inbound VS incoming

Question

Hi,(1) incoming/inbound phone callsAre "incoming/inbound" 100% interchangeable in this phrase?(2) Are there collocations where "incoming" works just fine but "inbound" looks out of place?(3) How many phone calls do you make a day?What other verb(s) can I use for "make" here? ....without distorting the original meaning of course!(4) to take a phone call means to answer a call or to get a call?Thanks!mus-te

Philip · Accepted Answer

1 - I tend to think of 'inbound' as used with moving objects, such as trains or traffic.
2 - See comment in #1.
3 - What you have is best.
4 - to take a phone cal = to answer (you may receive one that you don't take)

KrisBlueNZ · Answer

In addition to Philip's answer, I would say that often, inbound means that something is heading towards "in", whereas incoming implies actually in the process of arriving. The distinction is not clear though.

(1). In the case of phone calls, incoming and inbound have the same meaning, although again inbound may not have the immediate, "happening now" nature that incoming implies. If you're using the word only as a contrast to outgoing/outbound, they're interchangeable.

(2). Yes. As Philip said, an inbound train is different from an incoming train. Also, "Incoming!", shouted as a warning, means that something or some things are arriving now or very soon.

(3). Instead of make you can use place ("place a call" is idiomatic), or perhaps initiate.

(4). As Philip said, taking a call involves answering it and responding to the person at the other end.

MUSCOVITE · Answer

Philip:
KrisBlueNZ:
Your answers&comments are

. Thank you so much!

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I just want to add that the word 'incoming' is a lot more common than 'inbound'.

Clive

inbound VS incoming

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