was informed of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was informed of' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it anytime you want to refer to someone being told of something. For example: The public was informed of the upcoming changes in policy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was informed of his mistake.

The New York Times

"Nobody was informed of this.

The New York Times

His family was informed of his death.

The New York Times - Arts

The coroner was informed of the death.

The Guardian

I was informed of David Starkey's involvement at short notice.

The Guardian

I was informed of my impending release a week ago….

The New York Times

in connection with the transfer, was informed of a future, programmed reassignment to the installation.

Cornell University

In May 2014 SOGA was informed of possible metalloid contamination within the Student Organic Garden's soil.

University of California, Berkeley

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Visitors are being informed of the situation.

The New York Times

School officials were informed of the plot.

The New York Times - Sports

Can I be informed of this?

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, consider the relationship between the subject and the information. "Was informed of" often implies that the information is of some significance to the subject.

Common error

While "was informed of" is grammatically sound, overuse of passive voice can make your writing seem indirect and less engaging. Consider rephrasing to use the active voice where appropriate for a more direct style. For example, instead of "The team was informed of the changes", use "The manager informed the team of the changes."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was informed of" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received information. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. For example, "The family was informed of his death" demonstrates its use in conveying news.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Academia

22%

Science

9%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was informed of" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase that conveys the receipt of information, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It functions as a passive construction, emphasizing that the subject was the recipient of the information. While it's a correct phrase, it is more appropriate to choose related phrases for variety and writing quality. Given its usage across diverse sources, it maintains a neutral to professional tone. Remember to avoid overusing the passive voice and consider active alternatives for directness. The phrase is very common in news and media, but it also appears in academia, science and business contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was notified about

Uses 'notified' instead of 'informed', implying a more formal communication.

was made aware of

Emphasizes the process of becoming conscious of something.

received information regarding

A more formal and slightly longer alternative, suitable for official contexts.

was told about

A simpler, more direct way of saying "was informed of".

learned of

Focuses on the act of gaining knowledge.

had been advised of

Suggests official counsel or recommendation.

was apprised of

A more formal synonym for "informed", often used in legal or official settings.

was acquainted with

Implies a more personal or familiar introduction to the information.

gained knowledge about

Focuses on the acquisition of information.

came to know about

Indicates how the information was discovered.

FAQs

How can I use "was informed of" in a sentence?

You can use "was informed of" to indicate that someone received information about something. For example: "The client "was informed of" the project's progress."

What's a simple alternative to "was informed of"?

A simpler alternative to "was informed of" is "was told about". For example, instead of saying "He was informed of the delay", you could say "He "was told about" the delay".

Is "was informed of" formal or informal?

"Was informed of" is generally considered neutral to formal. It's appropriate for professional and academic writing. In very informal contexts, simpler phrases like "heard about" might be more suitable.

What's the difference between "was informed of" and "was notified of"?

Both phrases indicate receiving information, but "was notified of" often implies a more official or formal communication than "was informed of". "Notified" suggests a specific procedure or requirement for informing someone.