he told me

USAGE SUMMARY

'he told me' is correct and usable in written English.
The phrase can be used to express the idea that someone said something to the speaker, for example: "He told me that I should study harder for my upcoming test".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Marmots," he told me.

The New Yorker

He told me anyway.

The New Yorker

"He told me no".

The New York Times

"No," he told me.

The New Yorker

"Hoo!" he told me.

The New Yorker

"Cuckoo," he told me.

The New York Times

Then he told me.

The New York Times

He told me that.

The New York Times

"He told me to".

The New York Times

"She lied," he told me.

The New York Times

"It's great," he told me.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he told me" to directly quote or report what someone said, ensuring clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "he told me" when summarizing or paraphrasing; instead, use indirect speech to accurately convey the message without direct quotation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he told me" functions as a reporting clause, introducing information or statements that someone conveyed to the speaker. Ludwig shows examples in news articles and personal narratives.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he told me" is a common and grammatically correct way to report direct speech or relay information from a specific source. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely used across various contexts, especially in News & Media. While alternatives such as "he informed me" or "he mentioned to me" exist, "he told me" remains a straightforward and frequently used option. When using this phrase, ensure that you are accurately conveying the speaker's message, whether through direct quotation or indirect reporting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he informed me

Replaces "told" with a more formal synonym, "informed".

he let me know

Uses a more casual expression with similar meaning.

he mentioned to me

Emphasizes the act of mentioning something.

he recounted to me

Implies a more detailed narration.

he explained to me

Focuses on the act of providing an explanation.

he communicated to me

Highlights the act of conveying information.

he advised me

Suggests giving a recommendation or guidance.

he revealed to me

Implies disclosing something previously unknown.

he confided in me

Suggests a sharing of personal or secret information.

he shared with me

General term for conveying information or an experience.

FAQs

How can I use "he told me" in a sentence?

"He told me" is used to report what someone said directly, like "He told me, 'I'm going to the store'". It's important to use quotation marks when reporting the exact words.

What are some alternatives to "he told me"?

Alternatives include phrases like "he informed me", "he let me know", or "he mentioned to me", depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it always necessary to use "he told me" when reporting speech?

No, you can also use indirect speech to report what someone said without directly quoting them. For example, instead of "He told me, 'I'm tired,'" you could say, "He told me that he was tired."

What's the difference between using "he told me" and "he said"?

While both "he told me" and "he said" can be used to report speech, "he told me" often implies a more personal or specific communication directly to the speaker, whereas "he said" is more general. You can also explore alternatives like "he informed me" for added nuance.