says the man

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'says the man' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when quoting a person or suggesting the source of the quoted statement. For example, "The elections will be held soon," says the man.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"Nothing," says the man.

The Economist

"Yes," says the man.

The Washington Post

'Really,' says the man.

The Guardian - Sport

It says the man also had meningitis.

The New York Times

"Pleased to meet you," says the man.

The Guardian

"I wouldn't buy that," says the man.

The Guardian - Books

He says the man is very lucky.

The Guardian

Mr deKrugman: Says the man with the leeches.

The New York Times

"Señor Bling," says the man who was waiting.

The New York Times - Food

No, says the man, he prefers "skin to skin".

The Economist

"Yes," says the man beside me, who directed the footage.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "says the man" to create a neutral tone when attributing a quote. It's particularly effective in journalistic contexts.

Common error

While grammatically sound, avoid repetitive use of "says the man" in fiction. Opt for more descriptive verbs or alternative phrasing to enhance narrative flow and character development.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "says the man" primarily functions as a reporting clause, attributing a statement to a male individual. Ludwig AI indicates that this is a common construction, particularly within journalistic contexts, to neutrally present dialogue or information.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "says the man" is a grammatically correct and common phrase used primarily in news and media to attribute quotes to a male individual. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and widespread use. While it is a neutral and straightforward way to indicate the speaker, it's important to avoid overuse in creative writing and consider more descriptive alternatives. As highlighted by the examples provided, "says the man" is most effective in journalistic contexts where clear attribution is crucial. Remember to adjust the tense (said vs. says) according to the narrative.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the man stated

Formal alternative using "stated" instead of "says".

the man noted

Uses "noted" instead of "says", suggesting an observation.

the man remarked

Replaces "says" with "remarked", indicating a casual comment.

as the man put it

Focuses on the specific wording used by the man.

the man explained

Suggests the man provided clarification or reasoning.

he mentioned

Indirect attribution focusing on the act of mentioning.

he pointed out

Highlights the man drawing attention to a specific detail.

in the man's words

Highlights a quote that should be as close to the original wording as possible.

according to the man

Emphasizes the man as the source of information.

the man claimed

Implies the man's statement might be contested or unverified.

FAQs

How can I use "says the man" in a sentence?

You can use "says the man" to attribute a quote to a male subject, for example: "I'm not sure about that," "says the man".

What are some alternatives to "says the man"?

You can use alternatives like "the man stated", "he mentioned", or "according to the man" to vary your writing.

Is it better to use "says the man" or "said the man"?

"Says the man" is appropriate for present-tense narratives, while "said the man" is used for past-tense narratives. Choose the tense that is consistent with your piece.

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

"Says the man" is typically used after a quote, whereas "the man says" introduces what the man is about to say. The former emphasizes the statement, while the latter emphasizes the speaker.