Should I Use Inform Of, Inform On, Inform About, Or Inform By?

There are several possible prepositions that could follow inform, leading to some confusion and making sentence more ambiguous. Should it be informed of or on, informed of or about, or maybe something else entirely? Let’s dive deeper into these prepositions to understand their proper usage.

“Learn when to use inform of, inform on, inform about, or inform by with easy-to-understand examples. Understand the key differences and proper usage of each preposition in various contexts.”Prepositions that follow words can be quite challenging, especially for those new to English or those learning grammar. Take the word “informed,” for example.

Should I Use Inform Of, Inform On, Inform About, Or Inform By?

You should use inform of when one person is sharing information with another person. This is the most common form, and it typically means relaying facts or updates without going into great detail. On the other hand, inform on is used when someone is providing evidence or reporting illegal activities. It has a connotation often associated with the legal system or informants. You should use inform about similarly to inform of, but it generally implies a more detailed explanation. Lastly, you should use inform by in passive voice when you need to specify the agent that informed you.

When Should I Use Inform Of?

Let’s begin by exploring inform of. This phrase is commonly used when we relay information, though usually without much additional detail. For example, we might inform someone of an event simply to let them know it has occurred. This phrase is typically focused on the occurrence itself rather than the specifics of what happened.

Examples Of How To Use Inform Of:

• We need to inform him of the schedule.
• She informed me of her decision last night.
• They were informed of the changes in the company policy.
• Can you inform us of the new meeting time?
• The teacher informed the students of the exam date.
• Please inform me of any changes in the itinerary.
• He was informed of the situation immediately.
• You should inform the team of the project deadline.
• They informed their parents of the good news.
• She needs to be informed of the latest updates.
• I will inform you of the results tomorrow.
• He informed me of his promotion at work.
• We were informed of the delay in shipment.
• The manager informed the staff of the new procedures.
• He was informed of his responsibilities early on.
• Can you inform the group of the final decision?
• I was informed of the security breach last week.
• She informed them of her upcoming leave.
• The doctor informed the patient of the diagnosis.
• We were informed of the policy changes at the meeting.
• The committee informed the members of the upcoming vote.
• They were informed of the conference details in advance.
• He informed us of the company’s new strategy.
• She was informed of the interview time yesterday.
• You must inform me of any issues that arise.

In most of these sentences, the focus is on the basic act of informing someone of something, without going into excessive detail.

When Should I Use Inform On?

The phrase inform on is used specifically when providing evidence or when someone is “telling on” another person, usually in a legal context. This is why inform on is often linked to police work or criminal activities, where someone (often an informant) shares crucial information about illicit behavior.

Examples Of How To Use Inform On:

• He informed the authorities on his colleague’s illegal activities.
• She was asked to inform on her friend in exchange for immunity.
• The witness informed on the criminal’s whereabouts.
• They informed on the entire operation to the police.
• The detective tried to get him to inform on the gang leader.
• The insider informed on the fraudulent scheme.
• She reluctantly informed on her accomplice.
• He informed on the smuggling ring operating in the docks.
• The suspect was pressured to inform on his fellow thieves.
• She decided to inform on the company’s illegal practices.
• He was caught and threatened to inform on his partner.
• The undercover agent informed on the drug cartel.
• The employee informed on the corruption in the office.
• He informed on the hackers responsible for the cyberattack.
• They informed on the ring leader after being apprehended.
• She informed on the black market deals happening in the area.
• He informed on the robbery plan to the authorities.
• The prisoner informed on his cellmate’s escape plan.
• They informed on the politician involved in the scandal.
• The gang member informed on the rest of the crew to save himself.
• She was afraid they would inform on her for the heist.
• He chose to inform on the organization to reduce his sentence.
• The criminal was convinced to inform on his co-conspirators.
• She was forced to inform on her brother to protect herself.
• The police offered him a deal if he would inform on the entire network.

In these examples, inform on is used exclusively in the context of reporting or sharing information about crimes or misconduct.

When Should I Use Inform About?

Next, we have inform about. This phrase is similar to inform of, but with a subtle difference. Inform about usually suggests that more details will be shared. While you can inform someone about an event, it’s often implied that the person will provide additional information or background.

Examples Of How To Use Inform About:

• Can you inform me about the upcoming conference?
• She was asked to inform us about the latest developments.
• The manager will inform the team about the new policy.
• I’ll inform him about the changes in schedule.
• They needed to inform the public about the safety measures.
• Please inform us about your decision by tomorrow.
• I was informed about the incident that took place yesterday.
• Can you inform me about the steps I need to follow?
• She failed to inform the students about the exam date.
• We should inform the guests about the dinner arrangements.
• The teacher will inform the class about the assignment due.
• I have been informed about the results of the meeting.
• Will you inform them about the company’s updates?
• I was not informed about the last-minute change.
• He needs to inform his boss about the progress on the project.
• They will inform the community about the upcoming event.
• The principal will inform parents about the new school rules.
• Have you been informed about the recent developments in the case?
• She should inform her colleagues about the new software.
• We are required to inform everyone about the upcoming inspection.
• You need to inform the committee about the budget changes.
• I was informed about the new hiring process.
• The staff was informed about the building renovation.
• Will someone inform me about the final decision?
• You should inform the residents about the construction schedule.

