he told that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he told that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase when referring to something someone has said. For example: "He told that he had been working on the project for several days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But "I'm certain that he told that story," he added.

The New York Times

He told that story all the time.

The New York Times - Arts

(He told that joke on himself Sunday night, to big laughs).

The New York Times

When he told that story, Burton's days as a great Shakespearean actor were long over.

The Guardian

He then says he told that joke a couple of years ago when he appeared on Loose Women, and it went down very well then, too.

Independent

Manuel laughed as he told that story Sunday, but he realizes how much of an asset Kielty can be.

The New York Times

It concludes the story he told that day in the Byron Room, of a youthful trek from London to Istanbul in 1933, catching the last echoes of an older order before the Second World War changed everything.

Independent

He told that bastion of conservatism to stay out of politics, although he was careful to soften the message by doffing the cap to their economic clout.

The Guardian - Opinion

"You would be very pretty if it wasn't for your big nose," he told that woman out of Waterloo Road who had the lesbian kiss in Brookside.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Ask him about it after the omnium and he'll tell you a totally different story to the one he told that Orla woman".

The Guardian - Sport

He told that crowd something he hadn't been eager to tell the man in the swastika tank top: that he loves DMX, too.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he told that", ensure the context clearly indicates who "he" refers to, especially in longer sentences or paragraphs. Maintaining clarity prevents ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

A common mistake is using "he told that" without a clear antecedent for "he". Before using the phrase, ensure the subject is unmistakable to avoid confusion. Consider rewriting the sentence to explicitly state who is speaking.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he told that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing information that someone has conveyed. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, and examples show its common usage in reporting statements or narratives.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Wiki

8%

HuffPost

5%

Less common in

The New Yorker

3%

The Guardian

3%

Forbes

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he told that" is a grammatically correct and commonly used construction for reporting speech or conveying information, as validated by Ludwig AI. With the majority of its occurrences in "News & Media", it serves as a neutral way to relay information. While considered valid, it's important to ensure clarity regarding the subject, avoiding ambiguous pronoun references. Alternatives such as "he mentioned that" or "he stated that" can offer varying degrees of formality and emphasis. It's useful in many contexts to convey what someone has communicated.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he mentioned that

Replaces "told" with "mentioned", softening the emphasis on the act of telling.

he stated that

Substitutes "told" with "stated", implying a more formal declaration.

he indicated that

Uses "indicated" instead of "told", suggesting a less direct form of communication.

he reported that

Employs "reported" in place of "told", often used in journalistic contexts.

he revealed that

Replaces "told" with "revealed", implying the disclosure of something previously unknown.

he disclosed that

Substitutes "told" with "disclosed", suggesting a formal or official revelation.

he informed that

Uses "informed" instead of "told", highlighting the act of conveying information.

he communicated that

Replaces "told" with "communicated", emphasizing the process of conveying a message.

he let on that

Uses the idiom "let on" instead of "told", implying a subtle or indirect revelation.

he divulged that

Substitutes "told" with "divulged", indicating the sharing of private or sensitive information.

FAQs

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

You can use "he told that" to report something someone said. For example: "He told that he was going to the store".

What are some alternatives to "he told that"?

Alternatives include phrases like "he mentioned that", "he stated that", or "he indicated that", which offer varying degrees of formality and emphasis.

Is it grammatically correct to use "he told that"?

Yes, "he told that" is grammatically correct and commonly used. According to Ludwig AI, it's perfectly acceptable for reporting speech.

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

While both phrases report speech, "he told that" can sometimes imply a more deliberate act of conveying information compared to the more neutral "he said that".