but said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "but said" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone has spoken or expressed something, often in contrast to a previous statement or expectation. Example: "She was excited about the trip, but said she needed to finish her work first."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

— Benazir but, said Gerry.

The New Yorker

She nodded but said nothing.

The New Yorker

He nodded, but said nothing.

The New Yorker

A few smiled, but said nothing.

The New York Times

Mr. Daley nodded but said nothing.

The New York Times - Science

O'Neal listened politely but said nothing.

The New Yorker

Dr. Steiner grinned, but said nothing.

The New York Times

Derrick thanked them but said no.

The New Yorker

Cunningham nodded politely, but said little.

The New Yorker

Curry disagreed, but said: "We're winning.

The New York Times - Sports

We demurred but said we'd be back.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the contrasting statement introduced by "but said" is logically related to the previous statement to maintain coherence in your writing.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences in dialogue with "but said". Vary your sentence structure by using alternatives like adverbs or different verbs to keep the writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "but said" functions as a conjunction introducing a contrasting statement or qualification made by a specific person. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates a shift in perspective or a contrasting element within a dialogue or narrative, building upon the previous statement.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "but said" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to introduce contrasting statements or qualifications, according to Ludwig AI. It's commonly found in news and media, with a neutral register that fits various writing styles. Alternatives like "however stated" or "yet mentioned" can add variety. Using "but said" effectively means ensuring logical connections between statements and avoiding overuse in dialogue. Remember to maintain clear, concise writing and use "but said" to highlight differences in opinion and reservations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however stated

Replaces "but" with "however" to introduce a contrast, maintaining a similar level of formality.

yet mentioned

Substitutes "but" with "yet" and "said" with "mentioned", softening the contrast slightly.

though expressed

Uses "though" instead of "but" and "expressed" instead of "said" to convey a more formal tone.

although remarked

Similar to "though expressed", offering a slightly different nuance with "remarked".

nonetheless indicated

Emphasizes the contrast more strongly while using a more formal verb.

still asserted

Implies a stronger conviction despite the contrast.

in spite of that, told

Breaks the phrase into a prepositional phrase followed by "told", adding emphasis.

even so, communicated

More emphatic in its contrast, with a more formal verb.

even though he voiced

Introduces a more explanatory tone regarding the initial statement.

with that being said

Introduces a new perspective, often implying a degree of acceptance of the previous statement, but now moving in another direction.

FAQs

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

Use "but said" to introduce a contrasting statement or qualification made by someone, like in the sentence: "He agreed with the plan, "but said" it needed further refinement".

What are some alternatives to "but said"?

You can use alternatives like "however stated", "yet mentioned", or "although remarked" depending on the context and level of formality.

Is it grammatically correct to use "but said"?

Yes, "but said" is grammatically correct and commonly used to introduce a contrasting statement or qualification.

What's the difference between "but said" and "and said"?

"But said" introduces a contrast or qualification, while "and said" simply adds more information from the same speaker. For example: "She was tired, "but said" she would continue working" (contrast) versus "He smiled, "and said" he was happy to be there" (addition).