fill you in

USAGE SUMMARY

"fill you in" can be used in written English and it is often used to mean providing someone with information they don't know.
For example, "I haven't seen you in a while. Let me fill you in on what's been happening."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

Let us fill you in.

The New York Times

Maybe a friend can fill you in.

The Guardian

Well, allow me to fill you in.

The Guardian - Music

"Before we fill you in," Hate growled.

The New York Times - Magazine

Well then let OSM fill you in.

The Guardian - Sport

Four authors fill you in on how a book gets its title.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

So let me fill you in.

BBC

Can you fill in some details? A.

The New York Times

Now you fill in the details.

WikiHow

You can fill in the details later.

The New York Times

We are going to ask you to fill in a questionnaire and "think aloud" as you fill it in.

British Journal of Health Psychology

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "fill you in" when you want to assure someone you'll provide them with missing or unknown details, often in a casual or friendly context.

Common error

Avoid using "fill you in" in highly formal or professional communications; opt for more formal alternatives like "inform you" or "provide details".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "fill you in" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically a transitive one, requiring an object (the person being informed). As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is commonly used in everyday language to offer someone missing information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Academia

20%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "fill you in" is a common and grammatically correct phrasal verb used to offer someone missing information. According to Ludwig, this phrase appears frequently in news and media, academia, and wiki sources, indicating a generally neutral to informal register. When writing, remember that while acceptable in many contexts, more formal situations might require alternatives like "inform you** or "provide details**. As seen from the variety of examples available, using "fill you in" is a simple and effective way to ensure someone is up-to-date.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

update you

Focuses on providing the latest information.

brief you

Implies a short and concise explanation.

catch you up

Similar to update, but slightly more casual.

inform you

A more formal way of saying to provide information.

bring you up to speed

Indicates getting someone current on a topic.

give you the details

Highlights providing specific information.

explain to you

Focuses on making something understandable.

let you know

A general way to indicate providing information.

tell you about

Simple and direct way to refer to informing someone.

walk you through

Suggests a step-by-step explanation.

FAQs

How can I use "fill you in" in a sentence?

You can use "fill you in" to mean providing someone with information they don't already have. For example, "I'll "fill you in" on the latest news when I see you."

What's a more formal alternative to "fill you in"?

Alternatives to "fill you in" in formal contexts include "inform you", "provide details", or "update you", which are more suitable for professional or academic settings.

Is it appropriate to use "fill you in" in business communication?

While "fill you in" is acceptable in informal business conversations, it is generally better to use more professional language in formal written communication. Consider using phrases like "I will "provide an update"" or "I will "inform you"" instead.

What's the difference between "fill you in" and "catch you up"?

"Fill you in" and "catch you up" are quite similar, both meaning to provide someone with missing information. "Catch you up" often implies bringing someone up to speed on recent events, while "fill you in" can refer to any kind of information, but there is not a significant difference in meaning or usage.