told for example

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told for example" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used expression and may confuse readers. Instead, you might want to use it in contexts where you are providing an illustration or clarification. Example: "He told for example that many people struggle with time management."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

43 human-written examples

We're told, for example, that he had "no female attachments".

The New York Times - Arts

(We're told, for example, that Juno's beauty "refines and upgrades itself constantly").

The New York Times - Books

"They'd been told, for example, that they should keep their ballroom for parties," she continued, "but they are a working couple.

The New York Times

Why do we need to be told, for example, that the man who slit the throat of a priest in Normandy had a "brilliant personality"?

The Guardian - Opinion

We have been told, for example, to forget about high- or low-achieving children because only the ones in the middle are important for the school's statistics".

The Guardian

We are told, for example, that not telling the truth was a capital offense in ancient China, and that violators were tied to a heated stove pipe.

The New York Times - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

It is hard to tell, for example, how much rain would have fallen anyway.

The Economist

So we couldn't tell, for example, whether we had seen devices or not as we never gathered any personal details".

Independent

His jokes in public have been rare, and occasionally tactless: telling, for example, a Polish journalist "Don't worry, we won't send tanks".

The Economist

Several neutrino "telescopes" around the world can manage the trick, and are thus able to tell, for example, which neutrinos come from the sun.

The Economist

"You can tell, for example, from their rallies and the banners they carry they actually want a religious and not a democratic state".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity and grammatical precision, replace "told for example" with more standard phrases such as "said, for instance", "mentioned as an example", or simply "told, for instance".

Common error

Relying on the phrase "told for example" too frequently can make your writing sound awkward or unpolished. Vary your language by using a range of alternative phrases to introduce examples and illustrations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told for example" functions as a connector introducing an illustrative instance or specific detail. However, the construction is non-standard. Ludwig AI highlights that it deviates from conventional English and offers alternative phrasing for better clarity.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

22%

Wiki

7%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "told for example" appears with relative frequency in various sources, it's not considered grammatically correct in standard English. Ludwig AI suggests opting for alternatives like "said for example" or "mentioned as an example" to enhance clarity and grammatical precision. Although present in news, science, and wiki contexts, the phrase may be better substituted in more formal writing to maintain a polished tone. Remember to vary your language and avoid overusing this potentially awkward phrasing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

said for instance

Replaces "told" with "said" and "for example" with "for instance", maintaining a similar meaning but with slightly different wording.

stated as an illustration

Substitutes "told" with "stated" and rephrases "for example" as "as an illustration", offering a more formal tone.

mentioned as a case in point

Replaces "told" with "mentioned" and "for example" with "as a case in point", providing a more specific and formal alternative.

indicated by way of example

Uses "indicated" instead of "told" and "by way of example" to replace "for example", creating a more elaborate and formal expression.

related as an instance

Replaces "told" with "related" and "for example" with "as an instance", offering a slightly different nuance in meaning.

recounted by way of illustration

Uses "recounted" instead of "told" and "by way of illustration" to replace "for example", resulting in a more narrative tone.

cited as a demonstration

Replaces "told" with "cited" and "for example" with "as a demonstration", suggesting a more formal and analytical context.

gave as an illustration

Uses "gave" instead of "told" while maintaining "as an illustration" for "for example", offering a simpler alternative.

offered as an example

Replaces "told" with "offered" and maintains "as an example", providing a straightforward and common alternative.

shared as an instance

Uses "shared" instead of "told" and "as an instance" for "for example", creating a more conversational tone.

FAQs

Is "told for example" grammatically correct?

No, "told for example" is not considered grammatically correct in standard written English. It's better to use phrases like "said for example" or "mentioned as an example" instead.

What can I say instead of "told for example"?

You can use alternatives like "said for instance", "mentioned as a case in point", or "indicated by way of example" depending on the context and level of formality you want to convey.

How can I improve my sentence structure when providing examples?

Ensure that your sentences flow smoothly by placing the phrase introducing the example in a grammatically logical position. For instance, instead of "told for example that...", use "said, for instance, that..." or rephrase the sentence to use "for example" within a clause.

Which is correct, "told for example" or "said for example"?

"Said for example" is the more grammatically sound and widely accepted phrase compared to "told for example". Using "said" creates a more natural and standard English construction.