Make an appointment at, with and for ... (2025)

Hi, guys.

My question is concerned with appropriate prepositions following a phrase "making an appointment".

• Make an appointment at a place
• Make an appointment with a person
• Make an appointment for an activity

Are these right? For instance,

• I need to make an appointment at a hospital.
• I need to make an appointment with a doctor.
• I need to make an appointment for a surgery.

Thank you for your helps.

S

Hi, Sociologist.

Sociologist said:

Are these right?

Click to expand...

Yes, they are.

Sociologist said:

• I need to make an appointment at a hospital.
• I need to make an appointment with a doctor.
• I need to make an appointment for a surgery.

Click to expand...

The prepositions are OK, but we'd probably express the ideas in different words, particularly for the last one. I would say 'my operation' rather than 'a surgery'. Whatever we might say, 'surgery' in the sense of going under the knife is not countable/

owlman5 said:

Hi, Sociologist.

Yes, they are.

Click to expand...

Thanks a lot, owlman5.

tunaafi said:

The prepositions are OK, but we'd probably express the ideas in different words, particularly for the last one. I would say 'my operation' rather than 'a surgery'. Whatever we might say, 'surgery' in the sense of going under the knife is not countable/

Click to expand...

Ah, my operation! Thank you so much, tunaafi. You're much appreciated.

Once you get into the health system you will certainly find yourself saying things like "I've got surgery scheduled for 10 am Thursday."

I don't think we refer to medical procedures as appointments. We'd say

"I have a CT scan/ x-ray/ blood test scheduled."

That's how the medical staff talk and patients end up mirroring the language of the care providers.

Ponyprof said:

Once you get into the health system you will certainly find yourself saying things like "I've got surgery scheduled for 10 am Thursday."

I don't think we refer to medical procedures as appointments. We'd say

"I have a CT scan/ x-ray/ blood test scheduled."

That's how the medical staff talk and patients end up mirroring the language of the care providers.

Click to expand...

Could you tell me, please, how to say that for a particular part of the body? For example, I have an x-ray of my left knee joint scheduled? Can I use any organ after 'of'?

TimurThePlayer said:

I have an x-ray of my left knee joint scheduled?

Click to expand...

That sounds rather formal.
"I've got an appointment to have my knee x-rayed."

(I don't think you need "joint" as your knee is a joint.)

PaulQ said:

That sounds rather formal.
"I've got an appointment to have my knee x-rayed."

(I don't think you need "joint" as your knee is a joint.)

Click to expand...

Thanks PaulQ! Can I say: I have my knee CT scan scheduled? or the same: I have my knee x-ray scheduled?

TimurThePlayer said:

Can I say: I have my knee CT scan scheduled?

Click to expand...

The grammar is fine, but the style is still formal.

For me, "to schedule" refers to entering something into a busy schedule of disparate actions, e.g.
"Schedule a meeting for 10 o'clock."
"I can't do that, half of the attendees will not be here - I could schedule it for 3 p.m. - between the team talk and the presentation."

TimurThePlayer said:

For example, I have an x-ray of my left knee joint scheduled?

Click to expand...

You might be interested that American and British English has some differences regarding schedule so it might be good to read several sources. I mean, several dictionaries and opinions, not just Britsh.

TimurThePlayer said:

Thanks PaulQ! Can I say: I have my knee CT scan scheduled? or the same: I have my knee x-ray scheduled?

Click to expand...

Whenever I have an appointment for a procedure, they only need to know my name when I check in.