may I told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may I told" is not correct in written English.
It seems to be a mix of "may I" and "I told," which do not fit together grammatically. Example: "May I tell you about my experience?"

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Through the spring, I kept the group updated as my sales collapsed, and in May, I told everyone that I felt like the victim of a bad economy.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

And then she practically whispered: "May I tell you something?

The New York Times

Some … Mara?" "Well…" "Mr. Schickler … may I tell you, please?

The New Yorker

I don't have children, but may I tell my buddy what a brat his son is becoming?Will, Westchester County, N.Y.

The New York Times

We chatted for a minute and then, her bright blue eyes twinkling, she said: "May I tell you something?

The New York Times

At what age may I tell the girl she's acting like a fool, without alienating her mother?

The New York Times

Say, for example, "May I tell you my thoughts on that?" Don't change the topic.

Huffington Post

Dear Candidates, Even as you strain to tell us the wondrous things that will come about if you are elected in November, may I tell you some wondrous things that are happening anyway?

Huffington Post

"Before I sit down, may I tell you, on my way here I was considering myself a real pig for wanting you to remember your suffering, just so I can do a better acting job".

Huffington Post

May I tell you how I've been able to make an impact at the companies I've worked at before?" (Translation: "I'm confident I can fill this position. That's why I didn't put the word 'possibly' in front of 'filling the role.'").

Huffington Post

For his part, Weed was grateful: "May I tell you of the great appreciation which we feel toward this renewal of the grant in support of our developing department of neurology.

Bulletin of the History of Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "may I told" in formal or informal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives such as "may I say" or "can I tell you" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

The phrase incorrectly combines "may I", which seeks permission, with "told", a past tense verb. To avoid this error, use "may I" with a verb expressing the action you're seeking permission for, such as "may I ask" or "may I say".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may I told" attempts to combine a request for permission ("may I") with a past tense verb ("told"), resulting in a grammatically incorrect structure. Ludwig AI identifies this as an error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "may I told" is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase combines a request for permission with a past tense verb inappropriately. Correct alternatives, depending on the intended meaning, include "may I say", "can I tell you", or "did I mention". While some examples exist across various sources, including news and media, the ungrammatical nature of the phrase means it should be avoided in both formal and informal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

may I say

Uses "say" instead of "told", which is grammatically correct when seeking permission to speak.

may I ask

Replaces "told" with "ask", changing the context to seeking permission to inquire.

can I tell you

Offers a more direct way of asking permission to share information, using "can" instead of "may".

did I mention

Shifts the phrase to inquire if something was previously communicated.

have I said

Similar to "did I mention", focusing on past verbal communication.

as I mentioned

Indicates a reference to something previously stated.

I might have mentioned

Suggests the possibility of a prior statement.

if I recall correctly I said

Adds a qualification to the speaker's recollection of what was said.

I believe I communicated

Formally states the speaker's belief about a past communication.

I previously indicated

Formal alternative to emphasize that the speaker has already given this information

FAQs

Is "may I told" grammatically correct?

No, "may I told" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form for seeking permission to say something is "may I say" or "can I tell you".

What's the difference between "may I say" and "may I told"?

"May I say" is a grammatically correct way to ask for permission to speak, whereas "may I told" is grammatically incorrect.

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

"May I" should be followed by a verb in its base form to ask for permission. For example, "May I leave?", "May I help?", or "May I offer a suggestion?"

What are some alternatives to "may I told" that I can use?

Instead of "may I told", you can use phrases like "may I say", "can I tell you", or "did I mention" depending on the context.