verbally told

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "verbally told" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is sometimes used to emphasize that something was communicated in person, rather than in writing. For example, "I was verbally told not to discuss the issue any further."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

People who buy tickets at the theatre or by phone are verbally told about the at-risk performances.

The Guardian

In an astonishing 64% of cases, family and friends were aware of the individual's intent to engage in a terrorism-related activity because the offender verbally told them.

The Guardian

While Kobach and his lawyers had claimed Caskey verbally told local officials to send the postcards, Caskey testified that he could not verify that election officials in all 105 counties had sent them.

Huffington Post

Misclassification of immunosuppressive agent use might have occurred if patients filled prescriptions from a pharmacy, but they were verbally told by their healthcare provider to discontinue the medications temporarily before vaccination.

Arthritis Research and Therapy

This is your only way of proving what you were verbally told during the call.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

"It brings it home that you don't necessarily know how much a child has understood, just because they're not verbally telling you that they've understood.

The Guardian

With Voice Actions, a new Android app, people can verbally tell their phones to call, e-mail or text a contact, listen to music, set the alarm, go to a Web site, view directions or a map, or e-mail a note to themselves.

The New York Times

Press it twice and the radio wave clock will verbally tell you the date, current temperature and humidity (in either Japanese or English).

TechCrunch

Both of these could explain why he was unwell from a medical perspective, and why he could no longer verbally tell us his story.

Huffington Post

"For some reason, it's not possible to verbally tell Alexa to stop listening for ten minutes, or say "forget everything you heard in the last hour,'" Schaub said.

Vice

Like you're the actress/actor being physically emotional when verbally telling the young child/children.

WikiHow

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "verbally told", consider the context. If the information was also provided in writing, specify if the verbal instruction preceded or followed the written one for clarity.

Common error

Don't assume that because someone was "verbally told" something, it is automatically official or legally binding. Always seek written confirmation or documentation to ensure clarity and enforceability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "verbally told" functions as a passive construction highlighting the means of communication. It specifies that information or instructions were conveyed through spoken words rather than written communication. As noted by Ludwig, it emphasizes communication in person.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "verbally told" is a phrase used to specify that information was communicated through spoken words, rather than in writing. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and acceptable for use in written English, often emphasizing the manner of communication. While the phrase is grammatically sound and readily understood, it's relatively rare, appearing more frequently in news and media contexts. When using "verbally told", consider clarifying if the verbal communication was followed by written confirmation to avoid misunderstandings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

orally informed

Emphasizes the method of communication as being spoken, similar to "verbally told".

spoken communication

Focuses on the act of conveying information, highlighting the spoken aspect. Slight shift in emphasis from the recipient to the communication itself.

related by word of mouth

Highlights the transmission of information through informal spoken means.

expressed verbally

Highlights the way an information was transmitted through spoken words.

communicated orally

This phrase is focused in the communication act, indicating how an information was passed on.

gave a verbal account

Suggests a more formal or structured sharing of information through spoken words.

said aloud

Focuses on the act of speaking something audibly.

recited verbally

Implies a formal delivery of information, such as a poem or memorized text. Not suited to many usual usage scenarios.

articulated verbally

Emphasizes the clarity and precision of the spoken communication.

declared orally

Highlights a formal and assertive statement made through spoken words.

FAQs

What does "verbally told" mean?

The phrase "verbally told" means that information was communicated through spoken words, rather than in writing. It emphasizes that the communication was oral.

What can I say instead of "verbally told"?

You can use alternatives like "orally informed", "spoken communication", or "related by word of mouth" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "verbally told" and "told"?

Yes, using "verbally told" specifies that the information was communicated orally. Simply saying "told" doesn't clarify whether the information was conveyed in spoken or written form.

When is it important to specify that someone was "verbally told" something?

It's important to specify that someone was "verbally told" something when the method of communication is relevant, such as when contrasting it with written instructions, or when establishing the lack of a written record.