first told about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "first told about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to the initial instance of someone being informed about a particular topic or event. Example: "I was first told about the new project during the team meeting last week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

MS. RADDATZ: What were you first told about the attack?

The New York Times

• 1987 Ministers are first told about the new disease.

The Guardian

Jayne Anne Phillips was first told about Harry Powers when she was a child.

The Guardian - Books

I was first told about the musicians' cellar at Rosenborg by some Danish friends who took me there in 1991.

The Guardian - Books

According to Centropa, an educational centre in Vienna, students respond best to Holocaust teaching when first told about the Jewish past they have lost.

The Economist

Confusion surrounded the date on which the legionella outbreak had been confirmed, with Saga saying it was first told about it on 14 January.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Members of the Twenty-fourth tell about hunting Japs, their stubborn resistance, and of how they often commited suicide than risk capture.

The New Yorker

How about Crysis Wars, we first told you about a few days ago.

TechCrunch

New details emerged Sunday about when members of Congress were first told specifics about the program.

The New York Times

When Shane first told you about the idea, did you know anything about Jesco?

Vice

9to5Mac has some insider scoops about the impending MacBook redesign, which we first told you about months ago.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "first told about", ensure the context clearly indicates who provided the information and what the information pertained to.

Common error

Avoid using "first told about" when the active voice would be clearer. For instance, instead of "I was first told about it by John", consider "John first told me about it".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "first told about" functions as a passive construction indicating the initial moment when someone receives information. Ludwig AI shows it's used to highlight the act of being informed rather than the act of informing.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

16%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "first told about" is a common and grammatically correct way to express the initial moment of receiving information. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's frequently used in news, science, and wiki contexts. While alternatives like "initially informed of" and "first notified about" exist, "first told about" provides a clear and direct way to indicate when someone was initially made aware of something. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the source and content of the information, and consider whether an active voice construction might be more effective. Overall, it is a valid and useful tool for communicating the sequence of events and providing context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

originally informed about

Emphasizes the beginning point of knowledge.

first learned of

Focuses on the receiver's action of learning about something.

first made aware of

Highlights the point at which awareness began.

first notified about

Focuses on the act of notification as the primary means of conveying information.

initially informed of

Uses more formal vocabulary to express the initial act of providing information.

originally briefed on

Implies the information was delivered in a structured, informative session.

first informed regarding

A formal alternative, replacing 'told about' with 'informed regarding'.

initially apprised of

Employs a more formal and professional tone than the original phrase.

first advised concerning

Suggests guidance or counsel was part of the initial information received.

initially clued in on

An informal way of saying someone was given secret or inside information.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "first told about"?

You can use alternatives like "initially informed of", "first notified about", or "originally briefed on" depending on the context.

Is "first told about" grammatically correct?

Yes, "first told about" is grammatically correct and commonly used in both written and spoken English to indicate the initial moment of receiving information.

How to use "first told about" in a sentence?

You can use "first told about" to describe when someone initially received information. For example: "I was "first told about" the project during the team meeting".

What is the difference between "first told about" and "first learned about"?

"First told about" implies that someone else conveyed the information to you, while "first learned about" suggests you discovered the information yourself.