frankly said

USAGE SUMMARY

"frankly said" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to preface a statement that is bluntly honest. For example: "Frankly said, I don't think you should go through with it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It should be the same, frankly," said Gibb.

The Guardian

"Their conduct has been unimpeachable, frankly," said Mark Borkowski, a media commentator and publicist here.

The New York Times

"Quite frankly," said his son Hal, the managing general partner, "I think he was almost speechless".

The New York Times

"I think there is fatigue, quite frankly," said Siddharth Varadarajan, the editor of The Hindu, a leading newspaper.

The New York Times

"We're a bit lost without Wall Street, frankly," said Alexandre Tixier, a technical analyst at TradingSat in Paris.

The New York Times

"It's very hard, frankly," said Mr. Schwartz of the Obama campaign.

The New York Times

"I think that's kind of a phony argument, frankly," said McGovern.

The New Yorker

"The northern axis has met with some very stiff resistance, frankly," said Warren.

The Guardian

Instead, a lot of European companies frankly said the sanctions compliance problems, having to deal with the headaches of sanctions is simply not worth continue purchases from Iran.

Columbia University

"We had very little access, frankly," said Mr. Woolsey, who has become a leading critic of Mr. Clinton and other Democrats.

The New York Times

"That was a bit severe for me, and I just frankly said 'no,' " he explains, with an urbane little laugh.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "frankly said" to directly introduce an honest or potentially blunt statement. It's best used when you want to emphasize your candor.

Common error

Avoid using "frankly said" too frequently, as it can make your writing sound repetitive and insincere. Instead, vary your phrasing to maintain a natural tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "frankly said" primarily functions as a discourse marker. It signals that the speaker is about to make a candid or direct statement. Ludwig AI shows it's used to introduce opinions or assessments.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Academia

34%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "frankly said" is a grammatically correct phrase used to introduce a candid or blunt statement. According to Ludwig AI, it’s perfectly usable in written English and serves to preface a statement of blunt honesty. While not extremely common, it appears primarily in News & Media and Academic contexts. When writing, use it sparingly to emphasize your honesty without sounding repetitive. Consider alternatives like "to be honest" or "candidly speaking" for similar effect.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to be frank

Directly indicates the speaker is about to be open and possibly blunt.

to be honest

A common phrase used to introduce a truthful or candid statement.

in all honesty

Emphasizes sincerity and truthfulness in the following statement.

to tell you the truth

Signals a disclosure of something previously unsaid or perhaps concealed.

candidly speaking

Highlights the straightforward and unreserved nature of the speaker's comments.

truthfully

A concise adverb indicating the speaker is being honest.

in truth

Similar to "in all honesty", it underscores the veracity of the statement.

honestly

A simple adverb denoting sincerity and lack of deception.

in plain language

Indicates a clear and straightforward explanation, avoiding jargon.

putting it simply

Suggests a concise and uncomplicated explanation.

FAQs

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

"Frankly said" is used to introduce a candid or blunt statement. For example, "Frankly said, I don't think that's a good idea."

What phrases are similar to "frankly said"?

Alternatives include "to be honest", "to tell you the truth", or "candidly speaking".

Is "frankly said" considered formal or informal?

"Frankly said" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in spoken language than in highly formal writing.

Is it redundant to use "frankly" and "said" together?

While some may view it as slightly redundant, the phrase "frankly said" is used to emphasize the directness and honesty of the following statement. The Ludwig AI confirms it's a usable phrase.