told silly

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told silly" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to express that someone was told something in a silly manner, but the phrasing is awkward and unclear. Example: "She was told silly jokes that made everyone laugh."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Defying the stereotype of the modern jazz musician as austere and humorless (and following the example of Gillespie, whom he considered his musical mentor and with whom he worked on and off for almost half a century), Mr. Moody told silly jokes, peppered his repertory with unlikely numbers like "Beer Barrel Polka" and the theme from "The Flintstones," and often sang.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

It now talks, tells silly jokes, and knows when it is being swung around.

The New York Times

At one point she asked the audience if she should just tell silly jokes.

The Guardian

This is the tabloids taking photos out of context and telling silly stories".

The Guardian - Sport

These follow an intermission during which track personalities tell silly jokes over the public-address system while grooming trucks work the track the way a Zamboni resurfaces a hockey rink.

The New York Times

So that instead of saying, "Show, don't tell" (silly, really), I tell them that a good actor may, if all else fails, substitute, but he may never indicate.

The New York Times

There was an air of resignation and a strange sense of camaraderie as we sat with the other passengers, holding hands and hugging each other, talking, laughing, crying and telling silly jokes.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I'm not just telling silly stories in front of people that want a laugh.

Science Magazine

If you're hanging out with people, tell silly jokes, or play fun games.

WikiHow

If your child has autism or Asperger's, they may tell silly lies to try and be "normal".

WikiHow

Have them tell silly stories of when you took responsibility to get them out of a sticky situation.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you want to describe the content as silly, ensure clarity by placing "silly" before the noun, like "silly joke" or "silly story" instead of using the less common "told silly".

Common error

Avoid placing adjectives after verbs of telling when they should modify the noun being described. Saying "told silly jokes" is less clear than "told silly jokes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told silly" functions as a verb-adjective combination. However, this structure is grammatically unusual. Typically, the adjective should directly modify a noun (e.g., "silly story") rather than describing how something was told.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33.3%

Wiki

33.3%

Science

33.3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "told silly" is grammatically questionable and not standard English. Ludwig AI indicates it is not correct. While it might be understood in informal contexts, it's advisable to use clearer and more idiomatic alternatives such as "told a silly story" or "said something silly". This ensures your message is clearly understood. Predominantly found in News & Media and Wiki sources, its frequency is rare, suggesting it's best avoided in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

said foolishly

Replaces "silly" as a descriptor of the manner of speaking rather than what was said.

recounted absurdly

Emphasizes the telling of something absurd, altering the focus slightly from simple silliness.

narrated foolishly

Similar to 'said foolishly' but suggests a more extended form of communication.

related nonsensically

Highlights the lack of sense in the telling of something.

mentioned jokingly

Suggests the statement was made as a joke, which might be why it seems silly.

remarked playfully

Indicates a lighthearted or teasing manner of speaking.

commented absurdly

Highlights the absurdity of the comment itself, not necessarily the manner.

declared facetiously

Implies a sarcastic or mocking tone in the declaration.

expressed ridiculously

Focuses on the ridiculousness of the expression.

articulated foolishly

Emphasizes the lack of intelligence or good judgment in the way something was articulated.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "told silly" to improve clarity?

Instead of "told silly", consider using phrases like "told a silly story", "told silly jokes", or "narrated a foolish tale" for better understanding.

Is it grammatically correct to say "told silly"?

While understandable in certain contexts, "told silly" is not standard English. It's more common to say that someone "told something silly" or "told a silly joke".

What's the difference between "told silly jokes" and "told jokes sillily"?

"Told silly jokes" means the jokes themselves were silly. "Told jokes sillily" means the jokes were told in a silly manner, which is why it's more appropriate to say "said foolishly" or "recounted absurdly".

In what contexts might I encounter the phrase "told silly"?

You might find "told silly" in informal writing or speech, but it's generally better to use more precise phrasing in formal contexts. Example: "She told a silly joke".