"is afraid to tell" vs "is afraid of telling"

Question

"is afraid to tell" vs "is afraid of telling"

Both "is afraid of telling" and "is afraid to tell" are correct and commonly used in English. They can be used interchangeably depending on the context. The choice between the two depends on personal preference or the specific phrasing of the sentence.

Last Updated: March 21, 2024

This phrase is used when someone is fearful or anxious about the act of telling something.

Examples:

He is afraid to tell his parents about his grades.
She is afraid to tell the truth.
They are afraid to tell him the bad news.

Alternatives:

is afraid of telling
is scared to tell
is fearful to tell
is hesitant to tell
is anxious about telling

This phrase is used when someone is fearful or anxious about the act of telling something.

Examples:

He is afraid of telling his parents about his grades.
She is afraid of telling the truth.
They are afraid of telling him the bad news.

Alternatives:

is afraid to tell
is scared of telling
is fearful of telling
is hesitant to tell
is anxious about telling

Answer 1

is afraid to tell

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

is afraid of telling

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"is afraid to tell" vs "is afraid of telling"

is afraid to tell

is afraid of telling

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