of said thing

USAGE SUMMARY

"of said thing" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when referring back to something that has been previously mentioned in a sentence. For example, "I told him the story of said thing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Since celebrities can't just be a thing without being "the most beautiful" or "sexiest" version of said thing, PETA has released its annual "Sexiest Vegan" title for 2017.

Huffington Post

I also believe that if Americans buy a lot of a certain thing, the manufacturing and pricing of said thing will naturally find a natural path to being cheaper.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Your way of saying things is strange.

The New Yorker

"We know there's a consistent pattern of Iranian behavior of saying things and then backtracking.

The New York Times

Ministers have a habit of saying things like this when the chips are down.

Independent

Practising Buddhists have a habit of saying things like that while smiling serenely at you.

Independent

I worked five years of my life to come to a way of saying things that made it comfortable".

The New York Times - Arts

Sometimes they can be pure poetry, a far better way of saying things that their English equivalent (Schnellschrauber = power drill).

The Guardian

"The power of saying things out loud enables momentum," she said.

The Guardian

"Dr Paul has a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and false," Gingrich said.

The Guardian

"I have no recollection of saying things like that," he says.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "of said thing" sparingly in formal writing to refer back to a specific noun, avoiding overuse that can make your writing sound stilted. For example, if you've mentioned 'the proposal' earlier, you can use "of said thing" instead of repeating 'the proposal', but only if it enhances clarity.

Common error

Avoid substituting simpler, more direct phrasing with "of said thing" in modern writing contexts. While grammatically correct, its overuse can give your writing an unnatural or affected tone. Prefer alternatives like "regarding this", "concerning that", or simply repeating the noun.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "of said thing" functions as a prepositional phrase used to refer back to something previously mentioned. According to Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and can be used in written English to reference something already discussed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "of said thing" is a grammatically correct prepositional phrase used to refer back to a previously mentioned item. Ludwig AI indicates it is acceptable in written English, but its frequency is rare and is mostly found in News & Media. While formally correct, it can sound archaic in modern contexts. Alternative phrases like "regarding the aforementioned item" or "concerning the subject at hand" might be more appropriate in contemporary writing to avoid sounding stilted. Consider the context and audience when deciding whether to use this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pertaining to the aforementioned

Uses "aforementioned" to refer back, increasing formality.

regarding the previously stated

Emphasizes that it was already mentioned before.

regarding the aforementioned item

Replaces "thing" with "item" and adds formality through "aforementioned".

with reference to the above

Implies looking back at something above in a text or document.

concerning the subject at hand

Shifts focus to the present topic and uses more formal language.

in regards to what was referenced

Highlights that the item was not simply 'said' but specifically referenced.

in relation to that matter

Emphasizes connection to a broader issue.

in connection with that element

Replaces "thing" with "element", implying a component.

in respect to that object

Replaces "thing" with the more specific "object".

related to the entity in question

Uses more technical and formal vocabulary.

FAQs

What does "of said thing" mean?

The phrase "of said thing" is a formal way to refer back to something that has already been mentioned. It's similar to saying "of that thing" or "regarding the aforementioned item", but it carries a more archaic tone.

When is it appropriate to use "of said thing"?

It is most appropriate in formal writing or legal documents where precision and a sense of tradition are valued. However, in most contemporary contexts, simpler alternatives are preferred.

What can I say instead of "of said thing"?

You can use alternatives like "regarding the aforementioned item", "concerning the subject at hand", or "in relation to that matter" depending on the context.

Is "of said thing" grammatically correct?

Yes, the phrase "of said thing" is grammatically correct, but its usage can sound overly formal or archaic in modern English. While it's not incorrect, there are often clearer and more concise ways to express the same idea.