TextRanch

The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

tell vs telling

Both 'tell' and 'telling' are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Tell' is a verb that is used to give information or instructions to someone, while 'telling' can be a verb form (present participle) or an adjective. 'Telling' as a verb form is used to indicate an ongoing action, while 'telling' as an adjective is used to describe something that reveals or indicates something important.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1529 views

tell

The word 'tell' is a verb that is used to give information or instructions to someone.

Use 'tell' when you want to inform or instruct someone about something. It is followed by a direct object or a person to whom the information is being given.

Examples:

Can you tell me the time?
She told him to be careful.

Show examples from the web [+]

Go and tell Callahan there's looters everywhere.
If you tell anyone about this...
Your decorations should tell a story.
Couldn't tell the story without you.
I just wanted to tell someone.
Let me tell you something you already know.
Don't tell anyone, especially Bartowski.
I should probably tell my mum I'm immortal.
We agreed not to tell anyone.
He will tell your husband about us.
Honey, tell Tonny what Charlotte said yesterday.
Let me tell you something people...
Even liars tell the truth occasionally.
Guess maybe Tara did tell somebody.
Just stories people tell around the campfire.
Maybe he was told not to tell anyone.
All I can tell you is...
Ultrasound, but tell the boys traffic.
Perhaps, but someone must tell Gideon the truth.
You investigate what I tell you.

Alternatives:

inform
instruct
say
communicate
advise

telling

The word 'telling' can be a verb form (present participle) or an adjective. As a verb form, it indicates an ongoing action, and as an adjective, it describes something that reveals or indicates something important.

Use 'telling' as a verb form when you want to indicate an ongoing action. Use it as an adjective to describe something that reveals or indicates something important.

Examples:

She is telling a story.
His expression was very telling.

Show examples from the web [+]

You're telling us half-truths again.
Assuming his girlfriend's telling the truth.
I'm telling you man has risen again.
I left home without telling anyone.
Start telling the truth... Stefan.
Probably telling me I'm overstimulated.
Pupillary constrictions indicate he's telling the truth.
There is no telling what might happen.
I'm telling you this as familia.
And don't disappear without telling somebody.
You disappeared for over two weeks without telling anyone.
We will be faithful to our mandate by telling the truth about what happens.
Stop telling everyone I need someone to get me pregnant.
My body's telling me several things.
I'm telling you, she was incredibly strong.
Asking is different than telling and that sounded like telling to me.
Like telling your mother your father's secrets and telling your dad that you're angry with him.
I wasn't telling her. I was telling you.
You stop telling lies about me, I'll stop telling the truth about you.
Mr Dutta went walkabout without telling anyone.

Alternatives:

revealing
indicating
describing
expressive
significant

Related Comparisons

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9).

"Thank you!"
Sachi Nakama July 2024
"I have literally been through chat, PI, claude, bard and bing and I got conflicting answers! Thank you! Human intelligence reigns!"
Retha July 2024
"Faster than AI"
CYNTHIA December 2023
"This was very helpful and I personally think this site is the best."
Kaden October 2023
"It was extremely thorough and very helpful!"
imperialelisa October 2023
"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"
Zubair Alam October 2023
"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."
Selena October 2023
"Without textranch I would be stuck!"
宏祐 October 2023
"Accuracy and fast response. Personal comments from editor. Thank you."
Clh September 2023
"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"
Arturo September 2023
"The fact that you can get reliable fast feedback on your texts."
Vinicius Antonio August 2023
"you guys are better than grammarly i'm being honest here"
ordinary July 2023
"OMG! This is really good than any other text correction tools I've used so far. Highly recommend this."
Vehan July 2023
"Very fast and accurate. thank you."
mojtaba July 2023
"I love this app because it's help to writing skills all of students ♥️"
Tarisini July 2023
"This was exactly the mistake I was looking for, the wording dind´t sound right at first. Better than grammarly!"
Ente July 2023
"The immediate help that I received was reassuring and very satisfactory. Thanks."
priiiyanshuu July 2023
"this helps A LOT for my studies."
kathnunez02 June 2023
"Woow!! I would never have expected such precision! Thank you soooo much!!"
Berta June 2023
"Real Time Editor and not AI. Many Thanks."
Priya June 2023
"The very first thing excites me about Textranch is how much your editors care."
sepideh June 2023
"The fact that texts are checked by human editors rather than by AI, etc. I appreciate this!"
Анна June 2023
"Feel welcome, immediate response, high quality feedback"
martin.roy June 2023
"This is the best app that I have ever seen"
Burulai May 2023

Why choose TextRanch?

Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.

Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.

Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.

Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!