was being told

USAGE SUMMARY

'was being told' is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past continuous tense used when referring to an ongoing action that was happening in the past. For example: "I was being told a story when the phone rang."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was being told.

The New York Times - Style

Except no one was being told that.

The Guardian - Opinion

It was Cahal's father who was being told this.

The New Yorker

Seen twice it seemed a truth was being told.

The New Yorker

I couldn't process what I was being told.

The Guardian - Sport

The hardest thing was being told there was no cure.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Now she was being told the pathologist had made a mistake.

The New York Times - Health

What stuck in the craw was being told that the Cypriot business model had to change.

The Economist

Perez also denied that Benitez was being told which line-up to pick.

Independent

Mettes recalled, "I was being told (without words) not to worry about the cancer . . .

The New Yorker

Yes, I was being told about a speech David Cameron is going to give tomorrow.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Using "was being told" correctly places emphasis on the receiver of the information. Use this passive construction intentionally to highlight their perspective or experience.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions like "was being told", as excessive use can make writing sound weak or indirect. Actively seek opportunities to rephrase sentences in the active voice for a more engaging and impactful style.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being told" functions as a passive voice construction in the past continuous tense. This indicates an action (telling) that was ongoing at a specific time in the past, with the subject as the receiver of the action. Ludwig AI identifies the expression as correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was being told" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, serving as a passive construction in the past continuous tense. Its primary function is to describe an ongoing action of receiving information in the past, often found in neutral registers like news and media. While versatile, writers should be mindful of overusing passive voice and consider active alternatives for clearer, more impactful writing. When using "was being told", the emphasis is on the recipient of the information, useful for highlighting their experience or perspective. By understanding its nuances and potential pitfalls, writers can effectively utilize "was being told" to convey nuanced meaning and maintain writing quality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was informed

A more direct passive form, emphasizing the state of knowing rather than the ongoing process.

had been told

Shifts the focus to a completed action in the past, rather than an ongoing one.

was advised

Implies guidance or a recommendation being given, adding a layer of instruction.

was instructed

Emphasizes direction or orders being given, suggesting a more formal or authoritative context.

received information

Focuses on the act of obtaining information, removing the continuous and passive aspects.

was notified

Focuses on the act of being officially informed, often in a formal setting.

heard it said

Highlights the auditory aspect of receiving information, suggesting a less formal context.

learnt

Emphasizes the process of acquiring knowledge, removing the passive voice.

understood

Shifts the focus to comprehension, rather than the act of being told.

was the recipient of

A formal way of indicating that someone received something, in this case, information.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was being told" to be more direct?

You can use active voice constructions such as "someone told me" or "I heard that". The choice depends on the context and who you want to emphasize in the sentence.

What's the difference between "was told" and "was being told"?

"Was told" implies a completed action, while "was being told" suggests an ongoing or repeated action in the past. For example, "I "was told" the meeting was cancelled" versus "I "was being told" about the project's progress during the meeting".

Is "was being told" formal or informal?

"Was being told" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, in very formal writing, consider using more direct and active constructions for clarity and conciseness.

What are some alternatives to "was being told" that emphasize the source of information?

Alternatives that emphasize the source include "I heard from", "I learned from", or "I was informed by". For example, "I "was informed by" the manager about the new policy".