Call it in vs Notify

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

Call it in

InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)

Notify

Top 2,000 (common)C1verb
Most formal: NotifyMost common: Notify
 Call it inNotify
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //kɔːl ɪt ɪn//🇺🇸 //kɔl ɪt ɪn//🇬🇧 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪ/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪz/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪd/","/ˈnəʊtɪfaɪɪŋ/"]/
MeaningTo request or inform something by phone.to tell someone about something
ExamplePlease call it in when you arrive at the site.Competition winners will be notified by post.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-C1
Part of speechverb
Collocationscall it in to, call it in at, call it in afterwardsforthwith, immediately, promptly, be obliged to, be required to, must, of, to
Antonyms-ignore, neglect, overlook
Common mistakesIncorrectly using with formal language., Confusing with 'call out' which means to shout or announce., Using as a question, it should be a statement.Using 'notify' without an object (e.g., saying 'I will notify' instead of 'I will notify you')., Confusing 'notify' with 'inform' — while similar, 'notify' implies a more formal notification., Mixing up prepositions (e.g., saying 'notify with' instead of 'notify about')
Usage notesUse in casual conversations, often about work or reporting. Avoid in formal settings.Use 'notify' in situations where you are formally informing someone, like in business or official contexts. Avoid in casual conversations.

See it in real clips

Call it in
Notify

Frequently asked questions: Call it in vs Notify

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

Call it in: To request or inform something by phone. Notify: to tell someone about something

Which is more formal: Call it in and Notify?

Notify is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Call it in and Notify?

Notify 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. Notify: Competition winners will be notified by post.

Can I use Call it in and Notify interchangeably?

Not always. Call it in and Notify 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.

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