English 
español 
française 
italiano 
deutsche 
日本語 
polski 
česky 
svenska 
Türkçe 
Nederlands 
Why "role call" can't play it's part: decoding a common linguistic mix-up
Lloyd Cooper 05/10/2024, 02:17
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.
Recommended posts in 
Grammar
Why "your welcome" doesn't quite greet correctly
People often hear the phrase "you're welcome" in spoken English ... Learn more →
Why "having began" doesn't begin correctly
People often mistake "began" as the past participle form of ... Learn more →
Brought to light: why "has brung" misses the mark
People often incorrectly apply regular verb conjugation rules or misunderstand ... Learn more →
Why "less then" leaves linguists less than impressed
People often confuse "then" and "than" because they sound similar ... Learn more →