it is really telling

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it is really telling" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that something reveals important information or insights about a situation or subject. Example: "The way he reacted to the news is really telling of his true feelings about the situation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

But just consider what's going on here: Boudreaux and Perry deny that the middle class is facing stagnation, and then they offer evidence that, on the face of it, is really telling us only that a growing share of income is going to the very affluent, who — surprise!

The New York Times

I think your question, like many others like it, is really telling of the college and economic climate and the importance many families place on going to a name school.

Huffington Post

"It is really telling that you shook the hand of a man while a woman is trying to tell you her story," Tracey Corder, the racial justice campaign director at the Center for Popular Democracy, said to McConnell as she stood behind him on an escalator at Washington's Reagan National Airport. .

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

And I thought, it's really telling that to show a black woman as radical you make her hair afro.

Independent

"It's really telling that what they were concerned about here is the release of those medical records.

The Guardian

And then after a while, I realized that it was really telling me something about the experiment.

Science Magazine

Emma: I thought it was really telling that she tried to leave because she was convinced that was what all men wanted.

Huffington Post

I think it's really telling that so many men have no idea how much women have to spend on personal grooming.

Huffington Post

If it is really dangerous, tell us.

The Guardian - Opinion

It is really hard to tell mothers you have a choice not to test when we know all the benefits of testing including PMTCT….

BMC Health Services Research

"It is really not surprising," Bush told Gerson.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it is really telling" to highlight significant insights or implications within your writing. It's effective for drawing attention to underlying meanings or unspoken truths.

Common error

Avoid using "it is really telling" for trivial or self-evident observations. Reserve it for situations where the revelation is genuinely insightful or unexpected.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it is really telling" functions as a commentative expression. It's used to highlight the speaker's interpretation of a situation, suggesting that something reveals a deeper meaning or implication. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66.66%

Science

33.33%

Wiki

0%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it is really telling" is a grammatically sound and contextually rich expression used to emphasize the revealing nature of a situation or statement. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. While not exceedingly common, it appears most frequently in News & Media and Science contexts, highlighting its capacity to underscore underlying meanings. Alternatives like "it is quite revealing" or "it speaks volumes" can offer similar nuances. When using this phrase, focus on situations where the insight is genuine and unexpected to maximize its impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it is quite revealing

Emphasizes the revealing nature of something, similar to "telling".

it is highly indicative

Highlights that something serves as a strong indication of something else.

it speaks volumes

Implies that something communicates a great deal without the need for words.

it is very suggestive

Indicates that something hints at or suggests something else significantly.

it clearly demonstrates

Focuses on the demonstration of something in a clear and obvious manner.

it strongly implies

Highlights the strong implication or indirect indication of something.

it offers a glimpse into

Suggests that something provides a brief look or insight into something else.

it sheds light on

Indicates that something helps to clarify or explain something.

it betrays

Suggests that something inadvertently reveals a truth or feeling.

it underscores

Emphasizes or highlights the importance of something.

FAQs

How can I use "it is really telling" in a sentence?

Use "it is really telling" to point out something significant that is revealed by a particular action, situation, or statement. For instance, "The fact that he avoided the question is really telling about his involvement."

What are some alternatives to "it is really telling"?

You can use alternatives like "it is quite revealing", "it is highly indicative", or "it speaks volumes" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "it is really telling" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it is really telling" is grammatically correct. It uses the correct subject-verb agreement and adverb-adjective combination to convey its meaning.

What's the difference between "it is really telling" and "it is interesting"?

"It is really telling" suggests that something reveals important or hidden information, while "it is interesting" simply indicates that something is engaging or noteworthy. "It is really telling" carries a stronger implication of underlying significance.