in told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "in told" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error and does not convey a clear meaning in standard English. Example: "He was in told about the changes" is incorrect.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

38 human-written examples

"They brought him in, told him to sit there, and so he sat there.

The New Yorker

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said Monday that the staff sergeant returned to the base after the killings "and basically turned himself in, told individuals what had happened".

The New York Times

Even former vice-president Dick Cheney, as the Republican establishment began to chime in, told a conservative radio host the call "goes against everything we believe in".

The Guardian

Our friends had sent us contraptions for Gus to sleep in, told us which items to bring home from the maternity ward, even which detergent to wash his first post-hospital outfit in.

The New York Times - Magazine

That's what Juanita Cooke, the owner, chief cook and bottle washer of the Cooke's In, told me when I met her socially a few years after reviewing her tiny, one-of-a-kind restaurant on Depot Road in Huntington.

The New York Times

Last year, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, author of Lean In, told Harvard graduates that crying at work is nothing to be afraid of.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

22 human-written examples

A miner who survived the cave-in told the authorities that four of his colleagues remained trapped in the mine, located near the city of Portovelo.

The New York Times

Gray claimed he had written her hit track The Fear and after the break-in told police that "he would cut her with a knife", judge Martyn Barklem told the court.

The Guardian - Music

To sum the situation up, hours after Park Sang-ki's comments, a representative of President Moon Jae-in told Korean media [link in Korean] that the Justice Ministry's position does not reflect that of the entire government.

TechCrunch

Military busses were parked in the square to take in protesters that were caught, Mohamed Aswany, one protester who had decided to stage a sit-in, told Reuters by telephone.

Huffington Post

The group immediately organiszd a peaceful sit-in, told their members to use their common sense and refused to confront the police a continuation of the nonviolent, reconciliatory attitude that they've maintained since day one.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "in told" as it is not grammatically correct. Use alternatives like "was informed" or "was notified" to convey that someone received information.

Common error

A common mistake is using "in told" when attempting to form a passive voice construction. Remember that passive voice requires a form of "to be" (e.g., "was", "were", "is") followed by the past participle of the verb. Instead of saying "he was in told", say "he was informed" or "he was told".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in told" is grammatically incorrect and does not function as a standard English construction. It appears as a misuse or misunderstanding of how passive voice is formed or how information is conveyed. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is not correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "in told" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in standard English. While Ludwig provides numerous examples where the phrase appears, it's crucial to understand that these instances represent errors rather than valid usage. As Ludwig AI explicitly states, "in told" is not correct and usable in written English. Instead, opt for grammatically sound alternatives such as "was informed", "was notified", or "was told" to effectively convey the intended meaning of someone receiving information. Avoiding "in told" will ensure clarity and credibility in your communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was informed

Replaces the ungrammatical "in told" with a passive construction indicating receipt of information.

was notified

Similar to "was informed", this indicates that someone received official notification.

was advised

Suggests receiving guidance or a recommendation, implying a more specific type of information transfer.

was apprised of

A more formal way to say someone was informed, often used in professional contexts.

heard

A simple alternative indicating someone received information, without specifying the source or method.

learned

Indicates that someone gained knowledge, emphasizing the acquisition of information.

found out

Suggests discovering information, often implying an active search or investigation.

was made aware

A more descriptive way to say someone was informed, emphasizing the process of becoming conscious of something.

received word

Implies receiving a message or communication, often through a third party.

was briefed

Indicates a concise and informative presentation, often used in military or professional settings.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "in told"?

The phrase "in told" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. It doesn't follow typical sentence structures and is not recognized as a valid expression.

How can I properly say that someone received information?

Instead of "in told", use phrases like "was informed", "was notified", or simply "was told".

Are there more formal alternatives to "in told"?

Yes, for formal situations, you can use phrases like "was apprised of" or "was made aware" to indicate that someone received information.

Is "in told" ever correct in specific dialects or contexts?

While it is possible that some non-standard dialects might use a phrase similar to "in told", it is not considered correct in standard written or spoken English and should be avoided in formal communication. Always aim for clarity and grammatical correctness.