Cool MateWho said that vs Who told you that
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Who said that
Top 3,000 (common)
Who told you that
Top 1,000 (very common)
Most common: Who told you that
| Who said that | Who told you that | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //huː sɛd ðæt//🇺🇸 //hu sɛd ðæt// | 🇬🇧 //huː təʊld jʊ ðæt//🇺🇸 //hu toʊld ju ðæt// |
| Meaning | A question asking who made a statement. | A question asking who gave you certain information. |
| Example | I love that quote, but who said that? | I can't believe you heard that! Who told you that? |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| Collocations | who said that quote, who said that line, who said that earlier | Who told you that rumor, Who told you that story, Who told you that secret |
| Common mistakes | Incorrectly using it as a statement, not a question., Forgetting to include 'that' when asking., Using it in formal contexts where direct attribution is required. | Using incorrect word order, e.g., 'Who you told that?', Forgetting to add a question mark at the end., Misusing it in contexts where a simpler question, like 'Who said that?' would be appropriate. |
| Usage notes | Use in conversations to inquire about the speaker of a quote or statement. It's informal and suitable for chatting. | Use this phrase in contexts where you're surprised or questioning the validity of information. It's neutral but can sound accusatory, so consider your tone. |
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Frequently asked questions: Who said that vs Who told you that
What's the difference between Who said that and Who told you that?
Who said that: A question asking who made a statement. Who told you that: A question asking who gave you certain information.
Which is more common: Who said that and Who told you that?
Who told you that is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Who said that: I love that quote, but who said that? Who told you that: I can't believe you heard that! Who told you that?
Can I use Who said that and Who told you that interchangeably?
Not always. Who said that and Who told you that 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.