I tell about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I tell about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; a more appropriate structure would be "I tell (someone) about (something)." Example: "I tell my friends about my travels whenever we meet."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

E:  Yea M:  And it's very relatable and most readers have really--it has sort of like a little cult following now and I think it's because a lot of readers especially female readers relate to a lot of the stories and emotions I tell about, because we all live similar experiences, we all live stories of lust, resentment, and passion.

Huffington Post

Quite often, I have the feeling that when I tell about some strange incident, people don't believe me.

The New Yorker

"Two-thirds of the people I tell about the shirt laugh," said Jane Baldwin, associate executive director of the Jersey Battered Women's Service.

The New York Times

There are still down days, but being truly comfortable with my quietness has at last got me to the stage where the reaction of most people who I tell about my condition is to exclaim: "What?

The Guardian - Opinion

The album's opening track, "My Dirty Life & Times," featuring Ry Cooder on guitar, recalls vintage Zevon: "One day I came to a fork in the road/Folks, I just couldn't go where I was told/Now they'll hunt me down and hang me for my crimes/If I tell about my dirty life and times".

Forbes

"I don't think it dawned on anyone that teens would leverage anonymity in this way, it tends to startle anyone I tell about it," says youth culture and technology expert Dr Danah Boyd, one of the first people to highlight cyber self-harm.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

"You don't tell I told about him being a liar".

The New Yorker

This is one of the stories I told about him.

The Guardian

There is a certain story I told about Oslo Prison.

Huffington Post

And everyone I told about my proposal agreed.

Huffington Post

That's all I could tell about.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to share information, use the structure "I tell someone about something" for clarity. For example: "I tell my friends about my travels."

Common error

Avoid using "I tell about" without specifying who you are telling. Always include the recipient of the information, such as "I tell them about..." or consider using a more grammatically correct alternative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I tell about" functions as an incomplete clause, lacking a direct object to specify who is being told. As Ludwig AI indicates, this structure is generally considered incorrect in standard English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I tell about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI analysis confirms that standard English usage requires a direct object, such as "I tell someone about something." While examples exist in news media and informal communications, it's best to opt for alternatives such as "I talk about" or "I inform about" for clearer and more accurate communication. Sticking to grammatically correct alternatives will enhance clarity and credibility in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I talk about

Replaces "tell" with "talk", often implying a more conversational style of sharing information.

I narrate about

Uses "narrate" which suggests a more detailed and structured recounting of events.

I inform about

Employs "inform" which conveys a more formal and factual delivery of information.

I describe

Focuses on providing details and characteristics of a subject.

I explain about

Adds "explain" to emphasize the clarification or simplification of a topic.

I recount

Emphasizes the act of retelling a story or event.

I relate

Highlights the act of connecting or associating information with something else.

I communicate about

Uses "communicate" to stress the broader aspect of conveying messages.

I mention

Simply refers to bringing something to someone's attention.

I chat about

Indicates a casual conversation about a particular topic.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "tell" when sharing information?

The correct structure is "I tell someone about something". For example, "I tell my sister about my day" is grammatically sound.

What can I say instead of "I tell about" to sound more natural?

You can use alternatives like "I talk about", "I inform about", or "I describe" depending on the context.

Is "I tell about" grammatically correct?

No, "I tell about" is not grammatically correct. It typically requires a direct object (the person being told) and the word "about" to introduce the topic: "I tell him about the news".

What's the difference between "I tell about" and "I talk about"?

"I tell about" is generally considered incorrect. Instead, use "I talk about", which implies a conversation or discussion, or "I tell someone about", which is grammatically sound and means you are informing someone of something.