were you informed of

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were you informed of' is correct and usable in written English.
It is usually used as a polite way to ask someone if they were informed or told about something. For example, "Were you informed of the meeting time and location?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I want to know from the secretary of state's point of view, 'Were you informed of the deteriorating security situation?' " Mr. Graham said on "Fox News Sunday".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

MAJOR MURRAY: Witness, are you informed of the fact that the SD was carrying on espionage activities in the United States prior to Germany's declaration of war against the United States?

Yale University

Were you informed about the amount of radiation you would receive?

HuffPost

Were you informed about the identity of the people looking after you: no (36%) or not always (32%), yes (32%).

Cancer Imaging

Make sure that your agent is keeping you informed of all the steps that they are undertaking on your behalf.

WikiHow

The members of the team are excited to be a part of this great agency and everyone is committed to keeping you informed of developments.

The Washington Post

Look for a site that is able to keep you informed of upcoming sales via email.

WikiHow

Our site is updated regularly to keep you informed of our Committee's activities.

European Parliament

This person will keep you informed of what's happening now and what the next big thing is.

Forbes

As soon as you do, you're informed of the fee.

HuffPost

You were informed of this.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were you informed of" when seeking confirmation that someone has received specific information, especially in professional or formal settings.

Common error

Avoid using "were you informed of" interchangeably with phrases like "did you know about" if you need to confirm that a specific communication took place, rather than just inquire about general awareness.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were you informed of" functions as an interrogative clause, specifically designed to elicit whether a person has received particular information. As confirmed by Ludwig, this construction is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were you informed of" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to inquire whether someone has received specific information. According to Ludwig, its neutral register makes it suitable for professional and journalistic contexts. While versatile, it's important to select simpler alternatives for casual conversations and to ensure the correct preposition ("of") is used. Remember that this phrase implies a direct act of communication, differing from simply asking if someone was "aware".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were you notified about

Focuses on the act of formal notification.

did you receive information regarding

Emphasizes the receipt of specific information.

were you advised of

Highlights the aspect of being given advice or counsel.

were you told about

A more direct and informal way of asking if someone received information.

did anyone mention to you

Emphasizes the act of someone bringing up the topic to the person.

were you apprised of

A more formal way of asking if someone was informed.

did you learn of

Focuses on the acquisition of knowledge.

were you made aware of

Stresses the aspect of becoming conscious or cognizant of something.

did you hear about

Implies receiving information through hearsay or general communication.

were you briefed on

Suggests a formal or detailed explanation was given.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "were you informed of" in a formal context?

In a formal setting, you could use alternatives such as "were you apprised of" or "were you notified about" to maintain a professional tone.

Is "were you informed of" appropriate for casual conversation?

While grammatically correct, "were you informed of" may sound overly formal in casual conversation. Consider using simpler alternatives like "were you told about" or "did you hear about".

What's the difference between "were you informed of" and "were you aware of"?

"Were you informed of" implies a specific act of communication, while "were you aware of" refers to a general state of knowledge. For example, "were you informed of the meeting" suggests someone told you about it. "Were you aware of the meeting" simply asks if you knew it was happening.

Can I use "were you informed on" instead of "were you informed of"?

No, the correct preposition to use with "informed" in this context is "of". "Were you informed of" is the grammatically correct and widely accepted phrasing.