says

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "says" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used as a verb, usually used in the third person singular form. For example: "Sarah says she would like to visit Mexico this summer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Yeah," he says.

The Guardian - Tech

"Yes," he says.

The New York Times - Books

Who says?

The New York Times - Books

"Of course", he says.

The Guardian

"I don't know," he says.

The New York Times

"Yes," she says.

The Guardian

"Definitely," he says.

The Guardian

I think parents should be able to teach their kids what their faith says, what science says.

The New York Times

I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that's a dispute amongst theologians and I think it has nothing to do with the gross domestic product or economic growth of the United States.

The New York Times

Not really, he says.

The New York Times

"Really?" he says.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing news reports or academic papers, use "says" to maintain a neutral tone when presenting information from various sources.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses when using "says". If the original statement was in the past, ensure your sentence structure reflects this consistently. For example, use "said" instead of "says" if the action happened in the past.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "says" is as a third-person singular present tense verb. It's used to report someone's words, thoughts, or opinions, acting as a reporting verb. This aligns with Ludwig AI's assessment of it as a verb.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "says" functions as a verb used to attribute information to a source, according to Ludwig AI. Its grammatical function is primarily as a third-person singular present tense. "Says" is most frequently found in News & Media contexts, reflecting its role in reporting statements and conveying information. While considered neutral in register, its versatility allows for use across diverse contexts. It is, according to Ludwig, a grammatically correct and very common word in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

states

Uses a more formal verb to express the act of declaring something.

declares

Suggests a more emphatic or official announcement.

asserts

Implies a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.

reports

Implies the act of conveying information, usually in a formal setting.

mentions

Indicates a brief or casual reference to something.

claims

Indicates that something is presented as a fact, but it might be disputable.

notes

Highlights a detail or observation.

indicates

Suggests that something is pointed out or shown.

expresses

Conveys a thought or feeling in words or by gestures and conduct.

relates

Narrates or tells a story, incident, or piece of information.

FAQs

How to use "says" in a sentence?

Use "says" to attribute a statement to someone. For example, "The article "says" that the economy is improving."

What can I say instead of "says"?

You can use alternatives like "states", "mentions", or "declares" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "says" or "said"?

"Says" is used in the present tense, while "said" is used in the past tense. Choose the correct tense based on when the statement was made. Example: He "says" he will arrive tomorrow (future), he "said" he would arrive yesterday (past).

What's the difference between "says" and "claims"?

"Says" is a neutral way to report a statement. "Claims" implies that the statement may be disputed or unverified. Example: He "says" he is innocent (neutral). He "claims" he is innocent (implies doubt).