# point out that

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/point-out-that
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to tell someone a fact or piece of information that they might not know or have noticed.

For teachers: to draw attention to a specific fact or detail, often to clarify a situation or correct a misunderstanding; functions as a reporting verb followed by a complement clause.

## Examples

- I should point out that the museum is closed on Mondays.
- During the meeting, the accountant had to point out that the company was actually losing money on the project.
- The researchers were careful to point out that their findings were preliminary and required further validation through large-scale clinical trials.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He pointed out me that I was wrong." but "He pointed out to me that I was wrong." — if you include the person being told, you must use the preposition 'to' before the person.

## Usage notes

- often used to introduce a correction or a necessary piece of context in a discussion.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'show' or 'indicate'; 'point out' is specifically used for verbalizing a fact or observation rather than physically gesturing toward an object.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.