it told that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it told that" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It is an incorrect construction and does not convey a clear meaning. Example: "It told that the meeting was canceled" should be rephrased for clarity.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

In fact, I've heard it told that some birthday women get so, shall we say, carried away with the birthday spirit that they mix up all their cards and thank everyone for the wrong present the next day.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Everything is brought into question in Book Four as Lanark travels back to Unthank through a land in a state of decay and disintegration, has encounters with his own author, it told that he exists only in print anyway and there's little he can do to stop the apocalypse … The Bridge too has connected narratives – but this time there are three rather than two.

The Guardian - Books

It told that she was a woman of instincts and almost violent passions; that she wore her vices, as well as her virtues, for all to see; that her allure was a result not of impossible fame or even beauty, but of an inhuman femininity; that despite the jet-set life, the jewels and the husbands, she retained an Englishness, a hominess, a love of children and animals that was recognizably real.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

I find it telling that DreamWorks doesn't require security for him.

The New York Times

It tells that the free gas is present within the fracture.

Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology

Additionally, it tells that the tuples transferred between the separated two components follow field grouping rule.

Data Science and Engineering

It tells that emotions sometimes can hardly be separated from speech content while in paralinguistic expressions.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

It tells that the mechanical property and the damping property of the composite are improved effectively at the same time.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

It tells that the improvement of the damping property is because many damping mechanisms work together in the composite, including material damping, interfacial damping and energy dissipation from plastic micro-deformation of Pb.

Materials Science and Engineering: A

And isn't it telling that Japan, Israel and other allies strongly prefer the F-22 to the F-35?

Forbes

It tells that the task of the physician is 1) To disclose information so that the patient can make informed consent and 2) To respect this informed consent.

BMC Medical Ethics

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "it told that" in your writing. Replace it with more grammatically correct alternatives like "it stated that" or "it indicated that" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

A common mistake is using "told" in a way that lacks a clear subject performing the action of telling. Ensure that when using "told", there's a specified subject who did the telling or use a more suitable alternative like "stated" or "indicated".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it told that" functions incorrectly as an attempt to introduce reported speech or information. As Ludwig AI indicates, this is not a standard or grammatically sound construction in English. It lacks a clear subject and direct object.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it told that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is an incorrect construction, and standard English offers more appropriate alternatives such as "it stated that" or "it indicated that". While examples exist across various domains such as News & Media and Science, the phrase's incorrect usage and lack of clarity make it unsuitable for professional communication. When aiming to convey reported speech, opting for grammatically sound phrases is essential for ensuring clarity and credibility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it stated that

Uses a more formal and grammatically sound verb to introduce reported information.

it indicated that

Implies that something showed or signified a particular fact.

it mentioned that

Suggests that something made a brief reference to a piece of information.

it reported that

Indicates the relaying of factual information or news.

it revealed that

Implies the uncovering of something previously unknown.

it suggested that

Presents a possibility or a hint without explicit confirmation.

it showed that

Indicates that something demonstrated or made evident a particular fact.

it clarified that

Uses a verb to clearly express more detail for a specific detail.

it communicated that

Uses a verb to express that something expressed detail to someone.

it explained that

Suggests that something made an idea or situation clear.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with the phrase "it told that"?

The phrase "it told that" is grammatically incorrect because "told" requires a direct object (someone to whom something is told). Using alternatives like "it stated that" or "it indicated that" provides clearer and grammatically correct ways to convey the intended meaning.

What can I use instead of "it told that" in formal writing?

In formal writing, avoid "it told that". Instead, opt for phrases like "it stated that", "it reported that", or "it revealed that". These alternatives offer greater clarity and grammatical correctness, making your writing more professional.

Is "it told that" ever correct in any context?

The phrase "it told that" is generally considered incorrect in standard English. While you might encounter it in informal speech or non-standard dialects, it's best to avoid it in formal writing. Use "it mentioned that" or similar alternatives for better clarity.

How does "it stated that" differ from "it told that"?

It stated that is a grammatically correct and formal way to report information, implying a formal declaration or announcement. "It told that" is grammatically incorrect. Replace it with alternatives like "it indicated that" or "it suggested that" depending on the context.