according to said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "according to said" is not commonly used in written English and may sound awkward or overly formal.
It can be used in legal or formal contexts where one refers to a previously mentioned statement or document. Example: "According to said document, the terms of the agreement are binding."

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

According to said panel, this includes Radiohead's In Rainbows, Burial's Untrue and Estelle's Shine.

The Guardian - Music

Paperwork is being signed today, according to said sources.

TechCrunch

According to said product page, the 940 will be similar to the 930 (pictured), just with the LIVE services added.

TechCrunch

According to said folklore, seventh sons turn into el lobizon on their 13th birthday if nothing is done about the hereditary curse.

Vice

Neu, Staehely, Jones, and Chiba have been placed on paid administrative leave, according to said Mark Nicco, assistant legal counsel for the sheriff's department.

Vice

And those servants of the People who are tasked with covert operations shall be individually criminally liable for failing to act according to said principles.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Readers can go online and create their own tables by ranking according to, say, job prospects or student satisfaction.

The Guardian

ReadWrite currently sees 1.3 million unique visitors each month, according to Say Media.

TechCrunch

"The rules of media have completely been broken," according to Say Media CEO Matt Sanchez.

TechCrunch

The sisters were 13, 15 and 16 years old, according to Sayed Farah Muz, their uncle.

The New York Times

According to Torre, Jeter said nothing.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, while "according to said" might be technically correct when referring back to something specific already mentioned, it is often stylistically better to use alternatives like "according to the aforementioned" or simply repeat the noun to which "said" refers.

Common error

Avoid using "according to said" in informal writing or conversation. It can sound overly formal and stilted, making your writing seem unnatural. Opt for simpler phrasing like "according to" followed by the source's name.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "according to said" functions as a prepositional phrase introducing information attributed to a previously mentioned source. Ludwig indicates it is used in formal contexts. However, it can sound awkward in general use.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "according to said" is grammatically acceptable but often stylistically awkward in modern English. As Ludwig AI indicates, it can be used in formal or legal contexts when referring back to something already explicitly mentioned, but it's generally better to use clearer alternatives like "according to the aforementioned" or by restating the source. Ludwig's examples indicate that the most frequent sources come from news and media. While present, the phrase is uncommon and care should be taken to ensure its usage is appropriate for the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as stated by said

Replaces "according to" with "as stated by", emphasizing the act of stating; this variation maintains a similar level of formality.

according to the aforementioned

Substitutes "said" with "aforementioned", a more common and stylistically smoother alternative in formal writing.

following said

Shortens the phrase, implying accordance with a previously mentioned source or statement. It's less common and more concise.

in accordance with said

Introduces a more formal and legalistic tone, suitable for official documents and reports.

based on said

Indicates that something is predicated or reliant on a previous statement or source.

per said

A very concise and formal alternative, often used in legal or official correspondence.

as reported by said

Highlights the reporting aspect, useful when referring to news or journalistic sources.

as cited by said

Focuses on the act of citing a source, emphasizing its importance or authority.

as indicated in said

Emphasizes that the information is gleaned from a written source, suitable for analytical or research contexts.

as determined by said

Highlights that the information is the result of a determination or judgment made by the source.

FAQs

How can I use "according to said" in a sentence?

While grammatically correct, "according to said" is often considered awkward. A better approach is to restate the noun; for example, "According to the document..." or use "according to the aforementioned" if you've already clearly identified the source.

What's a better alternative to "according to said"?

Alternatives include repeating the noun (e.g., "according to the report"), using "according to the aforementioned", or, in less formal contexts, rephrasing entirely (e.g., "the report states that").

Is "according to said" too formal for general writing?

Yes, "according to said" leans towards overly formal and can sound stilted in general writing. It's best reserved for legal or very formal documentation, and even then, consider more common alternatives.

What's the difference between "according to said" and "according to the aforementioned"?

"According to the aforementioned" is generally preferred over "according to said" because it flows better and is more widely accepted in formal writing. Both refer back to a previously mentioned item, but "the aforementioned" sounds less awkward.