I told not

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I told not" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a usable construction and does not convey a clear meaning in English. An example of a correct phrase would be "I did not tell."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Only after the US requested my extradition several years later once the UK was using the one-sided extradition treaty where no evidence was required to extradite any UK citizen was I told not to use the internet.

Independent

During SXSX 2012, I went around Austin preaching about this to every film writer I met as a post-Matrix, process-aware, self-aware film, though certainly not mere spoof like, say Scream, warning -- well, begging -- anyone I told not to use that line.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I did everything I was told not to.

Los Angeles Times

I was told not to, but I did it.

Wikipedia

In other words, I had dared to do what I was told not to do.

eLife

I was told, not asked.

The New York Times - Magazine

I was told not to follow.

The New York Times

I told him not to.

The New York Times

I told you not to.

The New York Times

I told him not to be.

The New Yorker

"I told them not to edit themselves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Instead of using the ungrammatical phrase "I told not", use the correct form "I did not tell" or other alternatives like "I didn't say" depending on the context. This will ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

Common error

A common error is omitting the auxiliary verb "did" when forming negative statements in the past tense. Always use "did not" (or the contraction "didn't") with the base form of the verb, rather than directly negating the past tense form, to avoid ungrammatical constructions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I told not" is a grammatically incorrect attempt at negating the past tense of the verb "to tell". It fails to adhere to standard English sentence structure, which requires the auxiliary verb "did" to form negative past tense statements. Ludwig indicates that it is not a usable construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I told not" is grammatically incorrect and not standard English. As Ludwig highlights, it's not a usable construction, and "I did not tell" or "I didn't say" are preferable alternatives. Although there are a few examples where it is used, its rare occurrence and lack of grammatical correctness make it unsuitable for formal writing. When aiming for clear and correct communication, it's best to avoid this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I did not tell

This is a grammatically correct and direct replacement using auxiliary verb "did".

I didn't say

This alternative uses a contraction and the verb "say" to express not telling something.

I was told not to

This shifts the focus to being instructed by someone else, implying a prohibition.

I advised against

This suggests offering advice not to do something, rather than simply not telling.

I warned against

This indicates a stronger caution against a particular action.

I instructed not to

This implies giving a formal instruction or command.

I had not told

This uses the past perfect tense to indicate not telling something before a specific time in the past.

I communicated not to

A more formal way of expressing that something should not be done.

I did not mention

Focuses on the omission of a specific detail or piece of information.

I kept silent about

This alternative emphasizes the act of remaining silent or withholding information.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "I told not"?

The grammatically correct way to express this is "I did not tell", or "I didn't tell". You can also use alternatives like "I didn't say" or "I was told not to" depending on the context.

Is "I told not" grammatically correct?

No, "I told not" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is "I did not tell."

What can I say instead of "I told not" in a formal setting?

In a formal setting, you can use phrases like "I did not disclose", "I did not reveal", or "I did not mention" instead of "I told not".

How can I use "I did not tell" in a sentence?

Here's an example: "I did not tell her about the surprise party." You can also say, "I "didn't say" anything about it."