she said that

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "she said that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a quotation from someone else, for example: She said that "It's a beautiful day today".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"She said: 'That can't happen.

The New York Times

She said, That can't be right.

The New Yorker

She said, "That doesn't seem fair".

The New Yorker

She said that was false.

The New York Times

She said: "That does it.

The New York Times

She said: "That last guy.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

She said that was not true.

Los Angeles Times

"She said: 'That sounds good.

Los Angeles Times

– Yes she said that has been established.

BMC Family Practice

She said that, unwilling….

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

And then she said… that you have it.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use “she said that” to clearly attribute information to a female source, especially in journalistic or academic writing where accuracy is paramount.

Common error

While grammatically correct, overuse of “she said that” can lead to passive voice. Vary your sentence structure by occasionally using direct quotes or rephrasing to make the subject more active.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of “she said that” is as a reporting clause. It introduces reported speech, conveying information attributed to a female speaker. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where it precedes a statement or opinion.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase “she said that” is a very common and grammatically correct way to report speech or attribute information to a female speaker. According to Ludwig, it functions primarily as a reporting clause, suitable for neutral contexts like news and media, but also common in scientific and formal writing. While effective, varying sentence structure to avoid overuse is recommended. Remember that omitting the word "that" is also grammatically correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

She stated that

More formal alternative, emphasizing the act of making a formal statement.

She explained that

Implies that she clarified or gave a reason for something.

She mentioned that

Focuses on the act of bringing something to someone's attention.

She noted that

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

She clarified that

Highlights the act of making something clearer or more understandable.

She reported that

Implies conveying information, often of a factual or investigative nature.

She indicated that

Suggests that she subtly communicated the information.

According to her

Attributes the information directly to her as the source.

In her words

Emphasizes that the following content is a direct representation of her thoughts or speech.

She believed that

Shifts the focus to her personal conviction or opinion.

FAQs

How can I use "she said that" in a sentence?

Use "she said that" to report someone's statement or opinion. For example, "She said that the meeting was productive".

What are some alternatives to "she said that"?

You can use alternatives like "she stated that", "she mentioned that", or "according to her" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to include "that" after "she said"?

No, the "that" is often optional. Both "She said that she was tired" and "She said she was tired" are grammatically correct, but including "that" can sometimes provide clarity.

What's the difference between "she said that" and "she told me that"?

"She said that" is a general statement about what she communicated. "She told me that" indicates a direct communication to the speaker. The choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the directness of the communication.