has told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "has told" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used in the past perfect tense in the third person singular to express an action that has been completed in the past. For example: "My mother has told me to be home before midnight".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He has told you himself.

The New Yorker

No one has told us".

Independent

He has told this story before.

The New York Times - Magazine

Mr. Lee has told Mr. Chiu no.

The New York Times

Singer has told Morales about the coach.

The New Yorker

He has told Arencibia the same.

The New York Times - Sports

The government has told the family nothing.

The New York Times

He has told me.

The New Yorker

He has told the truth.

The Guardian

Helene has told me that.

The New Yorker

It has told LV= to pay up.

The Guardian - Money

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "has told", ensure the context clearly indicates who did the telling and to whom the information was conveyed. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses when reporting what someone "has told". Ensure the tense in the reported speech aligns with the original statement. For example, instead of "He has told me he will go yesterday", use "He has told me he went yesterday" or "He told me he would go".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "has told" functions as a verb phrase in the present perfect tense. Ludwig AI indicates that it's used to describe an action of communicating information that was completed at some point in the past and has relevance to the present.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "has told" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase in the present perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it indicates an action of communicating information completed in the past with present relevance. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, serving the purpose of reporting information. To ensure clarity, always specify who did the telling and to whom. Be mindful of tense consistency when reporting speech. With its frequent use in authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian, "has told" is a reliable choice for conveying information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

confided

This alternative implies sharing a secret or personal information with trust.

recounted

This alternative implies a more detailed and narrative delivery of information.

narrated

This alternative emphasizes the act of storytelling, often used for longer, more elaborate accounts.

revealed

This alternative suggests uncovering or making something known that was previously hidden.

stated

This alternative is more formal and direct, lacking the nuance of storytelling implied by "told".

disclosed

This alternative suggests revealing something previously unknown or private.

related

This alternative is a more general term for conveying information or events.

mentioned

This alternative is less emphatic; it suggests a brief or casual reference rather than a detailed account.

communicated

This alternative emphasizes the act of conveying information, possibly without specific details.

indicated

This alternative implies a less direct communication, often suggesting a hint or implication.

FAQs

How can I use "has told" in a sentence?

Use "has told" to indicate that someone has communicated information in the past. For example, "She "has told" me about her trip", or "The doctor "has told" him to rest".

What can I say instead of "has told"?

You can use alternatives like "stated", "mentioned", or "indicated", depending on the context.

Which is correct, "has told" or "had told"?

"Has told" is present perfect tense, used for actions completed recently or relevant to the present. "Had told" is past perfect, used for actions completed before another point in the past. For example, "He "has told" me the news" (recently), vs. "He "had told" me before I heard it from someone else" (before another past event).

What's the difference between "has told" and "told"?

"Has told" (present perfect) emphasizes the continuing relevance or effect of the telling, while "told" (simple past) simply states the action occurred in the past. For example, "He "has told" me, so I know" (present relevance), vs. "He "told" me yesterday" (past action).