PROBLEMS WITH TELL.
Finns commonly mistake the usage of TELL and SAY.
- The meanings of these two verbs, tell and say, are similar. The main meaning of tell is to "say or write something (specific) to someone (specific)."
- The main meaning of say is to "use your voice to express something in words." However, there are some clear and easy rules to follow about when to use these two words, as shown below.
(also most Finns will say “this book tells about a knight and princess…”. NO! “This book IS about a knight and princess”).
Usage rules for Tell and Say
Tell is used to instruct or inform something specific to someone specific. DO NOT USE A PREPOSITION and do not use for direct quotes. Examples include:
- Has she told YOU the good news, yet?
- Please tell US your name and occupation.
- The police officer told HIM to stop. [NOT The police offer told him, "Stop."]
- Can you tell me what happened?
Say is used for exact quotes, and when the receiver isn’t mentioned in the sentence:
- “Good morning,” said the woman behind the counter.
- I just stopped by to say hello.
- I said three words before he interrupted me again.
Say is also used to express opinions:
- I wouldn't say that he's a great guitarist [=I don't think he's a great guitarist].
- They say that you should drink eight glasses of water a day.
Speak (to or with someone) (+ about) – Speak refers to how you communicate or to communicate. You can speak a language or speak with or to someone, but you can’t speak a speech. Note you speak loudly or quietly.
Discuss - To discuss should have a mention here. It is a lot nicer to use discuss than the verb being told. Note that:
- you discuss something (ie no preposition). Eg we discussed politics
- you have a discussion + ABOUT (or ON) a topic. Eg, We need to have a discussion ABOUT the new staff policies.
- you have a discussion WITH someone. I had a discussion WITH my colleagues ABOUT current issues.
Note there are two exceptions. OK so normally you always TELL + SOMEONE + TO SOMETHING. However there are two things you do TELL to someone). People TELL lies and they TELL jokes. eg Politicians TELL lies to voters all the time and comedians tell jokes to their audience
SYNONYMS FOR TELL:
As mentioned above, the most common error with TELL is almost always followed by the subject (tell + subject) eg Tell ME, I told my children to be quiet, TELL me what to do etc. HOWEVER, 90% of the time there is a better verb you can use than TELL.
For example:
Reiterate - To reiterate something is to say or do something again, or many times. Let me reiterate: if you repeat yourself, you're reiterating the thing you originally said. (also stressing the importance of it.). you will commonly hear the following phrase.
Remind – to remind (someone) + (of) + (something). Is to bring something up for at least a second time. You may send an email reminder to your colleagues or your boss may remind you of some upcoming deadlines or targets that must be met.
Elaborate - Use the VERB elaborate when you want to describe how something is in a very detailed or especially complicated manner, like a devilish prank planned out weeks in advance. The adjective elaborate is used to describe when something is planned with a lot of attention to detail or when something is intricate or detailed itself. It commonly uses ON as the preposition. EG “in our presentation we had to elaborate ON the fine details of our company’s economic analysis.”
Ask – to ask (for) + (something) / or to ask (someone) + (for) + (something). To ask is to pose a question or request something. If you say "What time is lunch?", then you're asking a question. You've probably heard people say "Can I ask you a question?" That pretty much sums up what asking is: trying to get information or make a request. A teacher asks students to answer questions, but a student has to ask the teacher for permission to use the bathroom. In business, the asking price is the amount the seller wants you to pay. Asking is how you find things out and get what you need.
To refer (TO or sometimes BACK) - If you refer to something, you are essentially consulting it for more information, detail or evidence to strengthen your argument. Allow me to refer to the dictionary definition of “refer”. A reference on your CV is someone to contact if a potential employer would like to consult you for more information. A referral from a doctor is a request to have a specialist review your situation. Other examples at work, “I am referring to last year’s figures right now” or “give me a moment, I must refer this matter to my boss, as I have no authority to make decisions regarding this issue.”
Show – to show (someone) + (something). Show means to speak about something and actually visually demonstrating during your communication. Remember show and tell? To show something is to display something, to share it, or to put on a little show about it. You can also say, "Let me show you something." You can show by pointing at something, but showing can also mean proving something. A lawyer needs to show why his client is innocent (ie communicate and demonstrate).
Advise - To advise (someone) is to give them advice, help, directions or counsel. If you live in Iceland and a friend visiting you from Hawaii asks what he should pack, advise him to bring warm clothes and snow boots.
