Monday, January 4, 2010

Calling Out vs. Calling In


When did calling in sick become calling out sick?

When I still worked a job with regular hours, if I was too sick to go to work (or needed a 'mental health' day), I called in sick.

Now I hear people talk about calling OUT sick.

When did that change?

17 comments:

mommakin said...

And this is why teaching ESOL is hard...

~Kristen~ said...

I never understood "calling out" either. I have always "called in" because that is what you are doing, you are calling IN to your office to inform them you are sick and won't be coming IN. :-)

Unknown said...

I don't get it, unless people say"out" because they are going to be out of the office/job that day. Who knows!

Badass Geek said...

I get annoyed by that, too. Why must we have to phrases for the same meaning?

Pam said...

Maybe it's a regional thing that has made its way East. I remember being in college in PA and everyone was talking about getting "on" line for dinner. I always get "in" line. I wonder what they say now that we are all getting online except when we area in line....

BONNIE K said...

I have never heard of that phrase. But it reminds me of how my son, who says "on accident." I'm always telling him there's no such thing and he insists there is. One day I heard someone say "on purpose" and I realized that's where he got "on accident" from - it was the opposite of "on purpose." But it still drives me crazy to hear him say it.

Lisa said...

Hmmm. I've never heard that phrase either. I had a great desire to call in sick today. wasn't quite ready to go back to work!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today! You should definitely visit San Antonio. Just leave enough time to tour Hill Country too. We didn't do that and wish that we had.

Kelley with Amy's Angels said...

Stopping over from SITS...and I can say that I have never heard the phrase "calling out sick".

Hummm...maybe a regional thing?

Yankee Girl said...

I think I say "call in" but either way, I wish I had called in or out today. Oh how I long for my warm bed!

Sultan said...

These are desperate days for grammar.

Christy said...

That is a new one for me - but I haven't been in the workforce fo 20 years!

Anonymous said...

So...the words together make a difference in meaning I assume. I "call in" but I'm calling "out sick" today. Weird.

Writing Without Periods! said...

I've never heard of this "calling out, but I've worked for myself for years." That poses the question, how would I call in sick to myself...in or out?
SITS girl,
Mary

Confessions From A Work-At-Home Mom said...

Well, I'd call "in" to work, but I say I'll be "out" sick. So I'm not really sure which is right... I think BOTH work, in a way?

~Elizabeth
Confessions From A Working Mom

Debbie said...

I've never even heard of calling out. I don't like change. Let's keep it the way it was:)

Jennifer said...

I have never heard of calling out. Sounds strange to me.

MissKris said...

I've wondered about pronunciations of words...when did off-en become oft-ten? It was stressed HARD in grade school for my age group, anyway, that the "t" was silent. And the way "st" words are now "sht" words...like "shtretch". And "shtraight". It baffles me.

 

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