on being told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "on being told" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a reaction or response to information that has been communicated to someone. Example: "On being told about the changes in the schedule, she immediately adjusted her plans."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I keep on being told that whatever I do is at odds with the party leader.

The Guardian

"I kept on being told that when you have two blokes together, arguments turn physical.

The Guardian

On being told of the cuts, one young mum exclaimed "Good!

The Guardian - Opinion

On being told she could attend the launch, Giffords reportedly responded with one word: "awesome".

The Guardian

Likewise, Jarrett's explosion of rage in prison on being told of his mother's death is widely hailed as one of Cagney's most memorable performances.

Wikipedia

--Sachin Tendulkar, on being told of above quote.

Stanford University

How long can this story go on being told?

The New Yorker

[On being told he's in Inception] Oh, he's from Inception?

The Guardian - Film

[On being told she was in Avatar] From Avatar, really?

The Guardian - Film

On being told his wife was dead, Mr Dorontic said: "I felt numb.

Independent

On being told she was, he reportedly said: "You're a nigger's bitch, that's what you are".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using synonyms such as "upon hearing" or "after learning" for varied sentence structure and to avoid repetition.

Common error

Avoid using "on being told" when the active voice would be clearer and more direct. For instance, instead of "On being told the news, he was saddened", consider "The news saddened him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "on being told" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb. It introduces a clause that describes the circumstances under which an action takes place. As Ludwig highlights, it indicates a reaction or response to received information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Academia

10%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "on being told" is a versatile phrase used to indicate a reaction immediately following the receipt of information. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically correct and common in various types of writing. While frequently appearing in news and media, it maintains a neutral tone suitable for diverse contexts. Remember to use it to highlight the immediate impact of news or a statement and consider alternative phrases for stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

upon being informed

Replaces "on" with "upon" and "told" with "informed", resulting in a slightly more formal tone.

after learning

Focuses on the action of learning the information, rather than the act of being told.

when informed

Introduces a time element, specifying when the person received the information.

upon hearing

Emphasizes the auditory aspect of receiving information.

after receiving the news

Highlights the receipt of news as the trigger for the subsequent action.

once advised

Indicates that the information received was advice or guidance.

having been notified

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the state of being informed.

being apprised of

Uses a more formal and less common verb to indicate the act of informing.

at the revelation of

Emphasizes that the act of communication was a revelation.

after being made aware

Focuses on the state of awareness following the communication.

FAQs

How can I use "on being told" in a sentence?

"On being told" is used to describe someone's reaction immediately after receiving information. For example: "On being told of her promotion, she burst into tears."

What are some alternatives to "on being told"?

You can use alternatives like "upon being informed", "after learning", or "when informed", depending on the specific context.

Is there a difference between "on being told" and "after being told"?

While similar, "on being told" implies a more immediate reaction than "after being told". "After being told" suggests a reaction that occurred sometime later, while "on being told" suggests it occurred almost instantaneously.

Is "on being told" formal or informal?

"On being told" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, consider your audience and choose more formal alternatives like "upon being informed" in highly formal settings.