very telling

USAGE SUMMARY

"very telling" is correct and commonly used in written English.
It is used to describe something that reveals or expresses a lot of information or meaning. Example: The employee's reaction to the criticism was very telling of their true feelings about the company.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It's very telling".

The New York Times

"It is very telling".

The New York Times

Whatever it is, it's very telling.

The New York Times

The numbers were very telling.

The New York Times

Unfortunately, this document is very telling.

The Guardian - Business

Very telling, in my humble opinion.

The Guardian

These assessments strike me as very telling.

The Guardian

How he responds will be very telling.

The Guardian - Sport

And the arithmetic is very telling.

The New York Times

"This fall will be very telling".

The New York Times

But some of the testimony was very telling.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very telling" when you want to emphasize that something provides significant insight or reveals important information about a situation, person, or thing.

Common error

While "very telling" is acceptable, consider more sophisticated alternatives like "highly revealing" or "particularly indicative" in formal contexts to enhance the impact and precision of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very telling" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun, indicating that something is highly revealing or informative. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. This means it describes a quality or characteristic that provides significant insight.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Formal & Business

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "very telling" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe something that reveals significant information or provides important insight. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, where its neutral register makes it a versatile choice. While acceptable in formal writing, consider stronger alternatives to enhance sophistication and precision. Remember to use "very telling" to emphasize the revelatory nature of an observation or fact, ensuring your message carries the intended weight and significance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly revealing

Emphasizes the extent to which something reveals information.

extremely significant

Highlights the importance and impact of something.

quite revealing

Suggests that something is somewhat more informative than expected.

very revealing indeed

Adds emphasis to the revealing nature of something.

particularly indicative

Highlights that something is a strong indicator of a certain condition or situation.

especially demonstrative

Emphasizes how clearly something shows or proves a point.

most expressive

Focuses on the way something effectively communicates a message or feeling.

highly suggestive

Indicates that something implies more than it directly states.

remarkably illustrative

Highlights how well something serves to clarify or explain.

notably informative

Focuses on the amount of useful information something provides.

FAQs

What does "very telling" mean?

The phrase "very telling" means something is highly revealing or provides significant information about a situation, person, or thing. It suggests that what is observed offers a clear insight or understanding.

How can I use "very telling" in a sentence?

You can use "very telling" to describe actions, statistics, or observations that reveal something important. For example: "The low attendance at the meeting was "very telling" about employee morale."

What are some alternatives to "very telling"?

Some alternatives to "very telling" include "highly revealing", "extremely significant", or "quite revealing" depending on the context and the level of emphasis you want to convey.

Is "very telling" formal or informal?

"Very telling" is generally considered acceptable in both formal and informal contexts, but in more formal writing, stronger alternatives like "particularly indicative" or "especially demonstrative" may be preferred.