having told

USAGE SUMMARY

"having told" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to refer to something that has been mentioned or stated before. For example, "Having told him the news, I could tell that he was not pleased."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The reasons for not having told them are two fold.

The Economist

He also denied having told others that he was involved.

The New York Times

Having told the IMF to get stuffed, Mr Mugabe is free not to do this.

The Economist

Republicans have hammered her for having told employers that she has Indian ancestry.

The New York Times

Even after having told this to countless patients, I still had trouble.

The New York Times

Having told them I would set provisions for his speech, they still continued to deny him.

Independent

Mr. Bergrin was accused of having told his client's confederates, "No Kemo, no case".

The New York Times

Guilt at not having told Pernille about Nanna's job, or something more?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

After having told myself "next year" again and again, next year finally arrived yesterday.

The New York Times - Sports

For instance, Hopewood is described as having told BusinessWeek magazine: "I live large.

The New York Times

How do you talk about not telling, or not having told?

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having told" to clearly indicate that the act of telling preceded a subsequent action or state. For example, "Having told her the truth, he felt a sense of relief."

Common error

Avoid using "having told" when the sequence of events isn't important or when a simpler past tense would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily formal or convoluted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having told" functions as a perfect gerund phrase. It indicates an action (telling) that was completed before another action took place. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "having told" is a grammatically correct and very common perfect gerund phrase used to establish a temporal sequence. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to indicate that the act of telling preceded another action. While generally appropriate for neutral to formal contexts, simpler alternatives might be preferable in casual conversation. Common usage includes news reporting, academic writing, and formal business communication. Key to its effective use is emphasizing the chronological order of events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

after informing

Focuses on the sequence of events, emphasizing the act of informing before something else happens.

upon telling

Highlights the immediate consequence or reaction following the act of telling.

once having informed

Emphasizes the completion of the act of informing before a subsequent action.

after relaying

Emphasizes the act of passing on information.

having communicated

Focuses on the broader act of communication, not just the telling.

once having shared

Emphasizes the act of sharing information with someone.

after disclosing

Emphasizes the revealing of previously unknown information.

having reported

Highlights the formal or official nature of the information conveyed.

after advising

Implies giving counsel or guidance in addition to simply telling.

having notified

Focuses on the act of giving official or formal notice.

FAQs

How do I use "having told" in a sentence?

Use "having told" to indicate an action that was completed before another action occurred. For example, "Having told the manager about the issue, I waited for a response."

What are some alternatives to "having told"?

You can use alternatives like "after informing", "once having informed", or "upon telling" depending on the context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "having told"?

While grammatically correct, using "having told" can sound overly formal in some contexts. Consider whether a simpler construction, like "after telling", would be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "having told" and "telling"?

"Having told" implies the action of telling is completed before another action. "Telling", on its own, doesn't necessarily specify that sequence. For example: "Having told her the secret, I regretted it immediately" versus "Telling her the secret was a mistake".