was informed to

USAGE SUMMARY

'was informed to' is correct and it can be used in written English.
Example: "The patient was informed to return for a follow-up appointment in two weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

In London, Jimmy Hill was about to link to our show from the Wogan programme and he was informed to temper his introduction.

The Guardian - Sport

Although Karl Ragland and his wife submitted a change of address request after moving to Atlantic earlier this year, ThinkProgress reports that the couple was informed to go vote at a polling place 35 miles away.

The Guardian - Opinion

When we were still 3 days' march away from the Vistula, I was informed to my great surprise-by, I believe, the representative of the Foreign Office-while I was entering the Fuehrer's headquarters, that Soviet Russia would occupy the Polish territories..

Yale University

Hugh Jeffrey, the first assistant secretary of international policy, said the department was informed to "give us the time to direct a review to make sure that we had the appropriate measures in place for our personnel deployed in the region".

The Guardian

Notice that, if the inter-IR tunnel had not been created, packet losses would take place during the inter-VHO execution until the BB was informed to switch the CN MPLS tunnel from the old IR to the new IR.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

The development team all had prior experience with casino game software (no names were divulged to me due, as I was informed, to contractual obligations), so writing casino games for the iPhone was an easy decision: they already had familiarity with the subject, and it was something they all actually enjoyed.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 human-written examples

In Berlin, financial circles were informed to-day [Oct.

The New York Times

Were informed to accompany detectives to subway.

The New Yorker

"His family has been informed to go and bury his body".

The New York Times

"We have no options now, and we're informed to pack up and check out.

The Guardian

During the experimental period, divers were informed to refrain from heavy physical activity.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context makes it clear who provided the information and what action was expected as a result.

Common error

While "was informed to" is grammatically correct, overuse of passive voice can make your writing sound weak. Consider rewriting the sentence in active voice if appropriate for stronger impact. For example, instead of "The team was informed to submit their reports", write "The manager instructed the team to submit their reports".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was informed to" functions as a passive construction indicating that someone received information or instructions compelling them toward a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and offers various examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was informed to" is a grammatically correct and frequently used passive construction that indicates someone received information leading to a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms this and provides many examples of its usage across various contexts. While appropriate in many situations, be mindful of passive voice overuse, consider rephrasing in the active voice for stronger impact. The phrase's formality ranges from neutral to formal, predominantly appearing in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" contexts. When seeking alternatives, consider options like "was instructed to" or "was told to", depending on the desired nuance. Therefore, use "was informed to" with awareness of its passive nature and appropriate register.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was instructed to

This alternative suggests a direct order or command was given, making it slightly stronger than "was informed to".

received instructions to

This alternative emphasizes the reception of instructions, rather than the act of informing.

was directed to

Similar to "was instructed to", but often implies a specific direction or course of action.

was told to

This is a more informal and direct way of saying someone received instructions.

was notified to

This suggests a formal notification was given, focusing on the act of informing.

was advised to

This implies a recommendation or suggestion, rather than a strict instruction.

was given guidance to

This highlights the provision of guidance, suggesting a more supportive and less directive approach.

was alerted to

Implies being made aware of something important, often a potential issue or risk.

was made aware to

Similar to "was alerted to", but with a slightly broader scope, covering general awareness.

was acquainted with

Suggests someone was introduced to information or a concept, implying familiarity.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "was informed to" to sound more direct?

Consider using active voice constructions such as "was told to", or "was instructed to" for a more direct tone. These options clarify who gave the instructions.

Is it better to use "was informed to" or "was informed that"?

"Was informed to" is used when instructions are being conveyed, while "was informed that" is used to convey information. For example, "He was informed to attend the meeting" versus "He was informed that the meeting was postponed".

Are there formal alternatives to "was informed to"?

Yes, more formal alternatives include "was notified to", "was directed to", or "received instructions to". These are suitable for professional or academic writing.

What's the difference between "was informed to" and "was advised to"?

"Was informed to" implies a direct instruction or order, while "was advised to" suggests a recommendation or suggestion. The latter gives the recipient more discretion in their actions.