was told about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was told about" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to information that someone received or learned from another person. Example: "She was told about the changes in the schedule during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The torture he witnessed and was told about is varied.

Vice

I was told about the charity.

The New York Times

BEST: I was told about that here.

Yale University

Berman was told about McGwire and Sosa.

The New York Times - Sports

Lundqvist was told about Gaborik's latest upper hand comment.

The New York Times

She was told about what happened by a witness.

The Guardian

The very same story was told about him.

The Washington Post

The PCC was told about this in April.

The Guardian

She was told about his frustration about the radio situation.

The Washington Post

Here is a rendering that I was told about by a political scientist.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Murdoch denies he was told about the email.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "was told about" with specific details to enhance clarity. For example, "He "was told about" the new company policy during the orientation session."

Common error

Ensure that the context makes it clear who did the telling. Avoid vague statements like "It "was told about""; instead, specify the source: "The students "were told about" the importance of safety by the instructor."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was told about" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject received information from an unspecified source. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in conveying news, updates, or details of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was told about" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate the reception of information from an external source. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is prevalent in news and media, academia, and general discourse. To ensure clarity, it is recommended to specify the source of information. Alternatives include "was informed of", "was notified of", and "learned about", depending on the formality and context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was informed of

Focuses on the act of being formally notified.

was notified of

Emphasizes the official communication of something.

was made aware of

Highlights the process of becoming conscious or informed.

received information about

Directly states the reception of details.

learned about

Indicates the acquisition of knowledge.

heard about

Implies gaining information through spoken communication.

was advised about

Suggests receiving guidance or recommendations.

was clued in on

Informal way of saying someone was given secret or important information.

was briefed on

Suggests receiving detailed information, often in a professional setting.

was filled in on

Implies receiving a complete update or explanation.

FAQs

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

"Was told about" generally implies a more informal way of receiving information, while "was informed of" suggests a formal notification.

How to use "was told about" in a sentence?

You can use "was told about" to indicate that someone received information: "He "was told about" the changes to the plan." The information is the key element that is being passed.

What can I say instead of "was told about"?

Alternatives include "was informed of", "was notified of", or "learned about", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was told about it by"?

Yes, it's grammatically correct. For example: "She "was told about" it by her colleague." This emphasizes who provided the information.