Someone informed me that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "Someone informed me that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to convey that you received information from another person. Example: "Someone informed me that the meeting has been rescheduled to next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Then someone informed me that you can buy caffeine-infused knickers.

The Guardian

Then, I got a surprising instant message Thursday night when someone informed me that Mark Brunell had left the Jacksonville Jaguars organization.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

On the contrary, when someone informs me that they dislike coffee, I wonder how they will ever understand me.

Huffington Post

In 2003 someone confidently informed me that Saddam Hussein had been captured, six months before he actually was.

The Guardian - Music

Each speaker talked of their love of the genre: "Folk songs are inherently perfect for telling stories," said author Michael Morpurgo; "The other day someone confidently informed me that folk was now uncool again," said actor Matt Berry.

The Guardian - Music

A-neigh A-neigh, I used to call it: still did, in fact, until Meg Mathews' baby was born and someone grandly informed me that the umlaut on "Anaïs" meant it should actually be pronounced "Ana-ees".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Someone had informed me that writing can be a viable career option.

HuffPost

"They informed me that someone would handle it," he said, adding that he believed it was unlikely that the government would block his efforts to move with his family to the United States to study law.

The New York Times

I felt a little thrill each time an alert informed me that someone had marked my answer as "good" or sent me an in-app thank-you note for my effort.

MIT Technology Review

He informed me that someone had just paid five figures in a charity auction to dine with him and Jude Law; and while I was there, his assistant had a chat with him about a cameo he had been asked to play in an upcoming episode of W1A, in which employees in search of a meeting room open a door to find him, Yentob, inside with a very famous person (who turned out to be Salman Rushdie).

The Guardian - Opinion

When I asked for the check, the waitress informed me that someone wanted to buy me a drink.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Someone informed me that" when you want to convey information received from an unspecified or intentionally vague source. This can be useful when the source's identity is unimportant or confidential.

Common error

Avoid using "Someone informed me that" excessively, as it can make your writing sound passive and indirect. Consider using active voice and naming the source if appropriate for a more direct and engaging style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "Someone informed me that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing information received from an unspecified source. It sets the stage for relaying information without explicitly naming the informant, as seen in Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Science

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "Someone informed me that" is a versatile reporting clause used to introduce information from an unspecified source. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and commonly used. Its neutral tone makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly news and media, academia and formal communications. Alternatives such as "I was told that" or "I learned that" can offer different nuances. To enhance clarity, specifying the source, when appropriate, and avoiding overuse of passive voice are recommended. This is a common phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig, with examples spanning numerous authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was informed that

Emphasizes the speaker as the recipient of the information, removing the ambiguity of the source.

I learned that

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, rather than the act of being informed.

I was told that

A more informal alternative, suitable for casual conversation.

They let me know that

Highlights the act of someone actively communicating the information.

It was reported to me that

Implies a formal reporting of information, often through official channels.

Word reached me that

A more figurative expression, suggesting the information arrived indirectly.

Information came to me that

Emphasizes the arrival of information, often unexpected or unsolicited.

I heard that

Suggests the information was received through general channels or gossip.

I came to understand that

Focuses on the process of understanding the information, rather than the initial notification.

I gathered that

Implies the information was inferred from multiple sources or observations.

FAQs

What does "Someone informed me that" mean?

The phrase "Someone informed me that" indicates that the speaker received information from an unspecified person. It's used when the source of the information is either unknown, unimportant, or intentionally kept vague.

Is "Someone informed me that" formal or informal?

The phrase "Someone informed me that" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal settings, you might prefer alternatives like "It was reported to me that".

What can I say instead of "Someone informed me that"?

You can use alternatives like "I was told that", "I learned that", or "I was informed that" depending on the context.

How can I make the sentence "Someone informed me that..." more specific?

To make the sentence more specific, replace "Someone" with a specific person or role. For example, "My manager informed me that..." or "The doctor informed me that..."