is told but

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is told but" is not correct and does not form a complete thought in written English.
It may be used in a context where you are contrasting two statements or ideas, but it requires additional information to be meaningful. Example: "The story is told but lacks the emotional depth needed to resonate with the audience."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

8 human-written examples

Be bold, she is told, but do not offend the voters.

The Economist

"I'm sorry," he is told, "but none of us has that luxury".

The New York Times

"I associate a crowd with a herd of cattle, it goes where it is told, but here it was somewhat different — the crowd had its own spirit," she said.

The New York Times

In narrative identity, the person is not merely the one who tells the story, or merely the one about whom the story is told, but she "appears both as a reader and the writer of its own life" (Ricoeur, 1987: 246).

Nature

"You need to get you some civil rights," Mildred is told, but the only marching we see is on television, and her boldest act is to write to Robert Kennedy, the Attorney General, who passes her case on to the A.C.L.U.

The New Yorker

"You'll be the only living man for a hundred miles in every direction," he is told, but the boat that takes him there seems to ply back and forth with cheerful frequency, and we see Tom tapping out messages in Morse.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

The moment is telling, but its effect, after the fact, was unintentionally hurtful.

The New York Times

The allegation that Libby's doctors rarely diagnosed asbestosis because doctors were high in the town's caste system is telling but not documented.

Environmental Health Perspectives

He survived, I was told, but his legs didn't.

The New Yorker

Kidnappings happened, my parents were told, but they also ended.

The New York Times - Magazine

Sorry, I'm told, but he's in his zone.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using constructions like "is told, but", ensure the "but" clause provides a clear contrast or qualification to what was told. This maintains logical flow and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "is told but" if the subsequent clause doesn't offer a genuine contrast or qualification. Ensure the second part of the sentence clearly deviates from or limits the initial statement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is told but" functions as a connector introducing a contrast or qualification to a statement. Ludwig suggests that the phrase is not correct but it's found in various contexts introducing a contradictory element.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is told but" is used to introduce a contrasting element to a statement. Ludwig indicates this phrase is not entirely correct, but it appears in various contexts, including news, science, and business writing. Despite its presence in reputable sources, it's important to ensure clear grammatical structure and logical contrast. When in doubt, consider using alternatives like "was informed however" or "learn although" to maintain clarity and grammatical correctness. While the phrase appears across different levels of formality, its usage should be carefully considered to ensure effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was informed however

Replaces "is told" with "was informed" to convey the receipt of information, and "but" with "however" to provide a contrast.

learn although

Uses "learn" instead of "is told" and "although" instead of "but", changing the verb and conjunction while keeping the contrastive meaning.

is advised yet

Substitutes "is told" with "is advised" suggesting a recommendation, and "but" with "yet", maintaining the contrasting element.

is notified nonetheless

Replaces "is told" with "is notified" indicating a formal communication, and "but" with "nonetheless" to emphasize the contrast.

is instructed even so

Uses "is instructed" in place of "is told" suggesting a command, and "even so" instead of "but" to introduce a qualification.

was revealed nevertheless

Substitutes "was revealed" indicating something previously unknown is disclosed, and "nevertheless" is used to show contrast.

finds out still

Replaces "is told" with "finds out", making it a more active discovery, and uses "still" to connect a contrasting idea.

is mentioned but

This variation keeps "but" while changing "is told" to "is mentioned", indicating a passing reference.

is recounted yet

Replaces "is told" with "is recounted", suggesting a retelling of an event, with "yet" used to signal a contrast.

is disclosed however

Uses "is disclosed" suggesting information is revealed, combined with "however" to show a contrast or exception.

FAQs

How can I use "is told but" in a sentence?

Use "is told but" to introduce a contrast to something someone has been told. For example, "He is told to wait, but he decides to leave anyway."

What can I say instead of "is told but"?

You can use alternatives like "was informed however", "learn although", or "is advised yet" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "is told but" or "was told but"?

"Was told but" is grammatically correct because it uses the past tense, while "is told but" may not always fit the intended tense of the sentence. Ensure that the tense aligns with the context.

What's the difference between "is told but" and "is told however"?

Both introduce a contrast, but "however" ("is told however") typically sets up a stronger contrast or concession than "but" ("is told but"). "However" is also considered more formal.