she told him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she told him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when reporting speech or conveying information that one person has communicated to another. Example: "She told him that she would be late for the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She told him no.

The New York Times - Arts

None, she told him.

The New York Times - Magazine

No, she told him.

The New York Times - Arts

She told him.

Forbes

Then she told him.

The New Yorker

"Armani," she told him.

The New York Times

She told him later, though.

The New Yorker

"It's plural," she told him.

The New Yorker

"I'm sorry," she told him.

The New Yorker

"I was," she told him.

The New Yorker

"Bless you," she told him.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "she told him" when you want to plainly state that a female person conveyed information to a male person. Consider synonyms like "informed", "mentioned", or "stated" for varied tone and context.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "she told him" in dialogue-heavy writing. Vary your sentence structure and use action beats (e.g., "She paused, then said") to create a more engaging narrative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she told him" functions as a reporting clause, indicating that a female subject verbally communicated something to a male subject. This is a straightforward way to relay dialogue or information, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "she told him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for reporting speech or conveying information from a female subject to a male subject. As Ludwig confirms, it’s suitable for neutral contexts like news and media. While simple and direct, varying your sentence structure and considering synonyms is beneficial for maintaining engaging writing. Avoiding overuse and paying attention to context is important for clarity and style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she said to him

A direct and simple alternative, focusing on the act of speaking.

she informed him

Replaces "told" with a more formal synonym, emphasizing the act of conveying information.

she let him know

Uses a more casual and less direct way of saying "told".

she explained to him

Specifies that she provided an explanation.

she communicated to him

A formal way to describe the act of conveying information.

she reported to him

Suggests a formal or official context of reporting information.

she mentioned to him

Indicates a casual or brief communication.

she confided in him

Implies sharing a secret or personal information.

she revealed to him

Suggests uncovering something previously hidden.

she imparted to him

A more formal way of saying she gave him information or knowledge.

FAQs

How can I use "she told him" in a sentence?

Use "she told him" to report what a female subject communicated to a male subject. For example, "She told him that the meeting was postponed".

What are some alternatives to "she told him"?

You can use alternatives like "she informed him", "she said to him", or "she mentioned to him" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "she told him"?

Yes, "she told him" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-object order in English.

What's the difference between "she told him" and "she asked him"?

"She told him" indicates a statement or information being conveyed, while "she asked him" indicates a question being posed. The choice depends on whether the female subject is giving information or seeking it.