Outline – to outline (something) means to provide listeners with a brief description, the gist, the essence or the major parts of something without going into more detail. The origins of outline come from the artistic practice of marking a line around the outer edge of a person or shape in a picture before filling it in.
Counsel – to counsel (something) – When you give counsel or counsel someone, you give advice. If your neighbour is suing you because your dog keeps eating his begonias, you might seek the counsel of a dog trainer or, if that doesn't work, a lawyer. NB A council is meeting for discussion or advice, but to counsel is a verb meaning to give advice. They sound exactly the same, but the language council met and decided to counsel you on how to keep them straight.
Justify – to justify (something) - To justify is to make excuses for one's actions, like the dieter who has to justify the few tiny pieces of chocolate she's sneaked in between salads. Anyone who has ever made excuses for his or her actions knows the meaning of justify, like the bank robber who justifies his latest heist by claiming he needs the bank's money to support his charitable foundation. He might think he's got a good reason for holding up the bank, but he's going to have a hard time convincing the bank's owner of his reason, or justification. To justify a line of text is to space it so that it lines up with the margin.
Share – to share (something, ie information can be a synonym for tell) ( + with) ( +subject)– to share means to it means to give or distribute a portion of something. When you share information it does not mean that. It is usually used to mean you are telling something a little personal, or divulging something that is not so serious. It is important to note that when you “share” information with someone specific, it implies that it is something you do not share or tell everyone and the receiver of the information is somewhat privileged to receive it. Eg “I would like to share with you a personal story about my childhood” or “I would like to share with you some of the information from our management meeting”.
Announce – announcement. An announcement, or something that is announced, is a public statement that's usually formal and has a specific purpose (usually for the first time). There are many kinds of announcements, but they're all public and meant to inform. In school, the announcements might say whose birthday it is and what clubs are meeting after school. In a store, an announcement might mention a sale or a lost kid who's looking for her parents. The President makes lots of formal announcements, like the decision to run for re-election. So basically, if it's announcing something, it's an announcement.
Confess – to confess (something) When you confess, you admit to doing something wrong. You might feel guilty about eating the entire platter of chocolate chip cookies and confess to your mom before she notices. If she presses charges, you would confess to the cookie crime.
Disclose – to discuss (something) (use this for revealing for secret material information, for revealing personal information, use divulge) - to disclose means to reveal or expose information that has previously been kept a secret — like a politician might be forced to disclose his finances or former scandals while running for office. When a politician, corporate executive, or celebrity announces that he or she has something to disclose, the public listens. They know that the information they're about to hear was kept secret for a reason. Something incriminating or juicy is about to be revealed, like a secret affair or plummeting company profits.
Divulge – (use this for revealing personal information, use disclose for secret material information) - If you've been sneaking around with your best friend's boyfriend, that's probably one (personal) secret you don't want to divulge, because revealing that tidbit of information will probably cut your friendship short. Divulge often precedes the word secret, because it means to reveal something, and that something is often of a personal or private nature. A gossip columnist's job is to divulge which celebrities are secretly dating and which ones have been caught in embarrassing situations.
Reveal – to reveal - When you make something visible or make it public information, you reveal it. For example, if you want to plan a picnic, wait until forecasters reveal the weather that is predicted. The verb reveal comes from the Latin word revelare meaning "unveil," like when you take off your hat to reveal your new haircut, or when you reveal information about your past that will shock or amuse your friends. NB when it is secret information you are revealing it is better to use “disclose” and if it is personal information you are revealing it is better to use “divulge”.
Explain - To explain (something) is to define it, show how it works, or just tell what it is. Explaining helps people understand. If you know football really well, then you could probably explain it to a non-fan. Explaining makes things clearer. A lot of teaching is explaining — telling how something works. Also, if you do something wrong, people will ask you to explain your actions. Explaining can help someone "get it" — whatever "it" is.
Report – to report (on) (something) When you report something, you explain what happened or give a status update. Eg. “In this meeting I am going to report on the status of this project and key performance figures for the last quarter”. After giving the details of your groundbreaking news story, you might end by saying, “...reporting live from Washington, D.C.”
Express – to express (something)- to make your (personal) feelings and thoughts known. When you give your opinion, you're expressing yourself. Writing music and poems are also examples of expressing yourself (ie expressing your personal feelings and thoughts through music”. EG. (Manager to subordinate) “I would like to express my disappointment with your behaviour in office over the last couple of months”. EG2 “I would like to express my condolences for your loss (for the death of your brother)”.
