telling us that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "telling us that" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to indicate that someone is conveying information or a message to a group, including the speaker. Example: "The author is telling us that the main character's journey reflects the struggles of many people in society."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Funding agencies are telling us that they're using the document to formulate solicitations for future research in this area".

Environmental Health Perspectives

There is a mantra telling us that authentication is difficult.

Electronic Notes in Theoretical Computer Science

It's telling us that it's afraid.

Yale University

Nature is telling us that something's wrong.

The New York Times

He is telling us that he has passed the torch.

The New Yorker

"And telling us that our kid is their highest priority.

The New Yorker

Everyone was telling us that you can't film this book.

The New York Times

And they're not feeling particularly shy about telling us that".

The New Yorker

She keeps telling us that she's an adult.

The New York Times

"They're telling us that our grief doesn't matter," she said.

The New York Times

Fashion is subliminally telling us that it's a dirty business.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "telling us that" to introduce information or a statement from a source, emphasizing the act of communication. Ensure the context clearly identifies who is "telling" the information.

Common error

Avoid using "telling us that" without clearly identifying the source of the information. Ensure the reader knows who is conveying the message to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "telling us that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing a statement or piece of information being conveyed by someone or something. As Ludwig shows, it is frequently used to relay facts, opinions, or observations from various sources.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

12%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "telling us that" serves as a common and grammatically sound reporting clause to introduce communicated information. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is widely accepted and utilized in various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific writing. While highly versatile, it is crucial to ensure clarity regarding the source of information and avoid redundancy. When choosing an alternative, consider options like "informing us that" or "indicating that" to adjust the level of formality or implication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

informing us that

This alternative is a more formal synonym, suitable for professional or academic contexts.

explaining that

This alternative focuses on providing clarification or understanding about a topic.

indicating that

This alternative implies a more subtle communication, suggesting something indirectly.

confirming that

This alternative is used when verifying something that was previously uncertain or unconfirmed.

communicating that

This alternative highlights the act of conveying a message, often in a formal or deliberate manner.

reporting that

This alternative suggests conveying factual information or news.

showing us that

This alternative emphasizes visual or demonstrable evidence, rather than a verbal statement.

revealing that

This alternative implies the disclosure of something previously unknown or hidden.

assuring us that

This alternative is used when trying to remove doubts or to guarantee something.

letting us know that

This alternative is more casual, suggesting a friendly or informal notification.

FAQs

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

You can use alternatives like "informing us that", "indicating that", or "letting us know that" depending on the context.

How to use "telling us that" in a sentence?

"Telling us that" is used to introduce a piece of information someone is communicating. For example, "The report is telling us that sales have increased."

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

"Telling us that" refers to communicating information verbally or in writing, while "showing us that" refers to demonstrating something visually or through actions. For example, "The data is "showing us that" the trend is increasing" versus "The expert is "telling us that" the trend will continue".

Is "telling to us that" grammatically correct?

No, "telling to us that" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "telling us that". The preposition "to" is unnecessary and makes the phrase awkward.