I never told

USAGE SUMMARY

"I never told" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an event or situation that you withheld from someone, such as, "I never told him about my secret plan."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I never told anybody.

The New York Times

I never told.

The New York Times

I never told a lie.

Independent

"I never told lies.

The New Yorker

I never told anyone.

The New Yorker

I never told her.

The Guardian - Opinion

I never told Patrick about Dave.

The New Yorker

I never told a lie about anything".

Independent

"But I never told anyone.

The Guardian - Tech

I never told a boyfriend.

The Guardian

I never told the parents".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and choose a synonym if "I never told" feels too informal or colloquial for your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "I never told" without clarifying who you didn't tell. Ambiguity can confuse the reader and weaken the impact of your statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I never told" functions as a declarative statement expressing the speaker's decision or action of withholding information. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is correct and common in English. The examples demonstrate its use in narrating personal experiences and actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I never told" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to convey the withholding of information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use and is predominantly found in news and media contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the recipient of the untold information to maximize its impact. Consider using alternatives like "I kept it secret" or "I didn't disclose it" depending on the desired level of formality and context. This phrase is useful for creating a sense of secrecy or revealing hidden information in narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I kept it to myself

This emphasizes the personal nature of withholding information.

I kept it secret

This alternative uses a more general term "secret" instead of specifically mentioning telling.

I didn't disclose it

This phrase uses a more formal verb "disclose" to convey the lack of revelation.

I held back the information

This alternative emphasizes the act of actively preventing information from being shared.

I avoided revealing it

Focuses on the active avoidance of revealing a piece of information.

I refrained from mentioning it

Here, the focus is on abstaining from the act of mentioning something.

I never breathed a word of it

An emphatic way of saying something was kept completely secret, adding "of it" for emphasis.

I didn't breathe a word

This is an idiomatic expression that implies complete secrecy.

I omitted to say

A more formal way of saying that something was left unsaid.

I passed over in silence

This phrase suggests a deliberate choice to remain silent on a topic.

FAQs

How can I use "I never told" in a sentence?

You can use "I never told" to express that you withheld information from someone, for example: "I never told her about my past."

What's a more formal alternative to "I never told"?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "I didn't disclose" or "I refrained from mentioning it".

What is implied when someone says "I never told"?

Saying "I never told" often implies a sense of secrecy, regret, or potential consequences resulting from the withheld information.

Is there a difference between "I never told" and "I didn't tell"?

"I never told" suggests a habitual absence of telling, while "I didn't tell" refers to a specific instance. However, in many contexts, they are used interchangeably.