tell her

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of a sentence "tell her" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are giving someone direction to communicate with another person, for example: "Please tell her to come to the meeting tomorrow."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Tell her".

The New York Times

"Please," I tell her.

The New Yorker

He would tell her.

The New Yorker

He'd tell her.

The New Yorker

You tell her that.

The New Yorker

"I tell her.

The New York Times

Should I tell her?

The New York Times

Tell her this.

The New York Times - Magazine

Don't tell her mother.

The New York Times - Health

"No, you tell her, sport".

The New Yorker

And tell her about Britannica.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "tell her", ensure the context clarifies who "her" refers to, especially if the reference isn't immediately obvious.

Common error

Avoid ambiguity by clearly defining who "her" is. If the context doesn't make it obvious, rephrase the sentence to include the person's name or a more specific identifier.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "tell her" functions as a directive, instructing someone to communicate information to a female individual. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

35%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "tell her" is a common and grammatically correct directive used to instruct someone to communicate information to a female individual. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's a versatile expression found across various contexts, including news, media, wikis, and general conversation. While primarily neutral in register, it's crucial to ensure the context clearly identifies who "her" refers to, preventing ambiguity. For more formal settings, alternatives like "inform her" or "communicate to her" may be preferable.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

inform her

Replaces "tell" with a more formal synonym, "inform".

let her know

Emphasizes the act of making someone aware of something.

give her the message

A straightforward alternative focusing on message delivery.

communicate to her

A more formal and direct way of saying "tell her".

convey to her

Suggests a more nuanced or complex message being delivered.

explain to her

Highlights the act of making something clear or understandable.

share with her

Indicates sharing information or news.

pass the message to her

Focuses on the act of relaying a message.

disclose to her

Suggests revealing something previously unknown.

report to her

Implies a formal or official communication.

FAQs

How can I use "tell her" in a sentence?

You can use "tell her" to instruct someone to communicate information to a female individual. For example, "Please "tell her" that the meeting is postponed."

What's a more formal alternative to "tell her"?

For a more formal tone, you can use phrases like "inform her" or "communicate to her" depending on the context.

How is "tell her" different from "ask her"?

"Tell her" implies conveying information, while "ask her" implies seeking information or a request. For example, "Tell her the news" versus "Ask her about her day."

When is it appropriate to use "tell her" in writing?

It is appropriate in various contexts, from informal conversations to news reports and even scientific articles when relaying information. Ludwig AI confirms it's correct and usable in written English.