I told him

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of sentence 'I told him' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you want to emphasize that you have informed someone of something. For example, "I told him to stay away from the dangerous part of town."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Rocket," I told him.

The New Yorker

"Go," I told him.

The New York Times

I told him nothing.

The New Yorker

"Fine," I told him.

The New Yorker

I told him.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I told him: 'No.

The New York Times

I told him so.

The New York Times

"I'm safe," I told him.

The New York Times

And I told him so.

The New York Times

I told him: 'Go ahead.

The New York Times

"I'm sorry," I told him.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I told him" when you want to directly state that you conveyed information to someone. It's clear and easily understood.

Common error

While grammatically sound, relying solely on "I told him" can make your writing repetitive. Vary your language by using synonyms such as "I informed him", "I let him know", or "I mentioned to him" to maintain reader engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I told him" functions as a declarative statement, reporting a past action of communication. It's used to convey that the speaker delivered information, an instruction, or an opinion to the person referred to as "him". Ludwig AI confirms the expression's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I told him" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to report an act of communication. Ludwig AI validates its correctness. Its neutral register makes it suitable for a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. To avoid repetition, consider using alternatives such as "I informed him" or "I let him know". Remember that "I told him" directly indicates that you conveyed information, while other similar phrases might emphasize the mode or content of that communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I informed him

This alternative provides a more formal tone than the original phrase.

I let him know

This suggests a more casual way of conveying information.

I explained to him

This emphasizes the clarification of something.

I advised him

This implies giving counsel or a recommendation.

I mentioned to him

This indicates a brief or casual reference.

I notified him

This suggests a formal or official communication.

I communicated to him

This is a broader term for conveying information.

I assured him

This conveys a sense of certainty and reassurance.

I revealed to him

This suggests disclosing something previously unknown.

I confessed to him

This implies admitting something, often of a sensitive nature.

FAQs

How can I use "I told him" in a sentence?

The phrase "I told him" is used to report that you communicated something to a male individual. For example, "I told him the meeting was postponed", or "I told him to be careful".

What are some alternatives to "I told him"?

Alternatives include phrases like "I informed him" for a more formal tone, "I let him know" for a more casual approach, or "I advised him" if you were giving advice.

Is it correct to say "I told to him" instead of "I told him"?

No, the correct phrasing is "I told him". The preposition "to" is not needed after the verb "told" when directly followed by the person being addressed.

What's the difference between "I told him" and "I said to him"?

"I told him" implies conveying information or instructions. "I said to him" is a more general statement of speaking to someone, without necessarily implying the transfer of specific information. The phrasing "I said to him" may be followed by a direct quotation, while "I told him" generally is not.