informed me to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "informed me to" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly; the correct form would be "informed me that" or "told me to." Example: "She informed me that the meeting was rescheduled."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

She also had on a fanny pack, which she used to use, she informed me, to carry her handgun.

The New York Times - Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

I tote my good-for-the-environment reusable bags, but the annoying electronic voice informs me to "remove the unauthorized item from the bagging area".

The New York Times

"You weren't supposed to park in a commercial zone," he informed me, gesturing to the five or six signs I'd been oblivious to.

The New York Times

Dim Sum's neighborhood, Tim informed me, happens to be known for its foot-massage parlors.

The New York Times - Travel

The university informed me prior to my arrival that I would have a roommate.

Science Magazine

The story and photo went around the world as Google informed me -- to Germany, Sweden, Denmark, England, etc.

Huffington Post

His grin grew bigger and his eyes softened — the U.S., he informed me, had lost to Argentina, 4 to 1.

The New York Times - Magazine

But a nonplussed Mrs Wilkinson passed the phone to an immovable Mr Wilkinson, who politely informed me: "We prefer to stay in the background".

BBC

The same doctor informed me about hormones to stop the milk flow if I preferred not to nurse.

The New York Times

One year into my Ph.D. work, my supervisor informed me he was to apply for a lectureship at the University of Dundee.

Science Magazine

My ex then informed me they went to the lobster shack I loved so much.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "informed me to". Instead, use "informed me that" followed by a clause, or use "told me to" followed by an infinitive.

Common error

The phrase "informed me to" often arises from a misunderstanding of how to report indirect speech. Remember that "inform" typically requires a "that" clause, while "tell" can be followed directly by an infinitive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "informed me to" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct usage involves either "informed me that" or "told me to". Ludwig AI also confirms this by pointing out the phrase is not correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "informed me to" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. As Ludwig AI's analysis confirms, the proper usage is to use "informed me that" when conveying information or "told me to" when giving an instruction. While some instances might appear in informal contexts, it's best to avoid this phrase in formal or professional writing. Instead, consider using alternatives like "notified me", "advised me", or "instructed me" for better clarity and grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

told me to

Replaces "informed" with a more common verb and uses a direct instruction format.

notified me to

Substitutes "informed" with "notified", implying a formal communication about a requirement.

advised me to

Indicates that the information came as a recommendation or guidance.

let me know to

Emphasizes the act of making someone aware of a future action.

instructed me to

Suggests a formal direction or order was given.

directed me to

Implies a specific guidance towards an action.

told me that I should

Rephrases the sentence to specify a piece of information by using "that".

reported to me that I must

Indicates a formal announcement along with obligation.

mentioned to me I needed

Rephrases the sentence to include a need for something.

declared to me I was required to

Highlights a formal declaration of requirement.

FAQs

How should I correctly use "inform" in a sentence?

The verb "inform" is typically followed by a "that" clause, for example: "She "informed me that" the meeting was canceled."

Is it ever correct to use "informed me to"?

No, "informed me to" is grammatically incorrect. Use "told me to" or "informed me that" instead.

What's the difference between using "told me to" and "informed me that"?

"Told me to" implies a direct instruction, while "informed me that" conveys information. For example: "He "told me to" leave" versus "He "informed me that" the project was delayed."

What are some alternatives to "informed me"?

Depending on the context, you can use "notified me", "advised me", "told me", or "let me know". For example, "She "notified me" of the change."