told in advance

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told in advance" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information or instructions that are communicated prior to a specific event or action. Example: "The schedule for the meeting was told in advance to ensure everyone could prepare accordingly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

May says she was told in advance.

The Guardian

No one was told in advance.

The Guardian

Adam had been told in advance that it was their final visit.

The New Yorker

They have not been told in advance which is the person and which the computer.

The Guardian - Tech

His father, he said, had not been told in advance about the promotion.

The New York Times

Each such prisoner has been told in advance his conversations will be monitored.

The New York Times

May said that she was told in advance that there was a possibility that Miranda would be detained.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

I'm not sure you would recognize either of them if you hadn't been told in advance who they were.

The New York Times

The participants were not told in advance what they were about to look for, i.e. before the first run they were only told to look for bicyclist dummies.

European Transport Research Review

You are told in advance that you may quit the ride any time you like by giving a predetermined signal.

The New York Times

These members of staff were asked to execute things without being told in advance and felt the decisions were mostly made by one person.

BMC Health Services Research

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "told in advance", ensure the context clearly indicates who was informed, what information was conveyed, and the timeframe relative to the event. This ensures clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "told in advance" without specifying who did the telling. For example, instead of "They were told in advance", specify "The employees were told in advance by management" to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told in advance" functions as an adverbial phrase modifying a verb, indicating when the action of telling occurred in relation to another event. As Ludwig explains, the phrase is commonly used and grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "told in advance" is a grammatically correct and very common adverbial phrase used to indicate that information or instructions were conveyed prior to a particular event. As Ludwig AI points out, it is commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts. When using "told in advance", ensure clarity by specifying who did the telling and what information was conveyed. While alternatives like "informed beforehand" or "notified ahead of time" exist, "told in advance" remains a straightforward and widely accepted choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

informed beforehand

Replaces "told" with "informed" and "in advance" with "beforehand", slightly more formal.

notified ahead of time

Uses "notified" instead of "told" and rephrases "in advance" to "ahead of time", maintaining a similar level of formality.

alerted in anticipation

Emphasizes anticipation, implying preparation for something expected, a bit more proactive.

pre-warned

A more direct and concise way of saying "warned beforehand", often used when there might be a negative outcome.

briefed beforehand

Suggests receiving specific instructions or information, common in professional settings.

given prior notice

Highlights the act of providing notice before something happens, slightly more formal.

apprised in advance

More formal and implies being officially informed of something.

made aware beforehand

Focuses on the state of being aware, rather than the act of telling.

pre-informed

Similar to "pre-warned" but focused on information rather than warning.

advised previously

Implies guidance or counsel given before a specific event.

FAQs

What does "told in advance" mean?

The phrase "told in advance" means that someone was given information or instructions before a particular event or action took place, allowing them to prepare or take necessary steps.

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

You can use "told in advance" to indicate prior notification, such as "The team was "informed beforehand" about the changes to the project timeline."

What are some alternatives to "told in advance"?

Some alternatives include "notified ahead of time", "given prior notice", or "informed beforehand". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "told in advance" or "informed in advance"?

Both "told in advance" and "informed in advance" are grammatically correct. "Informed in advance" might be perceived as slightly more formal or professional than "told in advance", but they are largely interchangeable.