but told this

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but told this" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to refer to something that was communicated or expressed, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "He wanted to share his thoughts, but told this only to his closest friends."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

They should not only be arrested but told this is not right," she adds.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But telling this story carries grave risks.

The New York Times

This really shouldn't be about me, but telling this story may be a good way to spread some obscure but vital facts.

Huffington Post

But he told this reviewer for The Economist that he had changed his mind for three reasons.

The Economist

She asked the nurse to phone her daughter, but was told "this is not my job".

BBC

Two women had requested to have partners accompany them during physical examinations, but were told this was not allowed.

BMC Women's Health

Carlo agreed with my decision but told me this was a problem I'd have to realize on my own.

The New York Times

He voted for Mohammed Morsi but told us: "This is not about the return of Morsi.

BBC

But, as he told this writer, he always saw it as a lifeboat, too.

The Economist

But Groce was never told this.

The Guardian - Opinion

But in telling this story, it sounds like we are putting a heavy burden on Heidi.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to express a contrast followed by a statement, consider replacing "but told this" with clearer alternatives such as "however, this was stated" or "but he told me". This ensures better readability and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Using "but told this" can lead to confusion because it's grammatically awkward. Instead, clarify who is doing the telling and what "this" refers to. For example, use "but he told me this" or "but I was told this" for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but told this" functions as a conjunction phrase attempting to introduce a contrasting element to a preceding statement. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "but told this" is grammatically questionable and not recommended for formal use. Ludwig AI confirms its incorrect usage and suggests using clearer alternatives to convey the intended meaning. While examples exist in various contexts like News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business, its infrequent occurrence and potential for ambiguity make it a less desirable choice. Opt for alternatives such as "but he told me this" or "however, this was stated" for improved clarity and correctness.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, this was stated

Emphasizes a contrast with a previous statement using "however" and clarifies that something was communicated.

yet, this was mentioned

Similar to "however", but with a slightly stronger sense of surprise or contradiction that indicates something was communicated.

but this information was shared

Focuses on the act of sharing information rather than a direct telling.

on the other hand, this was conveyed

Introduces a contrasting perspective by clarifying that something was communicated.

conversely, this was communicated

Presents a direct contrast by clarifying that something was communicated.

nevertheless, this was disclosed

Despite a previous point, something was revealed by clarifying that something was disclosed.

nonetheless, this was revealed

Similar to "nevertheless", but emphasizes that something was revealed.

even so, this was imparted

Indicates that despite what was previously said, information was communicated by clarifying that something was imparted.

despite that, this was expressed

Highlights that something was communicated even with a conflicting factor.

in spite of that, this was related

Similar to "despite that", emphasizing the communication of information against the odds by clarifying that something was related.

FAQs

What are some alternatives to "but told this" that improve clarity?

For clearer communication, replace "but told this" with phrases like "however, this was stated", "but he told me this", or "but I was told this", depending on the intended meaning.

How can I use "but told this" correctly in a sentence?

While "but told this" is grammatically awkward, consider restructuring your sentence. For instance, instead of "He wanted to share his thoughts, but told this only to his closest friends", use "He wanted to share his thoughts, "but mentioned this" only to his closest friends" or "but conveyed this only to his closest friends".

Is "but told this" grammatically correct?

No, "but told this" is not grammatically correct. It lacks a subject and can be confusing. Better alternatives include "but he told me" or "but I was told".

What's the difference between "but told this" and "but was told this"?

"But told this" is missing a subject and implies an incomplete thought. "But was told this" is better because it implies someone was the recipient of the information but requires context to specify who was told.