informed him to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "informed him to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it suggests an action that is not clearly defined. Example: "She informed him to complete the report by Friday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Under cross-examination at Meserve's court-martial, Reilly, appearing as a defense witness, testified, "Sergeant Meserve called me up and informed me in the middle of the fire fight that a girl was fleeing up the side of the mountain, and I informed him to get the girl.

The New Yorker

It was, however, impossible at that time, as indeed Peirce's father Benjamin informed him, to earn a living as a research logician; and Peirce described himself at the time of his graduation from Harvard in 1859, just short of his 20th birthday, as wondering "what I would do in life".

SEP

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Finegan still has the notice he received on July 8 , 1998 informing him to report for jury duty.

The New York Times

Earlier in the season Moyes claimed he had instructed Welbeck to stay behind for extra training, informing him to follow Wayne Rooney's example.

The Guardian - Sport

At 07 30, Admiral Revel ordered the Ottoman launch to return with an ultimatum addressed to the Wāli of Beirut informing him to surrender his two warships by 09 00.

Wikipedia

If your boss has a meeting and forgets about it,you are then able inform him to be prepared half-an-hour in advance (or an hour depending on how organized/busy he is).

WikiHow

A week later, the Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops informed him that, to have his situation regularized, he needed to ask the Pope's pardon.

Wikipedia

Membership Committee informed him that "to be a member, you must be a woman".

The New York Times

Finally, a Chinese-American in the delegation took the man aside and informed him that "to wear a green hat" is the Chinese symbol of a cuckold.

The New York Times

However, the Home Office has just informed him they plan to remove him from the UK on Thursday 14 April.

The Guardian

Taylor claims the trio informed him he was to be replaced in all three forms of the game.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When conveying instructions or commands, ensure the phrasing is direct and grammatically sound. "Instructed him to" is often preferable over "informed him to".

Common error

A common mistake is using "informed" to directly command an action. "Informed" primarily means to convey information, not to issue orders. Instead of "informed him to do X", use "told him to do X" or "instructed him to do X" to accurately convey a command or direction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "informed him to" attempts to combine the act of conveying information with a directive. However, as Ludwig AI points out, this construction is not grammatically correct in standard English. It's an incorrect attempt to provide an instruction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "informed him to" may seem like a concise way to convey both information and instruction, it is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, standard English prefers alternatives like "told him to" or "instructed him to". Although the phrase appears in various sources, including news and media, its rarity and grammatical issues make it best to avoid in formal writing. Opting for grammatically sound alternatives enhances clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

told him to

This is a direct and grammatically correct way of saying someone was instructed to do something.

instructed him to

Similar to 'told him to' but implies a more formal or authoritative command.

directed him to

Implies a clear and specific order or guidance.

advised him to

Suggests offering guidance or a recommendation, rather than a direct order.

gave him instructions to

Rephrases the action to emphasize the act of giving instructions.

briefed him to

Suggests providing concise and essential information before an action.

notified him to

While "notified" typically implies informing someone of a fact, it can be used in certain contexts to suggest instruction.

counseled him to

Implies offering advice, often regarding a difficult or personal matter.

let him know to

A more colloquial way of saying to inform and instruct, but not always grammatically precise.

apprised him of the need to

A formal way of saying someone was made aware of the necessity to do something.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "informed him to"?

Instead of "informed him to", use phrases like "told him to", "instructed him to", or "advised him to" for clearer communication.

Is "informed him to" grammatically correct?

No, "informed him to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The word "informed" typically introduces a clause beginning with 'that', or is followed by 'of'. For example, "I informed him that the meeting was cancelled" or "I informed him of the cancellation".

How can I use "informed" correctly in a sentence?

Use "informed" to indicate the act of conveying information. For example, "She informed him that the project was delayed" or "She informed him of the project delay".

When should I use "told him to" instead of "informed him to"?

Use "told him to" when you want to indicate that someone was given a direct order or instruction. "Informed" is more appropriate for conveying facts or news.