who informed you

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "who informed you" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when asking someone about the source of their information or knowledge regarding a specific topic. Example: "I heard about the meeting, but I'm curious to know who informed you about it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Who informed you?

BMC Geriatrics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Carols, turkey, mince pies: Pepys's diaries, incidentally, correct those know-alls who inform you that every Yuletide tradition is a "Victorian" fabrication.

Independent

Like the bore who informs you that he's going to tell you a funny story, it heightens anxiety by providing you with a sort of moral obligation to laugh.

The Guardian

None of this is much help to the visitors who make their way from venue to venue, or who must negotiate the constant intrusive attentions of the Documenta "guards" (that's what their silly bib-like outfits have written on them), who inform you not to get too close, not to breathe on the glass, not to lean against the walls, not to carry a bag, not to point, sneer, laugh or break wind.

The Guardian - Arts

"Who informs you that I am niece of Dear Leader?" Oops.

Forbes

In the case of recycling, there will always be those who inform you ever so seriously that recycling uses too much energy, that recycled products have to travel far distances, etc.

WikiHow

You develop a certain relationship with the person and those who informed, and you see it through the eyes of the Stasi writer".

The New York Times

Nothing is more frightening than opening those old files and finding out who informed on you.

The Guardian - Film

For instance, the first general session was opened by Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, who informed "those of you without spatial awareness" that the Hyatt Regency hotel that hosted the conference was "the building that was blown out by Katrina".

The New York Times

It informed Ms. Rehnquist, who informed Congress.

The New York Times

"We have people who informed for Gaddafi before the revolution.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Be direct and clear when asking "who informed you", especially in professional contexts, to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Ensure you accurately recall and represent the source of the information. If unsure, phrase your inquiry as "Can you confirm who informed you?" to allow for clarification.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "who informed you" is as an interrogative phrase used to elicit information about the source of knowledge. Ludwig shows this phrase commonly used to directly inquire about the origin of specific information.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Wiki

15%

Academia

10%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "who informed you" serves as a direct question to uncover the origin of specific knowledge. It's grammatically sound, enjoys common usage across diverse sources, and maintains a generally neutral tone. As Ludwig AI confirms, this inquiry is straightforward for both formal and informal settings, and easily replaceable with options like "who told you" or "where did you hear that" depending on the nuance intended. Remember to use this phrase when you want to understand the chain of information and evaluate the source's reliability.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who told you

Replaces "informed" with the more common verb "told", resulting in a more conversational tone.

who let you know

Uses a more casual phrasing, focusing on the act of conveying the information.

where did you hear that

Shifts the focus to the place of origin of the information, rather than the person.

from whom did you learn that

A more formal and direct inquiry about the source of knowledge.

what's your source

A concise and direct way to ask for the origin of the information.

who gave you that information

Emphasizes the act of providing the information.

how did you find out

Focuses on the process of discovering the information.

where did you get that information

Asks about the location or source from which the information was obtained.

can you cite your source

Requests a specific citation or reference for the information.

how were you made aware

Focuses on the method by which the person became conscious of the information.

FAQs

What's a more casual way to ask "who informed you"?

A more casual alternative to "who informed you" is "who told you". It's suitable for informal conversations.

When is it appropriate to use "who informed you"?

The phrase "who informed you" is appropriate in both formal and informal settings when you need to know the source of someone's information. The tone is generally neutral.

What's the difference between "who informed you" and "how did you find out"?

"Who informed you" specifically asks about the person who provided the information, while "how did you find out" is broader and inquires about the method or process by which the information was discovered.

Are there more formal alternatives to "who informed you"?

Yes, a more formal alternative is "from whom did you learn that". This phrasing is suitable for professional or academic contexts.