told

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'told' is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as both an adjective (e.g. "the told story") or as a verb (e.g. "She told me the story"). An example sentence would be: "My mother told me never to give up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I told you so.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

You've told me that was the case.

The New York Times

"They don't like being told what to do.

The New York Times

"I am accountable for the railways and the performance [over Christmas] was not acceptable so I have decided that I should not take my bonus this year," he told Sky News.

The Guardian

Clegg told BBC Radio 4's Broadcasting House yesterday morning: "He [Darling] needs to enjoy the public's trust when it comes to issues of financial probity, of money, of managing our nation's finances.

The Guardian

He told Channel 4 News: "I've told you the first I became aware of this, and this is already on the public record, was when I received a phone call on Friday afternoon from a journalist making me aware of it".

The Guardian

Maude told Newsnight on BBC2: "The Conservative party divided roughly like the country does.

The Guardian

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr show: "Sometimes I get the impression that people are waiting for an accident so that they can really focus [on] avoiding a bigger disaster.

The Guardian - Business

"There was a group of us who had dinner together on a Tuesday night [at parliament] … I was sitting beside Mr Obeid at the time and was told 'Keep away from Ms Schott – they're coming after her,' " Costa said.

The Guardian

Directed and written by Paul Morrison, it is the story of a Jewish door-to-door salesman who falls in love with a good chapel girl, and is told in Welsh, Yiddish and English.

The Guardian - Film

We were told that was all that was available.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "told", consider the context and choose a synonym if a more precise verb would better convey the manner of communication (e.g. "whispered", "shouted", "explained").

Common error

Avoid using "told" excessively in dialogue tags. Vary your language with synonyms like "asked", "replied", or descriptive action tags to make your writing more engaging.

Linguistic Context

Told primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb "tell". It indicates the act of conveying information, narrating a story, or giving instructions in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, it is a common and usable word in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "told" is the past tense of "tell" and is a versatile verb used to indicate the conveyance of information or narration in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used in written English, particularly in News & Media contexts. While "told" is a common and acceptable choice, writers should consider synonyms like "stated", "mentioned", or "reported" to add nuance to their writing. Remember to vary dialogue tags to avoid overuse and make your writing more engaging.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stated

Focuses on the act of formally declaring or expressing something.

reported

Highlights the act of conveying information, often in a formal context.

mentioned

Highlights the act of briefly referring to something.

declared

Focuses on a formal or official announcement.

related

Emphasizes the act of recounting a series of events.

conveyed

Emphasizes the act of communicating information or feelings.

narrated

Suggests a more detailed and descriptive account.

recounted

Implies a careful and detailed telling of a story or event.

communicated

Highlights the act of sharing information or ideas.

disclosed

Suggests revealing something previously hidden or secret.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "told"?

You can use alternatives like "stated", "mentioned", or "reported" depending on the context.

How is "told" used in a sentence?

"Told" is the past tense of "tell" and is used to indicate that someone conveyed information or narrated something in the past. For example, "She told me about her trip".

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

"Said" is a general term for uttering words, while "told" implies conveying information or a story. You "say" something, but you "tell" someone something.

Is it correct to say "I was told that"?

Yes, "I was told that" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to indicate that you received information from an unspecified source. It's useful when the source isn't important or known.