like he say

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "like he say" is not correct in standard written English.
It is an informal expression that may be used in spoken language or dialects but should be avoided in formal writing. Example: "I always remember what he say, it helps me make better decisions."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

The ethnicity of the characters, and the slightly unfamiliar ring of lines like "He say, 'Come here, little man.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Acquisitions are what people like," he says.

The New Yorker

"Same one you would like," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"Drainage, like," he said.

The New Yorker

What's not to like?" he said.

BBC

"No like," he said.

Vice

Like he said he would.

The Guardian

But we just, like, he says, we feel like we're the minority.

BMJ Open

Worker 1 : Yes normally through the foreman, like he said, he explains and translates if necessary.

Environmental Health: A Global Access Science Source

They label it, like he said, the best they had at the time.

CBE Life Sciences Education

I would have liked that," he said.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, always use grammatically correct alternatives such as "as he says" or "like he said" instead of "like he say".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb ("say") after "like" in this context. Instead, use the past tense ("said") or a grammatically correct alternative such as "as he says".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "like he say" functions as an informal way to introduce a statement or quote attributed to someone. Ludwig AI indicates that the expression is not grammatically correct in standard written English and suggests alternatives.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "like he say" is an informal and grammatically incorrect phrase used to introduce a statement attributed to someone. Ludwig AI flags it as non-standard and suggests using grammatically correct alternatives such as "as he says" or "like he said". While it appears in some news and media contexts, it is best to avoid this phrase in formal writing. It's important to choose the correct verb tense and conjunction for clear and accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

as he says

Uses a standard conjunction "as" instead of "like" and the correct verb form "says".

like he said

Corrects the verb tense to the past tense "said" to match the "like" construction, implying a past statement.

as he mentioned

Replaces "like" with "as" and uses "mentioned" for a more formal tone.

according to him

Offers a more formal way to attribute the statement to the person.

in his words

Highlights that the following is a direct quote or close paraphrase.

he says

A direct and grammatically correct way to introduce a quote or statement.

he stated

Uses a more formal verb "stated" to indicate a formal declaration.

he remarked

Emphasizes the statement was a comment or observation.

as he put it

Indicates the following is the exact wording used by the person.

in his view

Indicates the following is the person's opinion or perspective.

FAQs

Is "like he say" grammatically correct?

No, "like he say" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct forms are "as he says" or "like he said".

What can I say instead of "like he say"?

You can use alternatives "as he says", "like he said", or "according to him" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "like he say" or "like he said"?

"Like he said" is the correct form. "Like he say" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "as he says" and "like he said"?

"As he says" is present tense, indicating something he currently says. "Like he said" is past tense, indicating something he said in the past.