telling vs tell

telling is a noun but tell is not a noun.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
telling	Yes	Yes	No	No
tell	No	No	Yes	No

telling (noun)	tell (noun)
informing by words
an act of narration
disclosing information or giving evidence about another

telling (adjective)	tell (adjective)
producing a strong effect
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
powerfully persuasive

telling (verb)	tell (verb)
	discern or comprehend
	mark as different
	let something be known
	narrate or give a detailed account of
	give instructions to or direct somebody to do something with authority
	give evidence
	express in words
	inform positively and with certainty and confidence