we tell that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we tell that" is not correct in standard written English.
It is not a commonly used construction and may confuse readers. Example: "We tell that the project is on track, but we need to finalize the details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

We believe what we are doing is right, and when we tell that story, it resonates.

The New York Times

(Or how can we tell that x at t1 is the same φ as y at t2?) The failure to distinguish these questions (a failure which may be due in part to Wittgenstein) is the source of serious philosophical confusions.

SEP

"We started thinking, how do we tell that story?

Vice

How can we tell that Sandra Bland wasn't already dead last week when her mug shot was taken?

Huffington Post

How can we tell that subjects aren't just telling the machine (and in turn, the experimenter) what they think it wants to hear?

Huffington Post

A person who has never gone to school, who has been working since they were little, who was forced to work -- if they are recruited by an armed group, then how can we tell that person they should be happy and at peace?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

How often are we told that looks shouldn't matter?

The New York Times - Books

From the figure, we can tell that OA monotonically increases with the size of the training set for every algorithm.

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

We can tell that B ref K X ) is Doppler wavenumber dependent, which makes Δr/B ref different in different range gates.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

We could all tell that story tomorrow.

The Guardian - Film

We told that to the airlines and they thanked me.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for formality, avoid "we tell that" altogether. Opt for stronger verbs such as 'assert', 'declare', or 'maintain'.

Common error

Avoid using "we tell that" in academic papers, business reports, or formal communications. This phrasing is generally considered non-standard and may detract from your credibility. Use a more accepted construction, like stating, "We state that…" or "Our analysis indicates that…".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we tell that" functions as a declarative statement, aiming to convey information or an opinion. However, as Ludwig AI indicates, this construction is non-standard and less effective than alternatives. The examples show its use in various contexts, but often it can be replaced with a more precise verb.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "we tell that" appears in various sources, including news and some scientific publications, it is considered grammatically incorrect and non-standard in formal English. As Ludwig AI highlights, this construction is less effective than alternatives like "we state that", "we inform you that", or stronger verbs like 'assert' and 'declare'. When aiming for clarity and professionalism, avoid using "we tell that" and opt for more precise and grammatically accepted phrasings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we state that

Uses a more formal verb to convey the information.

we mention that

Suggests a less formal or detailed conveyance of information.

we indicate that

Implies a more subtle or indirect way of conveying information.

we communicate that

Emphasizes the act of transmitting information.

we report that

Highlights the act of providing factual information.

we inform you that

Directly addresses the audience and provides information.

we assert that

Presents a strong and confident declaration.

we claim that

Suggests a statement that may be disputed or require proof.

we find that

Expresses a conclusion reached through investigation or analysis.

it is our understanding that

Indicates a belief or interpretation based on available information.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "we tell that"?

You can use alternatives like "we state that", "we mention that", or "we indicate that" depending on the context.

Is "we tell that" grammatically correct?

No, "we tell that" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. It's better to use phrases like "we state that" or "we inform you that".

How can I use "we tell that" in a sentence?

While not recommended, if you intend to use it, it's better replaced with something like, "we are saying that" for a more casual tone, though other options are preferable for clarity and correctness.

What is the difference between "we tell that" and "we state that"?

"We state that" is a more formal and grammatically correct way to express the same intention as "we tell that". The latter is considered non-standard and should be avoided in formal writing.