I told about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I told about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "I told [someone] about [something]." Example: "I told my friend about the new restaurant in town."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

33 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

"Remember when I told about the 15% you were holding back?" "Yes, I do".

The Guardian

Josh was one of the first people I told about the blog.

The New York Times - Magazine

That boy was the first person I told about my mother.

The New York Times - Magazine

And so it seemed like to everyone else that I told about my great acting debut that I was one of these delusional background actors.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

27 human-written examples

I tell about the advantages of educating their children and eventually they agree.

Unicef

The intuition I told you about is based on our years of experience in the industry.

The Journal of Chinese Sociology

I never knew where I would be working, but I was told about a place called Raxaul (India).

Global Health Action

I am told about the advantages and disadvantages [of family planning] before I am told to choose.

BMC Health Services Research

I was told about the charity.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always include both the person you told and what you told them. The correct structure is: I told [person] about [topic].

Common error

A common mistake is to exclude the person who received the information. This can make your sentence sound incomplete. Always specify who you told.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I told about" functions incorrectly as it typically misses the indirect object (the person told). According to Ludwig, the phrase is not standard written English and requires adjustment for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

24%

Science

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Wiki

4%

Reference

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I told about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig's analysis confirms that it usually omits the indirect object, which is crucial for conveying who received the information. While it appears with common frequency across various sources like News & Media and Academia, its incorrect usage affects its suitability for formal contexts. To ensure clarity and correctness, it's better to use alternatives such as "I told [someone] about [something]", "I informed [someone] about [something]", or "I mentioned [something] to [someone]".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I informed someone about

This alternative is more formal and grammatically correct, explicitly including the recipient of the information.

I notified someone about

Similar to 'informed', this option also specifies the receiver of the information and is grammatically sound.

I mentioned something to someone

This alternative is more conversational, emphasizing the casual sharing of information.

I spoke to someone about something

This phrase focuses on the act of speaking or discussing a topic with a specific person.

I advised someone concerning

This denotes providing counsel or guidance related to a particular matter.

I apprised someone of

More formal, highlighting the imparting of essential information to a person.

I communicated to someone regarding

This phrase suggests a formal transmission of information about a subject.

I related to someone concerning

Implies narrating or telling a story or details about something.

I shared details regarding

Highlights the act of sharing particular information or details.

I recounted to someone concerning

Focuses on telling a story or giving an account, emphasizing the narrative aspect.

FAQs

How to correctly use "I told about" in a sentence?

The phrase "I told about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage is "I told [someone] about [something]", for example, "I told my friend about the new movie."

What are some alternatives to "I told about"?

You can use alternatives like "I informed someone about", "I mentioned something to someone", or "I spoke to someone about something" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "I told about"?

No, the phrase "I told about" is not grammatically correct in standard English. It typically requires an indirect object (the person being told) and the subject of the information: "I told [person] about [thing]".

What is the difference between "I told about" and "I talked about"?

"I told about" is typically incorrect, while "I talked about" is grammatically sound. The latter implies a discussion or conversation on a topic. The first needs a person to whom you are telling something.