have said

USAGE SUMMARY

"have said" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that someone said in the past. For example, "The speaker had said that the new project was doomed to fail."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Journalists have said it.

The New York Times - Sports

They have said so.

The Economist

Bummer, she might have said.

The New York Times

Should I have said something?

The New York Times

They would have said something.

The New Yorker

He could have said "monetize".

The New Yorker

Others have said that elsewhere.

The New York Times

I should have said that.

The New York Times

Should he have said it?

The Guardian

"I'd never have said no".

The New Yorker

Never have said that word.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "have said" to accurately report what someone communicated in the past. Ensure the context clearly indicates who made the statement and when.

Common error

Avoid using "have said" when referring to a single, completed action in the past. Instead, use "said" for simple past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "have said" functions primarily as a present perfect construction, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time in the past with relevance to the present. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples confirms this widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

22%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "have said" is a versatile present perfect construction used to reference statements made in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and very common in various contexts, particularly in news and media and scientific writing. While suitable for neutral registers, writers should be mindful of its present relevance and avoid using it for simple past actions where "said" is more appropriate. Alternatives like "stated" or "mentioned" can add variety to writing while maintaining clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

stated

This alternative offers a formal and direct way to express that something has been declared.

mentioned

Implies a casual or brief reference to something.

indicated

Suggests a more subtle or indirect communication.

asserted

Emphasizes a strong declaration of belief or fact.

declared

Highlights a formal or official announcement.

expressed

Focuses on conveying a thought or feeling.

remarked

Indicates a brief or casual observation.

noted

Implies attention being drawn to a particular point.

confirmed

Focuses on verifying or validating a statement.

pointed out

Highlights bringing attention to a specific detail or fact.

FAQs

How do I use "have said" correctly in a sentence?

Use "have said" to indicate a completed action where someone made a statement. For example, "The experts "have said" that the economy is improving".

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

"Have said" implies a completed action with relevance to the present, whereas "said" simply refers to a past action. For example, "He said he would come" (simple past) vs. "He "has said" he will come" (present perfect, implying he might still come).

Which is correct, "have said" or "had said"?

"Have said" is present perfect, indicating a past action with present relevance. "Had said" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. Choose based on the timeline of events you're describing. For example, "He "has said" he will arrive tomorrow" versus "He "had said" he would arrive, but he never did".

What are some alternatives to using "have said" in writing?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "stated", "mentioned", or "indicated" to add variety to your writing.