Word: inform (verb)

Associations

The word "inform" means to give someone facts or information about something. It is often used when telling or explaining something important or necessary.

• Example 1: "Please inform me about the meeting time." Here, it means "tell me" or "give me information."
• Example 2: "The teacher informed the students about the exam." This means the teacher gave the students important details.
• Example 3: "We need to inform the manager of the problem." This means to notify or let the manager know.

A well-known synonym is "notify." The difference is that "notify" often means giving official or formal information, while "inform" can be more general and casual.

Substitution

You can sometimes use:

• Tell: more casual, used for everyday conversation.
• Notify: more formal, often used in official situations.
• Advise: means to give suggestions or recommendations, not just facts.

Example: Instead of "inform me," you can say "tell me" or "notify me," but "notify" sounds more official.

Deconstruction

• Root: "form" comes from Latin "informare," meaning "to give form or shape."
• Prefix: "in-" means "into" or "toward."
• Together, "inform" originally meant to give shape or idea to the mind, which now means to give knowledge or information.

Inquiry

• When was the last time you informed someone about something important?
• How do you feel when someone informs you clearly versus when they don’t?
• Can you think of a situation where it is very important to inform someone quickly? Why?