Inform (+ who - eg please inform ME of …). To inform is to give (important) information - information
If you're unsure of whether to buy the car, you may ask for more information about it. Information is knowledge you gain from studying, investigating, or experiencing something. If your brother unfairly accuses you of finishing the ice cream that was in the freezer, you might respond by saying, "For your information, it was already gone when I got home!" You are conveying information to your brother, but in an annoyed and sarcastic way. Sarcastic or not, he is providing information.
Instruct – to instruct is to give instructions. Closely related to teach. Teachers are often called instructors because their job is to instruct, to give knowledge or instructions. The subtle difference between "teach" and instruct is that you can teach almost anything: concepts, ideas, theories or, say, history. When you instruct someone, you're giving them a set of tools or tasks to do something specific. That's why furniture, toys, and model rocket kits come with instructions: they instruct you how to assemble them.
Mention - To mention something is to bring it up. If your mother embarrasses you by constantly mentioning your stuffed animal that you've been sleeping with for the past 15 years, you might mention it to her. In the context of awards, an "honourable mention" is an official recognition but not a prize. If you enter a writing competition, the judges might not think your piece is the best, but they might mention, or briefly say, that it came very close to winning.
Notify - To notify is to officially give someone a piece of information (To let you KNOW about something officially). If your poem wins the local poetry competition, the judges will notify you that you're the winner. When you notify someone about something, it can be good or bad news. New parents notify friends and family about their baby's birth. When a library's money problems force it to close on Sundays, it might notify its patrons with an email or a letter. Common notices are.. death, wedding or birth notices in the paper, final notices that you have not paid your bills, if you apply for a job and don’t get it, they will “notify” you in an email.
Order – to order also means to command: Talk out of turn in court and the judge will order you to be quiet. In a restaurant you give the waiter your order, which is what you want to eat, not your idea of how to organize the pantry.
Declare – to declare (something) - you declare victory, you are ending a war by saying you have won. Hopefully, the other side agrees, or your troops might declare you a fool. To declare is to state clearly and officially. In elections, the government body that counts the votes declares the winner. Until the declaration is made, the results are not official. When you are traveling, you might be asked if you have anything to declare. You're not being asked for a statement of your beliefs, rather they want to know if you bought anything taxable abroad.
State – to state is to express something strongly (usually an opinion or fact) in words. Eg In Donald Trumps speech he stated clearly that he would make Mexico pay for the wall at all costs. Eg2. It was stated in the contract that you must not disclose confidential information…
Present – to present is to show and deliver information. Eg to do a presentation is to present the information for the recipients’ knowledge.
Justify - To justify is to make excuses for one's actions, like the dieter who has to justify the few tiny pieces of chocolate she's sneaked in between salads. Anyone who has ever made excuses for his or her actions knows the meaning of justify, like the bank robber who justifies his latest heist by claiming he needs the bank's money to support his charitable foundation. He might think he's got a good reason for holding up the bank, but he's going to have a hard time convincing the bank's owner of his reason, or justification.
Ask - To ask is to pose a question or request something. If you say "What time is lunch?", then you're asking a question. You've probably heard people say "Can I ask you a question?" That pretty much sums up what asking is: trying to get information or make a request. A teacher asks students to answer questions, but a student has to ask the teacher for permission to use the bathroom.
Address – to address someone – as a synonym for tell, use to address as the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to a specific audience. You generally address elders or teachers formally with Mr, Ms or Mrs. Using Address to describe a way of speaking is usually reserved for more formal occasions, such as when the President addresses the nation.
Summon – (old school – not used often other than by royalty summoning their subjects) To summon is to formally call for the presence of someone. If a General in the military hears the country is being invaded, he must summon his troops — and fast. Summon can also mean “gather up,” as one might summon one’s courage" before that big game. Summon is also occasionally used in reference to the supernatural, as when one tries to call forth a spirit or ghost. If you think the team needs additional help on the field, you might try to summon some supernatural backup.
Acquaint – to introduce. As a substitute to tell it means to introduce you to the issue. Eg let me acquaint you to the problem at hand. An Acquaintance - An acquaintance is someone you know a little about, but they’re not your best friend or anything.
