyms | hang up, ignore | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Call' is sometimes confused with 'name' (e.g. 'I call him Tom' instead of 'I named him Tom')., 'Call' can be misused as a noun when it should be a verb (e.g. 'I make a call' instead of using 'call' directly). | Using 'summon' with inanimate objects (e.g., 'summon the book'), Confusing 'summon' with 'invite', which is less forceful, Neglecting to specify the group when used in broader contexts |
| Usage notes | Use 'call' when you want to get someone's attention or talk to them on the phone. Avoid using it in very formal writing. | Use in serious contexts like military or emergency situations. Avoid in casual conversations. |
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Frequently asked questions: Call vs Summon every able-bodied man
What's the difference between Call and Summon every able-bodied man?
Call: to shout or say someone's name loudly Summon every able-bodied man: Call all the strong men to come.
Which is more formal: Call and Summon every able-bodied man?
Summon every able-bodied man is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Call and Summon every able-bodied man?
Call is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Call: I will call you later this evening. Summon every able-bodied man: The general decided to summon every able-bodied man to join the fight.
Can I use Call and Summon every able-bodied man interchangeably?
Not always. Call and Summon every able-bodied man 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.