he was informed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was informed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone received knowledge or news. For example, "The principal informed him that school was cancelled for the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was informed of his mistake.

The New York Times

He was informed about public housing.

The Guardian

"He was informed about everything," he said.

The New York Times

"Our machines make no mistakes," he was informed coldly.

The New Yorker

The park's incident report says he was informed.

The New York Times

His role was now advisory, he was informed.

The New York Times

The plant was coping just fine, he was informed.

The Economist

He was informed in July that he was being mobilized.

The New York Times - Sports

He was informed that the pay phones were dead.

The New York Times

Nebraska law did not allow it, he was informed.

The New York Times

Nor is there any showing that he was informed of the decisions taken at these conferences.

Yale University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was informed" when you want to emphasize the passive nature of receiving information, particularly when the source of information is less important than the fact itself.

Common error

Avoid using "he was informed" when an active voice construction would be more direct and concise. For example, instead of "He was informed by the manager that the meeting was canceled", consider "The manager told him the meeting was canceled".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was informed" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received information from an unspecified source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard way to convey that someone received news or knowledge. Examples from Ludwig show its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he was informed" is a grammatically sound and very common passive construction used to indicate that someone received information. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its frequent use in news and media highlights its neutral to slightly formal register. While effective, consider using active voice constructions for more direct communication. Alternatives such as "he was notified" or "he was told" can provide similar meaning with slight variations in formality. When writing, ensure that the passive voice is appropriate for the context and doesn't obscure important details.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was notified

Replaces "informed" with a synonym, implying official communication.

he was advised

Suggests guidance or counsel was given, not just information.

he was told

A more informal and direct way of saying he received information.

he learned

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge, less on the act of informing.

information was conveyed to him

A more formal and passive construction.

he received word

Implies a message or communication, often of importance.

it was brought to his attention

Highlights the act of making something known to him.

he was apprised of

A more formal synonym of informed, implying thoroughness.

he understood

Focuses on comprehension rather than just the act of informing.

he gathered

Suggests he inferred the information, rather than being directly told.

FAQs

How can I use "he was informed" in a sentence?

Use "he was informed" to indicate that someone received information. For example, "He was informed of the decision last week".

What are some alternatives to "he was informed"?

Alternatives include "he was notified", "he was told", or "he learned", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "he was informed" formal or informal?

"He was informed" is generally considered neutral to formal. "He was told" is a more informal alternative.

What's the difference between "he was informed" and "he was advised"?

"He was informed" simply means he received information. "He was advised" suggests that he received guidance or a recommendation.