told him

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told him" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to someone communicating information or a message to another person in the past tense. Example: "She told him that the meeting was rescheduled for next week."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We told him.

The New York Times

She told him no.

The New York Times - Arts

None, she told him.

The New York Times - Magazine

"No," Santana told him.

The New Yorker

"Rocket," I told him.

The New Yorker

No, she told him.

The New York Times - Arts

Drummond told him.

The New Yorker

"No," Leigh told him.

The New Yorker

"Go," I told him.

The New York Times

Ahmet told him.

The New Yorker

She told him.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "told him" when you want to simply and directly state that someone conveyed information to another person. It is suitable for almost any writing context.

Common error

Avoid using overly formal alternatives like "communicated to him" in casual contexts. "Told him" often provides the right level of directness without sounding stilted.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told him" serves as a verb phrase indicating the act of conveying information from one person to another. As Ludwig AI reports, this phrase is correct and usable in English. Examples from Ludwig show its versatility in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "told him" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to denote the act of communicating information. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news and media. For more formal communication scenarios, consider using alternatives like "informed him". The examples provided by Ludwig showcase its wide application and versatility in conveying different types of information.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Informed him

Focuses on the act of providing knowledge.

Notified him

Emphasizes a formal communication.

Advised him

Suggests guidance or recommendations were given.

Let him know

A more casual way of saying "informed him".

Communicated to him

Highlights the process of conveying a message.

Revealed to him

Implies the disclosure of something previously unknown.

Explained to him

Focuses on making something understandable.

Mentioned to him

Suggests a brief or passing reference.

Stated to him

Indicates a formal declaration.

Confided in him

Emphasizes sharing a secret or personal information.

FAQs

How can I use "told him" in a sentence?

"Told him" is used to indicate that someone communicated information to another person. For example: "She "told him" about the change in plans."

What are some alternatives to "told him"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "informed him", "notified him", or "advised him".

Is "told him" formal or informal?

"Told him" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, for very formal situations, "informed him" might be more appropriate.

Which is more appropriate, "told him" or "said to him"?

"Told him" is generally more natural and concise than "said to him". "Said to him" is less common and can sound awkward in many contexts. For example, "She "told him" about the delay" is better than "She said to him about the delay".