Cool MateLet you know vs Tell
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Let you know
Top 1,000 (very common)
Tell
Top 1,000 (very common)A1verb
| Let you know | Tell | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //lɛt jʊ nəʊ//🇺🇸 //lɛt jə noʊ// | 🇬🇧 /["/tel/","/telz/","/təʊld/","/ˈtelɪŋ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tel/","/telz/","/təʊld/","/ˈtelɪŋ/"]/ |
| Meaning | To tell someone information later. | to say information to someone |
| Example | I will let you know as soon as I have more information. | I want to tell you a secret. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 |
| Part of speech | verb | |
| Collocations | let you know later, let you know soon, let you know when, let you know tomorrow | bluntly, curtly, flatly, want to, be going to, try to, about, of, to, firmly, sternly |
| Antonyms | - | hide, withhold, suppress |
| Common mistakes | Using 'let you know' instead of 'let me know' when speaking about oneself., Confusing 'let you know' with 'let you see' – they have different meanings., Forgetting to follow up on the promise to inform someone. | Saying 'tell to' instead of just 'tell'., Using 'tell' without a direct object., Confusing 'tell' with 'say' in contexts where direction is implied. |
| Usage notes | Commonly used in informal speech to indicate that you'll inform someone about something. Suitable in both personal and professional contexts. | Use 'tell' when you inform someone about something. It's neutral and suitable for most contexts. Avoid using it in overly formal writing; instead, use 'inform' or 'notify'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Let you know vs Tell
What's the difference between Let you know and Tell?
Let you know: To tell someone information later. Tell: to say information to someone
Can you show an example of each?
Let you know: I will let you know as soon as I have more information. Tell: I want to tell you a secret.
Can I use Let you know and Tell interchangeably?
Not always. Let you know and Tell 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.