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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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about that said

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "about that said" is not correct in standard written English.
It seems to be an attempt to reference something previously mentioned, but the construction is awkward and unclear. Example: "About that said, I think we should reconsider our approach."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The publishers were really bothered about that," said Donaldson.

News & Media

Independent

"I never heard anything about that," said Diouf.

News & Media

Independent

"I hadn't thought about that," said Mr Kingston.

News & Media

The Economist

Nothing strange about that, said Wright.

"I'm sorry about that," said Josef.

News & Media

The New Yorker

"Ha, I don't know about that," said Clarke.

I was quite clear about that," said Thorman.

News & Media

The Guardian

Well I'm happy about that!" said Alain Juppé, arms outstretched.

News & Media

The Guardian

"He was exaggerating, no doubt about that," said Spens.

News & Media

The Guardian

"I have real questions about that," said Mr. Rebell.

News & Media

The New York Times

"I didn't care about that," said Mr. Louima.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "about that said" appears in numerous publications, consider replacing it with more grammatically sound alternatives such as "regarding what was said" or "concerning that statement" to enhance clarity.

Common error

Avoid directly translating thoughts into writing without revising for clarity; instead of writing "about that said", which can sound clumsy, take a moment to restructure the sentence for better flow and grammatical correctness.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

2.4/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

Adverbial phrase introducing a comment or question related to a previous statement. Although Ludwig AI notes it is not correct in standard written English, examples show it used to transition to discussing a related matter. Consider replacing it with standard usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "about that said" appears frequently in news media and general conversation, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect in standard written English. Its purpose is to connect ideas and respond to prior statements. Due to its grammatical status, it is recommended to favor more precise and formally correct alternatives such as "regarding what was said" or "concerning that statement", especially in academic or professional writing. Despite its commonality, clarity should be prioritized. Top sources using it are The Guardian, The New York Times, and BBC.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "about that said" to improve clarity?

Consider using alternatives such as "regarding what was said", "concerning that statement", or /s/with+respect+to that to achieve a more polished and grammatically correct expression.

Is "about that said" grammatically correct?

While frequently observed, "about that said" doesn't adhere to standard English grammar. It's advisable to opt for clearer and more conventional alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "about that said"?

Given its grammatical ambiguity, it's generally best to avoid "about that said" in formal writing. Opt for more precise alternatives in contexts where clarity is paramount.

What are some alternatives to reference a previous statement instead of using "about that said"?

You can effectively use phrases such as /s/in+reference+to+that, /s/on+that+subject, or /s/as+for+that to maintain grammatical accuracy and enhance clarity.

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Source & Trust

89%

Authority and reliability

2.4/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: