Answering the Phone

"He answered the phone" is a very natural way to say that.

Grammar Geek"He answered the phone" is a very natural way to say that.

Oh, okay, so as long as you're writing that the person is answering the phone, you don't have to write that they are saying "hello."

However he usually answers the phone. I don't say "Hello" at work - I answer with my name.

Well, in a case where a character is answering a phone for the one and only time in a book or story, is it assumed that he says “hello,” if it is written that he looked at the number on his cell phone, saw that it is a person who they really don't want to hear from, and then answered it? After that, the person on the other line would start speaking in a very informal way from wherever it is that t

When you already know who is calling, you may answer differently. It could range from an enthusiastic "Hi, Mom!" to a snarled "What?"

If you want to convey that it was someone the person didn't want to talk to, you might want to say that in how he answers the phone.
"Hello?" he answered, trying to keep the dismay from his voice.
"What now?" he snarled, hoping the conversation wou

Can it be something like this?

His cell phone rang. He took it off his belt and looked at the number.
"****! What the **** does she want now?"
He answered.

Then, right after that, her place would be described, along with what she is doing and wearing, before she says her "hi" to him in however way she says it. Notice, however, that all I wrote for his greeting was, "He an

You're the author. If that's how you want it to read, then write it that way.

Thank you, by the way, for exposing me to the term "evenly" used in that way. That is actually perfect for describing the "Hello" I had in mind, one that is said flatly and dryly. I used it.