it says however

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it says however" is not correct as it stands and may need rephrasing for clarity in written English.
You can use it when you want to introduce a contrasting point or exception to what has been previously stated, but it should be part of a larger sentence. Example: "The report is generally positive; it says, however, that there are some areas needing improvement."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It says, however, that it does not think its own systems were breached.

BBC

It says, however, that further increases in graduate numbers could start to erode the premium.

The Guardian

It says, however, that it will resubmit them when technical confusions have been sorted out and that it is absolutely confident that they are well supported by science and will win Efsa approval.

The Guardian

It says, however, that "Governor Palin's firing of Commissioner Walt Monegan was a proper and lawful exercise of her constitutional and statutory authority to hire and fire executive branch department heads".

The New York Times

Whatever it says, however, I was struck by stomach-churning paradox at the sight of a regime digging preemptive mass graves for Americans at the same time while it has the bones of thousands of its own citizens murdered in the name of revolutionary power already mouldering in other mass graves it has dug before, in stealth and secrecy.

The New Yorker

Whatever it says, however, I was struck by stomach-churning paradox at the sight of a regime digging preemptive mass graves for Americans at the same time while it has the bones of thousands of its own citizens — murdered in the name of revolutionary power — already mouldering in other mass graves it has dug before, in stealth and secrecy.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

It said, however, that its banana purchasing, marketing and shipping are now located in Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, and Germany and not in the Channel Islands.

The Guardian - Business

It said, however, that labelling was limited in its scope and might not help.

The Guardian

It said, however, that too little is known about its spread in China.

The New York Times

It said, however, that concerts would continue normally.

The New York Times - Arts

It said, however, that it was still "premature to speculate on the cause of the fire".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the phrase "it says however" is incorporated within a grammatically correct sentence structure, such as "The report is generally positive; it says, however, that there are some areas needing improvement."

Common error

Avoid using "it says however" to start a sentence or as a standalone phrase. Always integrate it within a complete sentence to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it says however" functions as a transitional phrase intended to introduce a contrast or exception to a preceding statement. However, as Ludwig AI points out, its usage requires proper integration into a complete sentence for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it says however" is intended to introduce a contrasting point, it is grammatically incorrect as a standalone phrase. Ludwig AI highlights the importance of integrating it into a complete sentence, such as "It states, however,..." or using alternative phrases like ""nevertheless"" or "on the other hand" for better clarity and correctness. Predominantly found in News & Media contexts, it requires careful usage to maintain a professional tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

however, it states

Reorders the phrase for grammatical correctness.

it notes, nevertheless

Uses "nevertheless" for a stronger contrast.

it indicates, on the other hand

Introduces a contrasting viewpoint more explicitly.

that being said, it mentions

Emphasizes a transition to a contrasting point.

it reports, conversely

Highlights an opposing report or finding.

it claims, in contrast

Emphasizes a difference in claims or assertions.

it adds, but

Simple conjunction to introduce a contrasting element.

it specifies, yet

Uses "yet" to introduce a contrasting specification.

it clarifies, even so

Introduces clarification despite a previous statement.

it points out, still

Highlights a point that remains true despite other factors.

FAQs

How should I correctly use the phrase "it says however" in a sentence?

Incorporate "it says however" within a complete sentence, like "The report is mostly positive; "however, it states" that further improvements are needed".

What's a grammatically sound alternative to "it says however"?

Use phrases like ""however, it states"", "it notes, "nevertheless"", or "it indicates, on the other hand" for better grammatical flow.

Is "it says however" grammatically correct?

No, "it says however" is not grammatically correct as a standalone phrase. It needs to be part of a larger sentence to connect contrasting ideas effectively. Consider rephrasing as "it states, however".

What is the difference between "it says however" and "it states, however"?

"It says however" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "it states, however", where "however" correctly modifies the verb and connects to the preceding clause.