I said about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I said about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it lacks clarity and proper structure. Example: "I said about the meeting yesterday, but I didn't provide all the details."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All of what i said about team swat can also be used it team snipes.

WikiHow

Remember what I said about that backfield.

The New York Times

"I don't recollect that I said about half," she replied.

The New York Times

The look meant Don't forget what I said about teamwork.

The New Yorker

"That's what I said about these guys.

The New York Times - Sports

"I didn't mean what I said about running away from Cherry Sue," Anna said pleadingly.

The New Yorker

I stick with what I said about the utility of this eastern temblor.

The New York Times

Lesson No 7: Remembering what I said about irony, think twice before buckling up for war.

Independent

There's something pleasing, I said, about the illusion of an irreducible unity.

The New Yorker

Keith Gessen Brooklyn, NY If it's true, I take back everything I said about karma.

The New Yorker

Teams have tried everything to deal with that guy, including what I said about tackling him".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "I said about" in formal writing. Replace it with more precise and grammatically correct alternatives like "I mentioned", "I spoke about", or "I commented on".

Common error

Don't follow "said" with "about" when you mean to indicate the topic of your speech. Using "I said about X" is often perceived as awkward or incorrect. Instead, opt for constructions like "I said something concerning X" or "I made a remark regarding X".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I said about" primarily functions as an attempt to introduce the topic of a statement. However, according to Ludwig, this construction is grammatically questionable. It aims to connect the speaker's utterance with its subject, but lacks standard grammatical support.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I said about" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. As highlighted by Ludwig, it's better to use alternatives like "I mentioned", "I spoke about", or "I commented on" for improved clarity and grammatical accuracy. While the phrase appears occasionally in informal contexts like news media and wikis, authoritative sources and formal settings demand more precise language. Therefore, avoid using "I said about" in professional writing to maintain credibility and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I mentioned

Replaces "said about" with a simple verb indicating that something was brought up.

I spoke about

Indicates a more detailed discussion of a topic compared to simply mentioning it.

I talked about

Similar to "spoke about", but often implies a more informal conversation.

I remarked on

Suggests a brief comment or observation regarding a particular subject.

I commented on

Similar to remarked on, focusing on a specific comment made.

I stated regarding

Uses a more formal verb to introduce the topic of a statement.

I noted concerning

Indicates a formal observation about something.

I had said regarding

Refers to a past statement.

What I expressed concerning

Highlights personal opinion, focusing on the content of what was expressed.

I clarified with respect to

Implies that a statement was made to bring clarity, which might be a step beyond just generally expressing opinions.

FAQs

What's wrong with the phrase "I said about"?

The phrase "I said about" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use alternatives like "I mentioned", "I spoke about", or "I commented on" to clearly express what you discussed.

What can I say instead of "I said about"?

You can replace "I said about" with phrases such as "I mentioned", "I spoke about", or "I commented on". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it ever correct to use "I said about"?

While occasionally found, "I said about" is generally not considered correct in formal or standard English. It's advisable to use more grammatically sound alternatives in most situations.

How can I use "I said" correctly in a sentence?

Use "I said" followed by a direct quote, or use alternatives like "I mentioned", "I spoke about", or "I commented on" to introduce the topic you discussed. For example, "I said, 'The meeting is at 3 PM'," or "I mentioned the upcoming deadline."