that I said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "that I said" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer back to something you previously mentioned or stated in conversation or writing. Example: "I want to clarify the point that I said during the meeting about our project timeline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

" 'Oh, that,' I said.

The New York Times - Books

"Play that," I said.

The New Yorker

"What's that?" I said.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Don't do that," I said.

The New Yorker

"Sorry about that," I said.

The New York Times

"What was that?" I said.

The New Yorker

"You can't touch that," I said.

The New Yorker

"Will you look at that," I said.

The New Yorker

"Let me see that," I said.

The New Yorker

"I can see that," I said.

The New Yorker

"I don't have that," I said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "that I said" to refer back to something you have already mentioned, providing context or clarification for your current statement.

Common error

Avoid using "that I said" when referring to something another person stated. Instead, use "that you said" or "what they said" to maintain clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that I said" functions as a dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun, referring back to a specific statement made by the speaker. It serves to clarify, emphasize, or provide context to the current statement. Ludwig confirms the proper usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that I said" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction that functions to refer back to a previous statement. According to Ludwig, this phrase is correct and effectively employed across a wide range of communicative contexts. While mainly present in News & Media, this expression improves clarity by connecting different parts of a conversation or piece of writing, making it an essential tool for effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what I mentioned

Replaces "that" with "what", shifting the focus slightly to the content of the statement.

the point I made

Emphasizes the statement as a specific point or argument.

what I stated earlier

Adds a temporal marker, indicating the statement was made previously.

as I previously stated

More formal rephrasing indicating something said before.

the thing I remarked

Uses "remarked" instead of "said", suggesting a casual comment.

what I expressed

Replaces "said" with "expressed", emphasizing the communication of a feeling or idea.

what I communicated

Focuses on the act of conveying information.

my previous statement

Formal way to indicate the speaker's previous affirmation.

the comment I offered

Highlights the statement as a contribution to a conversation.

the remark I uttered

Slightly more dramatic or emphasized version of "that I said".

FAQs

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

You can use "that I said" to refer back to a previous statement for emphasis or clarification, as in, "Let me elaborate on the point "that I said" earlier."

What's a formal alternative to "that I said"?

A more formal alternative is "as I previously stated" or "the aforementioned statement". These options are better suited for academic or professional writing.

Is it correct to say "what I said" instead of "that I said"?

Yes, "what I said" and ""that I said"" are often interchangeable, though "what I said" might emphasize the content of the statement more directly.

How does "that I mentioned" differ from ""that I said""?

"That I mentioned" is slightly less direct and can refer to a passing reference, while ""that I said"" usually refers to a more explicit statement.