she said about

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she said about" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used incorrectly as it lacks a direct object or a complete thought following "about." Example: "She said about the meeting that it would be postponed."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

— she said about 150 or 170.

The New York Times - Sports

Tells what she said about this role.

The New Yorker

"These two guys," she said about the Mekas brothers.

The New York Times

She is excited, she said, about the outdoor setting.

The New York Times - Arts

"It's an uptight girl," she said about this collection's character.

The New York Times

"It's O.K.," she said about her new living arrangement.

The New York Times

Nothing like that," she said about that part.

Independent

"I didn't do them," she said about the patient's lips.

The New York Times

You just deal," she said about life on a boat.

The New York Times

"This is boring," she said about 20 minutes in.

The New York Times

"They're already paid enough," she said about the transit workers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using "she said about" in formal writing. Opt for grammatically correct alternatives like "she said regarding" or "she commented on".

Common error

Ensure that when using 'said', you follow it with a direct object or a complete clause. For instance, instead of saying "she said about the project", say "she said something about the project" or, better yet, "she commented on the project".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she said about" functions as an incomplete attribution. It attempts to introduce a statement or comment made by a female subject, but it grammatically requires a direct object or further clarification to be complete. Ludwig AI indicates that it is typically used incorrectly.

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, while the phrase "she said about" appears frequently, especially in news and media sources, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI flags it as an incomplete phrase that needs further clarification. The correct way to phrase is to use alternatives like "she commented on", "she mentioned", or "she stated". It's crucial to use grammatically sound alternatives to ensure clarity and maintain a professional tone, especially in formal writing. The high frequency of this phrase doesn't justify its use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she mentioned

Replaces "said about" with a more concise and grammatically standard verb.

she stated

Uses a more formal verb to indicate a declaration or announcement.

she commented on

Emphasizes the act of providing commentary or remarks regarding a specific topic.

she remarked

Suggests a brief or casual statement.

she noted

Indicates that she drew attention to a particular fact or detail.

she explained

Highlights that she provided clarification or reasoning.

she clarified

Emphasizes the act of making something clearer or less ambiguous.

she disclosed

Suggests the revelation of information that was previously private or unknown.

she revealed

Highlights the act of uncovering or unveiling something.

she divulged

Implies the sharing of sensitive or confidential information.

FAQs

What's grammatically wrong with the phrase "she said about"?

The phrase "she said about" is not correct in standard written English. It lacks a direct object or a complete clause after 'about'. It should be replaced by constructions like "she said something about", "she commented on", or "she mentioned".

How can I correctly use 'said' to introduce a topic?

Instead of saying "she said about the issue", you could say "she "commented on" the issue", "she "spoke about" the issue", or "she made a statement regarding the issue".

Which is more appropriate: "she said about" or "she talked about"?

"She "talked about"" is grammatically correct and generally more appropriate. "She said about" is often an incomplete or incorrect phrasing.

What are some formal alternatives to "she said about" for professional writing?

For formal writing, consider using phrases like "she "stated"", "she "indicated"", or "she "asserted"" followed by a complete clause detailing what she said. These options are more precise and grammatically sound.