Say vs. Tell
“Say” commonly focuses on words or speech and normally does not take a person as an indirect object without “to.” “Tell” commonly focuses on information or instructions and normally takes the person who receives the message.
Use “say” for the words spoken (“She said hello”) and “tell” when naming the recipient or reporting information/instructions (“She told me the news”).
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| focus on the words or message without directly naming a recipient | say + something | Use “say” for the words spoken or reported. |
| name the person after “say” | say + something + to + person | Introduce the recipient with “to.” |
| give information or instructions directly to a recipient | tell + person + something / tell + person + to-infinitive | “Tell” normally takes the recipient directly. |
| fixed combinations such as truth, story, or joke | tell the truth / tell a story / tell a joke | Keep the documented collocation rather than applying a simplistic substitution rule. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Do you need to put the recipient directly after the reporting verb?
If yes: Use “tell” in patterns such as “tell someone something” or “tell someone to do something.”
If no: Use “say” for the words/message; if you name the recipient, normally use “to.”
Caveat: “Say” and “tell” have additional idioms and fixed combinations, so the recipient test is a strong guide rather than a complete dictionary of every use.
Examples
She said hello to me.
With “say,” the recipient is introduced by “to.”
She told me the news.
“Tell” takes the recipient directly before the information.
He told us to wait outside.
“Tell + person + to-infinitive” is the normal instruction pattern.
Please tell the truth.
“Tell the truth” is a fixed collocation.
Further guidance
Collocation Boundary
English also has fixed combinations such as tell the truth, tell a joke, and tell a story.
Object Boundary
A person normally follows “tell” directly, but with “say” the person is normally introduced by “to.”
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- Say or tell? — English Grammar Today (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Object and reported-speech distinctions between say and tell