already told me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "already told me" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to information that someone has previously communicated to you. Example: "She already told me about the meeting time, so I didn't need to ask again."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"You already told me that".

The New Yorker

"You already told me that," Ella said.

The New York Times

"He's already told me he wants my job," she said.

The New York Times - Sports

My mum has already told me to get a job.

The Guardian - Books

He already told me he can't believe everything he hears".

The New York Times

"Yeah, you already told me that," he says.

The New York Times - Style

And you said, Momma already told me that.

The New Yorker

But she's already told me she'll look after me and the kids".

Independent

A few people have already told me that they want to collect many of those.

The New Yorker

The lawyer had already told me they were asking for 30 years, no parole.

The New York Times - Magazine

He had already told me a healthy Benghazi was the key to stability in Libya.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To ensure clarity, immediately follow "already told me" with a brief confirmation or related statement to show you understand and are engaged in the conversation.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "already told me" in short succession, as it can come across as dismissive or impatient. Vary your responses to demonstrate active listening and engagement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "already told me" functions as an acknowledgment of previously received information. It confirms that the speaker is not hearing something for the first time. As Ludwig AI highlights, this is a common expression for indicating awareness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "already told me" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to acknowledge previously received information. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it functions to indicate prior knowledge, potentially redirect conversations, and prevent redundant explanations. While its register is generally neutral, overuse can lead to sounding dismissive. Alternative phrases like "previously informed me" or "mentioned it before" can offer more formal or nuanced ways to convey the same meaning. Found predominantly in News & Media sources, this phrase demonstrates its widespread applicability and understanding.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

already let me know

Emphasizes the act of someone making information known.

previously informed me

Uses 'informed' for a slightly more formal tone and emphasizes the imparting of knowledge.

I was told this before

Shifts the focus to the speaker as the recipient of the information.

I'm already aware of this

Highlights current knowledge of the subject, stemming from a prior event.

mentioned it before

Focuses on the act of mentioning something, implying it wasn't the main topic.

that information is not new to me

Stresses that the speaker is already aware of the information.

it was previously communicated to me

A formal and passive way to express that information was given earlier.

I recall being informed of that

Indicates a remembered instance of being told something.

that's what I heard earlier

Highlights that the information was received aurally at a prior time.

I've been down that road before

Implies knowledge gained from past experience, not necessarily direct telling.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "already told me" to sound more polite?

You can use phrases like "Yes, I'm aware" or "I understand" to acknowledge prior information without sounding dismissive. Also, you could say "Yes, thanks, you "mentioned before"".

What is the difference between "already told me" and "just told me"?

"Already told me" indicates that the information was shared at some point in the past. "Just told me" implies the information was shared very recently. For example: "He "already told me" about the project last week" versus "He just told me about the project".

Is it appropriate to use "already told me" in formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "already told me" is generally more suitable for informal or neutral contexts. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives like "previously informed me" or "communicated to me earlier".

What's a more emphatic alternative to "already told me" when someone is being repetitive?

If someone is being overly repetitive, instead of saying "You "already told me"", you might politely say, "Yes, I understand, thanks" or "I've got it, thank you".