as we told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we told" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used to refer back to something previously communicated, but it is incomplete and should be followed by a specific subject or object. Example: "As we told you in our last meeting, the project deadline has been moved up."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

Of course, Neo chose red, as we told ourselves we would, too.

The Guardian - Film

"The results came out as we told you they would," said Steven S. Reinemund, the chairman.

The New York Times

Anyway, as we told you already he's going to be working on a film with Steven Spielberg.

The Guardian - Music

"As we told you, we are a necessary evil," Gómez is seen telling a group of townspeople on tape.

The Guardian

But it finished 0-0 as we told him no for Ricky (Kaka) and they said no for Andriy.

The Guardian - Sport

"He didn't run 100 percent, not because he couldn't, but because he was guarding against it, as we told him to.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

You are free to do as we tell you!

The New Yorker

As we tell ourselves every day, things are different now.

The New York Times

As we tell our kids, two wrongs don't make a right.

The Guardian

All that matters as we tell it is that it remains truly ours.

The Guardian

But as we tell our underwriters, 'it's got a lot of bone to get round'.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always follow "as we told" with a direct object, such as "you", "them", or "the team", to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity. For example, use "As we told you, the deadline is approaching."

Common error

Avoid using "as we told" without specifying who was told. This omission can lead to ambiguity and grammatical errors. Always clarify who received the information, such as "As we told our clients, the market is volatile."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we told" acts as an introductory phrase, specifically functioning as an adverbial clause. It refers back to a prior communication, setting the context for the subsequent statement. However, as Ludwig AI points out, it requires completion with a direct object for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Science

16%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as we told" is commonly used to refer back to previous communications. However, it is considered grammatically incomplete without a direct object specifying who received the information. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase requires completion with a direct object for grammatical correctness. While frequently found in news and media, it's advisable to use it carefully and ensure clarity by specifying who was told. Alternatives such as "as previously mentioned" or "as we informed you" can provide more formal and precise options, or complete the phrase (i.e. "as we told you").

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as we informed you

Focuses on the act of informing someone specifically.

as we have already said

Directly indicates that something has been said before.

we already mentioned

A more concise way of indicating a prior mention.

as previously mentioned

Formal synonym focusing on the act of mentioning something before.

as previously discussed

Emphasizes a prior conversation or discussion about a topic.

as stated earlier

Highlights the fact that something was explicitly stated at an earlier time.

we communicated earlier

Similar to "as we communicated before" but shorter and more direct.

as we communicated before

Emphasizes the act of communication and its prior occurrence.

as we pointed out

Highlights the act of drawing attention to a particular detail.

as noted above

Refers to something that was written previously in the text.

FAQs

How to use "as we told" correctly in a sentence?

Always include a direct object after "as we told", specifying who received the information. For example, "As we told "as we told you", the meeting is postponed" or "As we told "as we told them", the budget is limited".

What can I say instead of "as we told"?

Alternatives include "as previously mentioned", "as stated earlier", or "as we informed you", depending on the specific context and the level of formality required.

Is it grammatically correct to say "as we told" without specifying who was told?

No, it is grammatically incorrect. The phrase requires a direct object to be complete and clear. You must specify who received the information, such as "as we told him" or "as we told her".

What's the difference between "as we told you" and "as we mentioned"?

"As we told you" implies a direct communication of information to a specific person or group. "As we mentioned" is more general and can refer to something that was brought up in passing or in a less formal setting.