he told them

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he told them' is correct and can be used in written English.
It is a complete sentence that describes an action and is commonly used in storytelling or in written dialogues. Example: John turned to his friends and said, "He told them we were coming this Saturday." In this example, 'he told them' refers to a previous conversation or instruction that John's friends received from someone else, and John is relaying this information to them.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Allright," he told them.

The New Yorker

"It's unbelievable," he told them.

The New York Times

Trust me, he told them.

The New York Times

Instead, he told them everything.

The New York Times

"Calm down," he told them.

The New Yorker

"Democracies engage," he told them.

The New York Times

"Never again," he told them.

The New Yorker

"Of course," he told them.

Independent

"Congratulations!" he told them.

The New Yorker

"He told them everything.

The Washington Post

— It's all ash, he told them.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using a synonym like "he informed them" or "he let them know" to vary your writing and adjust the formality of the context.

Common error

Ensure that the pronoun "he" is clearly defined within the context to avoid ambiguity. If "he" is not immediately apparent, rephrase to specify the person.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he told them" functions as a declarative statement, conveying that a male subject verbally communicated information to a group of people. Ludwig examples confirm its direct and simple function.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

7%

Academia

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he told them" is a versatile and frequently used phrase for indicating the transfer of information from a male subject to a group. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and appropriate for a variety of contexts, particularly in news and media. Its neutral register allows for use in both formal and informal settings, though clarity regarding the subject "he" is crucial for effective communication. While many alternatives exist, such as "he informed them" or "he let them know", the simplicity and directness of "he told them" make it a reliable choice. Ludwig's examples and analysis show that this common phrase is a standard part of English communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he informed them

Replaces "told" with "informed", implying a more formal communication.

he let them know

Uses a more casual phrasing to express the act of conveying information.

he communicated to them

Emphasizes the act of communication, suitable for formal contexts.

he explained to them

Indicates a detailed account was given.

he advised them

Suggests guidance or recommendations were provided.

he reported to them

Implies a formal reporting of information.

he disclosed to them

Suggests revealing previously unknown information.

he mentioned to them

Indicates a brief or casual reference.

he announced to them

Implies a public or formal declaration.

he confided in them

Suggests sharing a secret or personal information.

FAQs

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

Use "he told them" to indicate that someone conveyed information to a group. For example, "After the meeting, he told them about the new project guidelines."

What are some alternatives to "he told them"?

You can use alternatives like "he informed them", "he let them know", or "he communicated to them depending on the context.

Is "he told it to them" grammatically correct compared to "he told them"?

"He told them" is more concise and grammatically preferred over "he told it to them". The pronoun "it" is usually unnecessary in this context.

How does the formality of "he told them" compare to "he informed them"?

"He told them" is generally neutral, while "he informed them" carries a slightly more formal tone, suitable for professional or official contexts.