they told that

USAGE SUMMARY

"they told that" is a grammatically correct part of a sentence and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you need to introduce a quote or statement made by someone else. For example: My parents told me, "They told that we should always be kind to others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

"The gist of the background witnesses' testimony about conditions in the Polish ghettos, about procedures in the various death camps, about forced labor, and, generally, the attempt to exterminate through labor, was never in dispute," she wrote irritably; "on the contrary there was hardly anything in what they told that had not been known before".

The New Yorker

I am terror — they told that I was doing some terrorist, you know, what did they tell?

The New York Times

Asylum seekers have said they did – they told that to both Indonesian and United Nations officials.

The Guardian - Opinion

Nor were they told that he faces pending charges of intimidating three other witnesses in that case.

The New York Times

When we ask where they heard it, they told that they remembered it from the model they made individually during filling the questionnaire.

International Journal of STEM Education

Lewis and two other rainforest experts say they told that to Leake before the story ran, but the story said that this finding was based on faulty work.

Science Magazine

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

"Why don't they tell that story?

The Guardian - Music

And they tell that to their kids".

The Economist

The other reason is that they are fearful of being scolded or they are afraid that if they tell that [abortion] then they will not be treated well".

BMC Public Health

When they arrived, they were told that they were being expelled from the country.

The New Yorker

They told me that hours ago".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "they told that", ensure the context is clear and the 'they' refers to a specific group or entity previously mentioned to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

A common mistake is using "they told that" without a clear reference to who "they" are. Always ensure the group being referred to is explicitly defined to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they told that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing information conveyed by a group. As Ludwig AI shows, it is used to relay information, opinions, or statements from a collective source, framing their communication.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they told that" serves to attribute information to a group, functioning as a reporting clause primarily within news, media, and scientific contexts. According to Ludwig AI, it is considered grammatically correct. While not overly formal, it's essential to ensure the referenced group is clearly identified. Alternative phrases such as "they reported that" or "they indicated that" can add nuance or formality. When you use the phrase, make sure that the subject 'they' is defined. This is useful for academic and research writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they stated that

Conveys a formal and official declaration.

they confirmed that

Indicates verification or agreement with a piece of information.

they reported that

Emphasizes the act of reporting, often in a formal context.

they revealed that

Suggests the disclosure of previously unknown information.

they announced that

Highlights a public or official notification.

they explained that

Implies a detailed account or reason was given.

they indicated that

Suggests a more subtle communication or sign.

they communicated that

Focuses on the general act of conveying information.

they clarified that

Focuses on making something clearer or easier to understand.

they mentioned that

Implies a casual or brief communication.

FAQs

How can I use "they told that" in a sentence?

Use "they told that" to introduce information that a group of people communicated. For example, "The scientists told that the experiment was successful."

What is a more formal alternative to "they told that"?

More formal alternatives include "they reported that", "they stated that", or "they confirmed that".

Is it always necessary to use "that" after "they told"?

While not always grammatically required, including "that" after "they told" often improves the clarity and flow of the sentence.

What's the difference between "they told that" and "they said that"?

"They told that" implies a slightly more formal or informative communication compared to "they said that", which is generally more neutral. The context usually dictates the best choice.