Cool MateI'm being told vs Told
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
I'm being told
Top 2,000 (common)
Told
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Told
| I'm being told | Told | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //aɪm ˈbiːɪŋ təʊld//🇺🇸 //aɪm ˈbiɪŋ toʊld// | 🇬🇧 //təʊld//🇺🇸 //toʊld// |
| Meaning | I am receiving information or advice from someone. | Said something to someone. |
| Example | I'm being told that the meeting has been delayed. | He told me a funny joke yesterday. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | being told something, being told what to do, being told the truth | told a story, told the truth, told someone, told the truth, told about |
| Antonyms | - | withheld, kept quiet |
| Common mistakes | Using it in overly formal contexts., Confusing it with 'I was told' (past tense)., Forgetting to specify who is doing the telling. | Confused with 'tell' - use 'told' only for past., Omitting the object - always specify who you told., Using 'told' without a direct object - needs a recipient. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe being informed or advised by another person. It's common in spoken and written English but can sound passive. Avoid using it in formal writing. | Use 'told' for past communication. It's neutral and fits in most contexts, but avoid it for informal spoken contexts where 'said' might be more common. |
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Frequently asked questions: I'm being told vs Told
What's the difference between I'm being told and Told?
I'm being told: I am receiving information or advice from someone. Told: Said something to someone.
Which is more common: I'm being told and Told?
Told is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
I'm being told: I'm being told that the meeting has been delayed. Told: He told me a funny joke yesterday.
Can I use I'm being told and Told interchangeably?
Not always. I'm being told and Told are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.