she spoke that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "she spoke that" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It is not typically used in standard English, as it lacks clarity and context. Example: "She spoke that she would arrive late" is awkward and unclear.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

"When she spoke that day it broke something in the crowd.

The Guardian

Smart people would say she spoke that way about that story because she was trying to take control over it, because she wanted to deny the pain of it, even make herself superior to it.

The New Yorker

"Um," Ms. Giordano said, chuckling as she spoke, "that's not something you can print in a newspaper".

The New York Times

It wasn't until she spoke that it became clear what she meant about turning up the heat.

The New Yorker

It surprised her, but afterward she realized she'd somehow sensed before she spoke that Connie was going to say no.

The New Yorker

She was now seventeen years old, and school had, I thought, knocked some of the wildness out of her, though there was still a slight drawl when she spoke that I liked.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

If she just be a little more calmer and think before she speaks, that's all I ask".

Los Angeles Times

The columnist Mary Riddell, who writes for the Daily Telegraph, says that she wishes never to be so close to anyone to whom she speaks that she feels constrained to 'write anything that you don't wholly believe'.

The Guardian

There was this study that she spoke about that really resonated with me, really made me think for the first time, about gendered grammar.

The Guardian

And with Bosnia, again, I admired the way she spoke out; that's leadership.

The New Yorker

We were eating dinner when she told me this, and as she spoke of that step inward, she closed her eyes.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer using more standard phrases like "she said that" or "she mentioned that" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

Avoid using "she spoke that" as it is not a recognized grammatical structure in standard English. Opt for alternatives that clearly convey the intended meaning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she spoke that" functions as a clause intended to report someone's statement or utterance. However, it's not grammatically standard. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is better to use alternatives.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Wiki

20%

Less common in

Science

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "she spoke that" appears in some contexts, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect and not standard English. Ludwig AI indicates that it's better to use alternatives like "she said that" or "she mentioned that" to ensure clarity and correctness. Authoritative sources such as The New York Times and The Guardian occasionally use the phrase, but its frequency is uncommon. Therefore, it's advisable to avoid this phrasing in formal or professional writing and opt for more standard alternatives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she said that

Replaces "spoke" with the more common and grammatically correct "said".

she mentioned that

Uses "mentioned" instead of "spoke", suggesting a less formal communication.

she stated that

Employs "stated" to indicate a more formal or official declaration.

she indicated that

Replaces "spoke" with "indicated", implying a subtle or indirect communication.

she expressed that

Uses "expressed" to focus on the conveyance of feelings or opinions.

she communicated that

Employs "communicated" to highlight the act of conveying information.

she revealed that

Replaces "spoke" with "revealed", suggesting the disclosure of something previously unknown.

she announced that

Uses "announced" to indicate a public or formal declaration.

she declared that

Employs "declared" to suggest a strong and confident assertion.

she affirmed that

Replaces "spoke" with "affirmed", implying a confirmation or validation of something.

FAQs

What are some correct alternatives to "she spoke that"?

You can use phrases like "she said that", "she mentioned that", or "she stated that" depending on the context.

Is "she spoke that" grammatically correct?

No, "she spoke that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. It's better to use "she said that" or similar alternatives.

When is it appropriate to use "she spoke that"?

It is generally not appropriate to use "she spoke that" in formal or professional writing. Stick to more common and grammatically sound alternatives for clarity.

How can I improve my sentence if I accidentally use "she spoke that"?

Replace "she spoke that" with a more standard phrase such as "she said that", "she indicated that", or "she expressed that" to ensure grammatical correctness and clarity.