does that is to say

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "does that is to say" is not correct in English.
It seems to be a mix-up of two separate phrases: "does that mean" and "that is to say." Example: "The project was delayed; that is to say, we will need more time to complete it."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Commenting on the Zika crisis during a press conference on the papal jet, Pope Francis told reporters that abortion is "what the mafia does", that is to say "a crime, an absolute evil".

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Now anybody who's familiar with direct marketing knows that it relies on your *reacting* to what your customers are telling you (put better, doing – that is to say, who's buying).

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And the easiest way of doing that is to say that n divided by 2 to the i is 1.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The way to do that is to say he made a mistake at the demonstration outside the Tory party central office [on 10 November].

The Guardian

Another way to do that is to say out loud, "I'm going to go into the other room and get my book," when that's what you plan to do.

The New York Times

One way to do that is to say why the tweet is worth reading.

Forbes

Alternative assessment asks students to show what they can do, that is to say, students are evaluated on what they integrate and produce rather than on what they are able to recall (Macias, 1995, cited in Coombe et al., 2007).

Language Testing in Asia

"Our first reaction when they did that was to say thank you," she says to big laughs.

Forbes

How else does racism -- that is to say, dehumanization -- manifest in our society?

Huffington Post

That is to say, did students' attitudes about their classmates and instructors relate to their help-seeking behavior?

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education

That is to say, ϕ does not change over time t > 50.

Journal of Inequalities and Applications

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase “does that is to say” in your writing. It is grammatically incorrect. Use "that is to say" or "that means" instead to introduce an explanation or clarification.

Common error

Be careful not to blend similar phrases together. Mixing “does that mean” with “that is to say” results in the ungrammatical “does that is to say”.

Linguistic Context

The phrase “does that is to say” is an incorrect conflation of similar phrases. Its intended grammatical function is to provide clarification or explanation, but its ungrammatical structure undermines this purpose. Ludwig AI highlights that the phrase is non-standard.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase “does that is to say” is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in formal writing. As pointed out by Ludwig AI, it's a blend of “does that mean” and “that is to say”. Correct alternatives include “that is to say”, "in other words", or "that means", depending on the intended meaning. While rare, its appearance across various sources like news, academia, and science underscores the importance of careful phrase construction to maintain clarity and credibility in writing. Always prioritize grammatical accuracy for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

That is to say

Omits "does" which corrects the grammar while retaining the original meaning of clarification or explanation.

That means

Provides a direct consequence or implication, simplifying the original phrase.

In other words

Offers an alternative wording to clarify a previous statement.

Which is to say

Emphasizes the explanation or interpretation that follows.

Put another way

Suggests a different perspective or phrasing for better understanding.

To put it differently

Indicates a rephrasing for clarity or emphasis.

This implies

Highlights the logical consequence or implication of a statement.

This suggests

Indicates a possible interpretation or conclusion.

This indicates

Points to evidence or a sign that supports a particular idea.

Essentially

Condenses a complex idea into its basic or most important elements.

FAQs

What is the correct way to use "that is to say"?

Use "that is to say" to introduce a more precise or detailed explanation of something you've already stated. For example: "The project is behind schedule; that is to say, we need to work overtime."

Is "does that mean" the same as "that is to say"?

While both phrases introduce further explanation, "does that mean" is used to inquire about the implication of something, whereas "that is to say" offers a rephrasing for clarity. You can use "that means" as an alternative.

What are some alternatives to "that is to say"?

Alternatives include "in other words", "put differently", or "to clarify". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

When should I use "that is to say" instead of "for example"?

"That is to say" provides clarification or restatement, while "for example" introduces a specific instance or illustration. Use "that is to say" when you want to explain the same concept in different terms, and "for example" when you want to provide a concrete illustration.