he was saying

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was saying" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are quoting someone's speech. For example, "John said, 'I think we should go', and he was saying it with great conviction."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"He was saying nothing.

The New York Times

That's what he was saying".

The New York Times

He was saying, 'Allah akbar!

The New Yorker

He was saying, 'We won!

The New York Times

"I drove three hours," he was saying.

The New Yorker

He was saying we would be together.

The New Yorker

I realise now he was saying goodbye".

Independent

"Don't 'be concerned,' " he was saying.

The New York Times

He was saying: "Can we go in?

The New York Times

As ever, he was saying nothing.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

He was said to be insensitive.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was saying" when you want to emphasize the continuous nature of the speech act, suggesting it was ongoing or repeated over a period.

Common error

Avoid switching between past continuous ("he was saying") and simple past ("he said") without a clear reason. Consistent tense usage makes writing clearer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was saying" functions as a reporting verb construction, specifically in the past continuous tense. It is used to recount what someone expressed orally, typically emphasizing the ongoing or repeated nature of the act of speaking. Ludwig confirms that this is a standard and acceptable usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Science

12%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was saying" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to report someone's ongoing or repeated speech in the past. As Ludwig confirms, it is widely accepted and serves as a standard way to recount conversations or spoken statements. It's prevalent in news media and other forms of narrative writing. When writing with this expression, ensure tense consistency and choose appropriate alternatives like "he stated" or "he mentioned" depending on context. Overall, understanding the nuances of "he was saying" can help you communicate more effectively and with greater precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he stated

Formal alternative replacing the continuous aspect with a simple past tense.

he remarked

Suggests a brief observation or comment made by the person.

he mentioned

Indicates the person brought up a topic briefly.

he noted

Implies the person drew attention to a specific detail or fact.

he pointed out

Highlights that the person clarified or emphasized a particular aspect.

he explained

The person provided a detailed account or reason.

he communicated

Broad term indicating the person conveyed information.

he conveyed

Similar to "communicated" but suggests a more indirect transmission of information.

he related

The person told a story or gave an account of something.

he articulated

Suggests the person expressed themselves clearly and effectively.

FAQs

How can I use "he was saying" in a sentence?

"He was saying" is used to report someone's words, often when the action of speaking was ongoing or repeated. For example, "Throughout the meeting, "he was saying" that more resources were needed."

What are some alternatives to "he was saying"?

Depending on the context, you could use "he stated", "he mentioned", or "he remarked" to report someone's speech.

Is it always necessary to use "he was saying", or can I just use "he said"?

While "he said" is a simple past tense, "he was saying" (past continuous) implies an ongoing or repeated action. Choose the tense that best reflects the situation you are describing.

What's the difference between "he was saying" and "he had been saying"?

"He was saying" indicates an action in progress at a specific time in the past, whereas "he had been saying" refers to an action that started in the past and continued until another point in the past. For example, "He was saying hello as he walked by" versus "He had been saying for weeks that he would quit."