The main takeaway here is that inform about suggests a more comprehensive explanation than simply informing of something.

When Should I Use Inform By?

Lastly, let’s look at inform by. This phrase is typically used in the passive voice, where someone is being informed by someone else. It often describes who provided the information rather than what the information is. It’s mostly used in the past tense, indicating that someone was informed by another person.

Examples Of How To Use Inform By:

• I was informed by my teacher about the test results.
• She was informed by the doctor of her condition.
• They were informed by the manager about the new policy changes.
• He was informed by the receptionist that his appointment was canceled.
• We were informed by our neighbor about the upcoming event.
• The students were informed by the principal about the schedule change.
• I was informed by my boss of the meeting details.
• He was informed by his parents about the new house rules.
• She was informed by the staff about the company’s closure.
• We were informed by the police about the roadblock ahead.
• The passengers were informed by the airline of the flight delay.
• I was informed by the guide about the tour itinerary.
• The team was informed by their coach of the game strategy.
• He was informed by his lawyer about the court date.
• She was informed by the nurse of her test results.
• They were informed by their colleagues about the new project.
• I was informed by my friend about the party plans.
• He was informed by the instructor of the safety protocols.
• We were informed by the weather service about the storm warning.
• The citizens were informed by the mayor of the city’s development plans.
• I was informed by the bank about the new interest rates.
• She was informed by her supervisor of the task requirements.
• The audience was informed by the speaker about the event’s theme.
• He was informed by his mentor about the upcoming challenges.
• We were informed by the company of the merger news.

Notice that in these sentences, “inform by” is preceded by a past tense verb such as was or were, indicating that the action occurred previously. This makes inform by an ideal choice for past tense situations in passive constructions.

When Should I Use Inform Without A Preposition?

The word “inform” itself is a transitive verb, which means that it requires a direct object to make grammatical sense. You cannot use inform by itself without indicating who or what is being informed. Like other transitive verbs, it follows the structure where the subject informs the object.

Examples Of How To Use Inform Without A Preposition:

• I inform my boss every morning.
• She informed the staff about the changes.
• They inform their clients regularly.
• We inform the students of any updates.
• He informed his parents of the decision.
• The manager informed the team of the schedule.
• You must inform the authorities immediately.
• She informed him of the upcoming meeting.
• We inform our customers via email.
• He always informs his colleagues about new policies.
• The teacher informed the class about the test.
• I inform my partner before making big decisions.
• The company informed me about the new procedures.
• He informed the group about the project timeline.
• She informed the attendees of the event changes.
• I inform my friends of the latest news.
• They informed the media of the incident.
• The principal informed the parents of the school’s closure.
• We inform the board of directors quarterly.
• He informs his supervisor of any delays.
• The police informed the public about the safety measures.
• She informed the employees about the layoffs.
• I inform my team weekly on progress.
• The doctor informed the patient of the test results.
• They informed us of the new developments.

In each of these examples, a direct object follows the verb inform, ensuring grammatical correctness. Without it, the sentence would be incomplete.

FAQs

When should I use inform of?

You should use inform of when you are telling someone about something important, like an event or decision. It gives just enough information to let them know what happened. You can think of it as a quick update with no extra details.

When should I use inform on?

Use inform on when you are reporting someone’s illegal actions or bad behavior. This is often used in legal situations. It’s like “telling on” someone to the authorities.

What’s the difference between inform of and inform about?

Inform of is used when you give basic information, while inform about usually means giving more details. If you use inform about, people expect to hear more in-depth information.

Can I use inform by in the present tense?

No, you use inform by only in the past tense. It describes who gave you the information, like “I was informed by the teacher.” You can’t use it for things happening right now.

Can I use inform without a preposition?

Yes, you can use inform directly with a person or thing, like “I inform my boss daily.” This means you’re telling someone directly without needing a preposition like “of” or “about.”

Conclusion

Understanding how to use inform with the appropriate preposition—whether it’s inform of, inform on, inform about, or inform by—is crucial for effective communication. Each variation carries subtle differences in meaning, with inform of and inform about focusing on relaying information, inform on reserved for reporting misconduct, and inform by used in passive voice to specify the source of the information. Always ensure that inform is followed by a direct object, whether or not a preposition is involved, for a clear and grammatically correct sentence.