have you told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "have you told" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring if someone has communicated information to another person. Example: "Have you told her about the meeting scheduled for tomorrow?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

47 human-written examples

"Have you told your mother?

The New York Times - Sports

Have you told him?" "Good God, no".

The New Yorker

Have you told him as much?

The New York Times

"Have you told him?" I asked.

The New York Times - Health

"Have you told your children?" I ask.

The New Yorker

Q: Have you told Jeremy Hunt?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

13 human-written examples

How much of that had you told people? A.

The New York Times - Sports

What have you been told about these medications?

BMC Geriatrics

" I: So why have you not told him?

BMC Health Services Research

[PNC 140433] " I: So why have you not told him?

BMC Health Services Research

What have you been told about possible adverse effects?

BMC Geriatrics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the formality of the situation. While generally acceptable, "have you told" might be replaced with "did you inform" in professional settings.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses. For instance, don't use "did you told" as it combines the past tense auxiliary verb "did" with the past participle "told". The correct form is "did you tell".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have you told" functions as an interrogative sentence, used to inquire whether someone has communicated specific information to another person. Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

24%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

4%

Social Media

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "have you told" is a grammatically correct and commonly used interrogative phrase for inquiring whether someone has communicated information. As seen in examples provided by Ludwig, it appears frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. While generally neutral in register, more formal alternatives like "did you inform" may be preferred in professional or academic settings. Clear sentence construction and correct tense usage are essential to avoid confusion. Considering this, it's confirmed the applicability of the expression in a wide set of contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did you inform them

Replaces "have you told" with a more formal phrasing, focusing on the act of informing.

did you let them know

A more casual way of asking if someone was informed.

did you mention it to them

Focuses on whether a specific piece of information was mentioned.

have you made them aware

Emphasizes the act of making someone conscious of something.

did you share the news

Implies that the information is significant or noteworthy.

have you communicated it

Uses a broader term, "communicated", which might include non-verbal methods.

did you pass along the message

Focuses on relaying a specific message to someone.

have they been briefed

Suggests a formal or official communication of information.

have you disclosed this information

Emphasizes the act of revealing private or sensitive information.

are they aware of it

Shifts the focus from the act of telling to the recipient's awareness.

FAQs

What's a more formal way to ask "have you told" someone something?

In more formal settings, you can ask "Did you inform /s/did+you+inform them?" or "Have you notified /s/have+you+notified them?". These alternatives convey the same meaning but with a more professional tone.

Can I use "have you told" in academic writing?

While "have you told" is grammatically correct, it's generally considered too informal for academic writing. Opt for a more formal phrasing like "did you inform /s/did+you+inform".

What's the difference between "have you told" and "did you tell"?

"Have you told" focuses on whether the action of telling has been completed, while "did you tell" simply asks if the action occurred. In most contexts, they are interchangeable, but "have you told" implies a greater emphasis on the present relevance of the information having been shared.

How do I use "have you told" correctly in a sentence?

Ensure your sentence structure is clear. For example, "Have you told your manager about the deadline extension?" This clearly indicates who should have been informed (your manager) and what information should have been shared (the deadline extension).