Why "role call" can't play it's part: decoding a common linguistic mix-up

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 05/10/2024, 02:17

English.me team member

What kind of error is it?

The error is a common spelling mistake and homophone confusion.

Why do people make this mistake?

People often confuse "role" and "roll" because they are homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. In the context of "roll call," the word "roll" refers to rolling up a list of names to call out, but this is confused with "role," which means a character or part played by a person.

What is correct?

The correct phrase is "roll call." It refers to the process of calling out a list of names to check who is present.

Examples of correct usage

The teacher did a roll call to make sure all students were present.
During the meeting, the chairperson began with a roll call of participants.
The scout leader performed a roll call to ensure everyone's attendance.