told to us

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "told to us" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information or messages that have been communicated to a group that includes the speaker. Example: "The news was told to us during the meeting, and we were all surprised by the announcement."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It was told to us," one said.

The New York Times

"None of that has been told to us".

The New York Times

It's like, always something that's been told to us.

The New York Times

I remember one story told to us by a younger sailor.

The New York Times

"WikiLeaks exposed the most dangerous lies of all, which are those that are told to us by elected governments".

The New York Times

But then again, I think that mostly what we know is told to us too, so I'm not embarrassed by that.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

As we look at the images and listen to each man's life story being told to us by the author a door slams.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

So we can get new ones by new stories being told to us or by our own creative generation of new stories.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"We don't have the same kind of information being told to us regarding the convention," he said.

The New York Times

That is a sentiment that would be much more powerful were it displayed rather than just told to us.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

There is a script we're supposed to follow, told to us through a thousand cinematic death scenes.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "told to us" when you want to emphasize that information was directly conveyed to you or a group you are part of. It's suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "told to us" if you are unsure who the original source of the information is. If the source is vague, consider using phrases like "it is believed" or "it has been reported".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "told to us" functions as a reporting verb construction, indicating that a piece of information or a narrative has been conveyed to the speaker or a group including the speaker. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

73%

Academia

16%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "told to us" is a versatile and commonly used expression for indicating that information has been communicated directly to the speaker or a group they are a part of. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and suitable for a variety of contexts, ranging from news reports to academic discussions. While "told to us" is generally neutral, remember there are more formal or informal synonyms to consider depending on your specific needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

We were informed

Emphasizes the act of receiving information, slightly more formal.

It was communicated to us

More formal and emphasizes the process of communication.

We heard

Simple and direct, indicating the receipt of information.

We were advised

Suggests guidance or a recommendation was given.

We gathered

Implies information was collected from multiple sources.

We understood

Focuses on comprehension of information received.

It came to our attention

Highlights the information being brought to notice.

We learned

Emphasizes the acquisition of knowledge.

We were schooled

Informal and implies being taught something, sometimes with a hint of being corrected.

We received word

Suggests a message or announcement was delivered.

FAQs

What does "told to us" mean?

The phrase "told to us" indicates that information, a story, or instructions were communicated directly to the speaker or a group including the speaker.

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

You can use it to report what someone said or what information you received. For example, "The manager "told to us" that there would be changes to the project timeline."

Are there any synonyms for "told to us"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "we were informed", "it was communicated to us", or "we heard" as alternatives.

Is "told to us" formal or informal?

"Told to us" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives like "we were advised" might be preferred in certain situations.