Apprise (not commonly used and THIS IS A FANTASTIC WORD! However do not get it confused with appraise which means to value/evaluate something) – to apprise means to give an update on important information. Apprise, means to inform or make aware. This word has a rather formal, weighty tone. Presidents get apprised of foreign affairs, but you will most likely not get apprised of weather conditions or dinner plans. Appraise on the other hand - means to determine the value of something — either its quality or its monetary worth. GREAT phrases instead of “keep me in the loop” or “keep me updated” (these are both generally overused):
- “Please apprise me of any changes in the situation” or “keep me apprised of the situation = please let me know if there are any changes in the situation. These are great because the recipients will still know what you mean regardless of whether they know the meaning of the word.
- “Can you apprise me of any issues?”
- “Please apprise me on the status of XYZ”.
Command (stronger synonym for to order) – to command is to give an order that you have to follow, as long as the person who gives it has authority over you. You don't have to comply with your friend's command that you give him all your money.
Direct (+ subject) – to direct someone is to tell them, or instruct them on what to do. You can also direct a play or direct someone to a gas station, by telling them what roads to take.
Enjoin – (not in common usage) To enjoin is to issue an urgent and official order. If the government tells loggers to stop cutting down trees, they are enjoining the loggers to stop. Enjoin looks like it should mean bring together, and at one time, it does not have that meaning. If your doctor enjoins you to stop smoking, he is suggesting strongly that you quit.
Impart – (not in common usage – to impart means to pass on, share, transmit, or bestow knowledge or information. However, the information has to be particularly important or precious. For example, when your father is trying to teach you the way’s of the world through his own experiences, he is imparting his knowledge to you. I am essentially imparting my own wisdom about the word impart.
Proclaim (close synonym is declare). Proclaim "I proclaim the Olympic Games open." When you proclaim something, you are saying it loud and clear and in public. A doctor can proclaim you healthy after you have recovered from a long illness. The panel of judges may have trouble proclaiming the winner in a very tight race. What you are saying out loud can be called a proclamation. Proclamations were once only made by Kings or other ruling leaders which is why the word proclaim has an official feeling to it. NB there is a subtle difference between declare and proclaim in that proclaim has more of a formal nature.
utter - to speak or to articulate a sound. If you utter something, you give it voice. You could utter a cry or utter complete sentences; either to give audible expression to (usually unclearly or subtly) eg: to be unable to utter one’s feelings, to utter last words before dying.
IDIOMS OF TELL:
- break the news - to tell someone some important news, usually bad news. The doctor had to break the news to Jane about her husband's cancer. I hope that the doctor broke the news gently. Detectives broke the news to Mrs. Allen that her husband's body had been identified.
- Level – “let me level with you” – ie let me be frank and tell you the truth. Level means to speak frankly and openly to someone, as in “His companions advised him to level with the police in relation to his whereabouts on the night of the murder”. Commonly used expression is to ask someone to be honest, ie “level with me!”
- To touch upon (something). Is to briefly speak about something.
- To clue in – “clue me in” means please tell me the details or give me more info. To be “clued in” means to be up-to-date or aware of something. Eg I told you I wasn't that clued in about modern dating,' he said. Let me clue you in on the situation.
- fill in – “fill me in on the situation” means tell me what is happening (ie fill in the blanks). Please fill me in on what happened last night. Please fill in the committee on the details. “I heard you went on holidays, fill me in on the details”.
- let in on – to tell other people about something that you know, especially when it is a secret ie “let me in on the secret”. Also “I suspect he knows more than he's letting on”.
- let slip – to disclose or divulge verbally information that is sensitive and communicated in an untimely manner or accidently. Eg she let slip that she will be leaving us at the end of the year.
- To blurt (something out) – similar to “let slip” in that what you are saying is divulged however let slip is when it is done accidently by force or you are making an effort
- make known
- to run through (something) – or to do a run through (something)
- open up (about something) – idiom for to confess.
- reel off - to say a list of things quickly and easily. He reeled off the names and ages of his seven grandchildren. He reeled off his problems.
- spit out - used to tell someone to start speaking or to speak more quickly, when they are unwilling to speak or are speaking slowly: “Come on, spit it out, who told you about this?”.
- Leak - A leak involves the release of something. It can be a behind-someone’s-back leak of sensitive information, a leak from a milk carton, or a leak in the roof that lets rain water drip in. As a verb, leak means to allow light or fluid to escape, or to enter or escape as though through a hole. Light can leak in through the curtains, water can leak out of an almost-closed faucet, or information can leak to the press. A leak is almost always a bad thing — it indicates that something that should be contained has broken out or escaped.
