English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
ON CALL or ON THE PHONE?
I’m sorry; I was ~on call~ when you greeted me (nonstandard).
I’m sorry; I was ~on phone~ when you greeted me (nonstandard).
I’m sorry; I was on the phone when you greeted me (standard). When you mean to say that a person is speaking to someone else by phone, you say they are on the phone.
If someone is on call, they are ready to go to work at any time if they are needed, especially if there is an emergency:
Dr Soetan is on call day and night.
Again, being “on call” is slightly different from being “on duty”. To be on duty is to be engaged in a one’s regular work, but one can be on call at a time one should not be on duty.
GAB
2 Comments
Thanks for your good job. I have learnt a lot from you Sir.
This is encouraging bro. More of this, I believe will better the lots of somebody out there. Good job done