receiving told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "receiving told" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It appears to be a combination of two verbs that do not work together in this form. Example: "I was receiving told about the changes in the schedule." (This is incorrect; it should be rephrased.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

I needed to create privilege for myself because every message that I was receiving told me I wasn't privileged at all.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The mountains of letters he received told him such lapses were not uncommon, he said.

The Guardian

"I never believed that the confessions I received told the truth," he said.

The New York Times

The next letter she received told her that the center where her case was handled had been changed.

The New York Times

The schedule they received told them to expect two twelve-hour sessions, "with just the right breaks for food and surfing".

The New Yorker

He said: "I was extremely nervous but the messages I received told me not to put any more pressure on yourself, just be yourself and enjoy it.

BBC

One email she received told her, "I hope you get raped by a husky," and another said, "I wish you would've run in the Boston marathon".

Huffington Post

The information leaflets that women received told them that HPV is very common.

British Journal of Cancer

And so it is here: the text message D.S.K. supposedly received telling him that his e-mails were being monitored.

The New York Times

It works, too: every email I receive telling me my mother is ahead of me prompts a furious burst of cramming.

The Guardian - Tech

Hook happily read aloud from emails and letters he has received, telling him that his milk has cured asthma, eczema and hay fever, and lowered cholesterol levels.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "receiving told". Instead, opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "being informed" or "having been told" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

Don't combine "receiving" directly with "told". This creates a grammatically incorrect structure. Always use a proper verb construction, such as "being told" or "receiving information".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "receiving told" functions incorrectly as it attempts to combine two verbs in a way that violates standard English grammar. Ludwig AI confirms this ungrammatical nature.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "receiving told" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal and professional writing. As Ludwig AI points out, it's an improper combination of verbs. While it may occasionally appear, opting for alternatives like "being informed", "having been told", or "receiving information" will ensure clarity and grammatical correctness. The phrase's rarity also suggests that it's not a standard or widely accepted expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

having been told

Uses a more grammatically sound passive construction.

receiving information

Replaces the incorrect verb with a noun to clarify what is being received.

being informed

Focuses on the act of being given information, removing the incorrect verb combination.

being notified

Implies a formal communication of information, replacing the ungrammatical phrase.

receiving communication

Specifies that a message is being received.

being advised

Suggests receiving guidance or counsel, correcting the grammar.

being instructed

Highlights the reception of instructions, fixing the grammatical error.

learning

Focuses on the act of gaining knowledge, avoiding grammatical errors.

being given to understand

Implies that one has come to a conclusion based on received information.

finding out

Suggests discovering information, correcting the original phrase's mistake.

FAQs

What's a grammatically correct alternative to "receiving told"?

Instead of "receiving told", use phrases like "being informed", "having been told", or "receiving information".

Is "receiving told" considered proper English?

No, "receiving told" is not considered proper English. It's an incorrect combination of verbs that doesn't follow standard grammatical rules.

How can I use "receiving" in a grammatically correct sentence?

You can use "receiving" correctly by pairing it with a noun, such as "receiving messages" or "receiving instructions". Avoid combining it directly with another verb like "told".

What's the difference between "receiving information" and "being told"?

"Receiving information" focuses on the act of getting data or knowledge, while "being told" emphasizes someone communicating that information to you.