telling us about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "telling us about" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone providing information or narrating a story to an audience. Example: "The author is telling us about the struggles faced by the main character in the novel."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They're not telling us about politics.

Independent

He is telling us about February 1941.

Yale University

What is it telling us about education?

Yale University

Q: What is the brain telling us about economics?

Yale University

So why aren't our family doctors telling us about this?

The Washington Post

So what is the auction room telling us about electricals?

The Guardian - Money

Spacey was simply telling us about directing his first movie.

The New Yorker

A poet has been telling us about his first sale to the Sat.

The New Yorker

Coach K was telling us about the guys who got cut last time.

The New York Times - Sports

"The news had been telling us about it for two days," he said.

The New York Times

We don't want candidates telling us about all the things that are wrong".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "telling us about" to create a sense of direct communication with the audience or reader.

Common error

Avoid using "telling us about" excessively in academic or formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "informing us about" or "elucidating" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telling us about" functions as a prepositional phrase that introduces the subject or topic being communicated. It often serves to indicate the content of a message or narrative, as seen in Ludwig examples where people are sharing information or experiences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Academia

22%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Science

3%

Social Media

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "telling us about" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to introduce the topic of a communication. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely employed across different contexts, especially in news and media. While versatile, more formal alternatives like "informing us about" may be preferable in academic settings. When using "telling us about", clarity and context are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

informing us about

Similar in meaning but uses a more formal verb.

narrating to us about

Focuses on the act of storytelling or recounting events.

explaining to us about

Focuses on clarifying or making something understandable.

advising us about

Implies guidance or recommendations being shared.

briefing us on

Suggests a concise and informative update.

updating us on

Highlights the act of providing the latest information.

notifying us about

Focuses on formally alerting or informing someone.

enlightening us about

Emphasizes the act of shedding light on a topic.

revealing to us about

Suggests the disclosure of previously unknown information.

teaching us about

Implies an educational context or imparting knowledge.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "telling us about"?

You can use alternatives like "informing us about", "narrating to us about", or "updating us on" depending on the context.

How do I use "telling us about" in a sentence?

Use "telling us about" when you want to express that someone is providing information or a narrative. For instance, "The news was "telling us about" the upcoming storm."

Which is more formal, "telling us about" or "informing us about"?

Informing us about is generally considered more formal than "telling us about". Use the former in professional or academic settings.

What's the difference between "telling us about" and "showing us"?

"Telling us about" involves providing information through words, while "showing us" involves demonstrating or illustrating something visually or practically. For example, "The guide was "telling us about" the history of the monument, but the landscape was showing us its beauty."