he then said

USAGE SUMMARY

"he then said" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it to connect a thought to the previous part of a sentence. For example, "I offered him a seat, and he then said, 'Thank you for your kindness.'".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He then said: "That's fine.

The New York Times - Sports

"Oh, I say!" he then said.

The New Yorker

"Sorry about the hecticness," he then said.

The New Yorker

He then said: "Full disclosure.

The Guardian

He then said: "I feel very strongly moving forward.

The New York Times - Sports

He then said, "If anyone else pitches tonight, we lose".

The New York Times

He then said three words to me: We got it.

The New York Times

He then said: "I don't question guys' toughness.

The New York Times - Sports

He then said, "It's really up to the presidential campaigns".

The New York Times

He then said that he had deserved to do so.

Independent

He then said, "Revis is doing a great job.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he then said" to clearly indicate a sequence of events where someone speaks after another action. This helps maintain narrative clarity.

Common error

Avoid redundancy by not using "he then said" when the sequence of speech is already clear from the context. Overusing it can make the writing repetitive and less engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he then said" primarily functions as a narrative device to indicate sequential actions, specifically that someone spoke after a preceding event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a correct and usable phrase. Examples from Ludwig demonstrate its frequent use in reporting speech following an action.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "he then said" is a commonly used phrase, particularly within news and media, to clearly indicate that someone spoke after a previous action. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability. While versatile, be mindful of overuse to avoid redundancy. Consider related phrases like "he went on to say" or "subsequently, he stated" for variation. It is a phrase that is best suited for neutral to professional contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he went on to say

Emphasizes the continuation of speech or narrative.

he further stated

Emphasizes the expansion of a previous point with additional details.

following that, he added

Highlights the act of adding more information to a previous statement.

then he mentioned

Focuses on the act of mentioning something after a previous action, rather than a direct quote.

thereafter, he noted

Indicates an observation made after an earlier event.

afterward, he commented

Indicates a comment made sometime after a prior event or statement.

subsequently, he stated

Implies a formal declaration made after some time had passed.

next, he articulated

Focuses on the clarity and precision of the speech that followed.

at that point, he declared

Highlights the decisiveness or certainty of the statement.

thereupon, he remarked

Suggests a slightly more archaic or literary tone, indicating an immediate response.

FAQs

How can I use "he then said" in a sentence?

Use "he then said" to show that someone spoke after a previous action or statement. For example, "He paused, and "he then said", 'I need more time'.

What are some alternatives to "he then said"?

You can use alternatives like "he went on to say", "subsequently, he stated", or "following that, he added" to vary your writing.

Is "he then said" formal or informal?

"He then said" is generally considered neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although more formal alternatives exist.

What's the difference between "he said then" and "he then said"?

"He then said" indicates a sequence, where the saying happened after a previous action. "He said then" is less common and can refer to something said at a specific time in the past. Prefer ""he then said"" for narrative clarity.