told to me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'told to me' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to something that someone has communicated to you. For example, "My teacher told to me that I need to turn in my homework on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Whatever is told to me dies with me".

The New York Times - Books

I just know it was a pec injury is what was told to me.

The New York Times

Another story was told to me by Philip Heylen, Antwerp's vice mayor for culture and tourism.

Independent

Here's another story, told to me by a former county official in Hunan Province, in central China.

The New York Times

The first few were either conversations that I have overheard directly, or that have been told to me by colleagues.

The New York Times

My favorite election story was told to me by an international observer, who asked not to be identified.

The New York Times

"It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment.

The Washington Post

So I asked her whether, or why, I should believe the story she told to me.

The Washington Post

As it was told to me, a woman had committed suicide a year earlier.

The New York Times - Style

One that works quite well involves a story told to me by a flight attendant.

The New Yorker

But my favourite story was told to me by a friend on disability support.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "told to me", ensure that the context clearly indicates who provided the information and that the information is being relayed accurately.

Common error

Avoid using "told to me" in contexts where the source of information is unclear, as this can reduce the credibility of your statement. Always specify the source if possible.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told to me" functions as a reporting clause, indicating that the speaker or writer is relaying information they received from another source. As Ludwig AI highlights, this is a common and grammatically correct construction in English. It attributes the information's origin, establishing a clear line of communication.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

10%

Huffington Post

8%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "told to me" is a versatile and common phrase used to attribute information to another source. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. While its register is generally neutral, it appears most frequently in news and media contexts. For more formal writing, consider using synonyms like "informed me" or "communicated to me". When using the phrase, ensure clarity by specifying the source whenever possible to enhance credibility. The examples show that "told to me" is a helpful and useful way to phrase things so long as the user takes care to provide some context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

informed me

This alternative is a more direct and concise way of saying that someone provided information.

said to me

This alternative is a more neutral and direct way of reporting what someone stated.

mentioned to me

This indicates a casual or brief imparting of information.

recounted to me

This suggests a more detailed narration or storytelling.

related to me

This implies a connection between the information and the speaker or listener.

conveyed to me

This suggests a formal or official transmission of information.

communicated to me

This is a broad term encompassing various forms of information transfer.

divulged to me

This implies revealing something private or secret.

disclosed to me

This suggests a formal or legal unveiling of information.

imparted to me

This indicates a deliberate or significant sharing of knowledge or wisdom.

FAQs

How can I use "told to me" in a sentence?

You can use "told to me" to indicate that you received information from someone, for example, "The doctor "told to me" to exercise more".

What's a more formal alternative to "told to me"?

A more formal alternative to "told to me" could be "informed me" or "communicated to me", depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to specify who "told to me" something?

While not always necessary, specifying the source when using "told to me" enhances credibility, especially in formal writing or when discussing sensitive topics. Providing the source strengthens your statement and reduces ambiguity.

What is the difference between "said to me" and "told to me"?

"Told to me" often implies a more detailed or informative communication, while "said to me" is a more general term that simply indicates someone spoke to you. The choice depends on the specific context and the nature of the communication.