the article said

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "the article said" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are referring to what a specific article has stated. For example: "The article said that the economy is improving."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"It didn't take much," the article said.

The Guardian

"Ski braggarts beware," the article said.

The New York Times - Tech

The article said there were 20.

The New York Times - Magazine

"The two voices matched," the article said.

The New York Times

The winner? "Timothy Ferriss by a landslide," the article said.

The New York Times

"Some programs seek novelty as their objective," the article said.

The New York Times

"The mood in the room suddenly shifted," the article said.

The New York Times

There was, the article said, a twin who had survived.

The New Yorker

It is Generra, as the article said, not Genarra.

The New York Times

He is Giuliano Hazan, as the article said, not Guiliano.

The New York Times - Arts

As the article said, he was 75, not 91.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your sentence structure by occasionally using alternatives like "according to the article" or "the author stated" to avoid monotony in your writing.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "the article said". This can make your writing sound repetitive. Instead, try to integrate the information more smoothly into your narrative or use a variety of attributive phrases.

Linguistic Context

Attributive phrase used to introduce information or quotes extracted from a specific article. It serves to credit the source and provide context for the information being presented. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "the article said" functions as a straightforward and grammatically sound method for attributing information to a source, as affirmed by Ludwig AI. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to lend credibility and provide context to statements. While it's a common and acceptable phrase, varying your sentence structure and attributive phrases can enhance your writing. Remember to accurately represent the original source's meaning to maintain credibility. Alternatives such as "according to the article" or "the author stated" can provide stylistic variation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the report stated

Replaces "article" with "report", changing the source type while keeping the attribution direct.

according to the article

Rephrases to emphasize reliance on the article as a source of information.

the author mentioned

Shifts focus from the article to the author, personalizing the attribution.

the piece noted

Uses "piece" as a synonym for "article", offering a slightly more informal tone.

it was written in the article

Changes the sentence structure to passive voice, emphasizing the location of the information.

the publication indicated

Replaces "article" with the more formal "publication".

the source revealed

Emphasizes the revealing nature of the information within the article.

in the article, it explained

Adds a clause to specify what the article did, rather than just stating information.

the analysis showed

Implies that the article contained an analysis that led to the stated information.

the study found

Suggests the article is reporting on research findings.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "the article said" to sound more formal?

To achieve a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "according to the article", "the author stated", or "the publication indicated".

What are some alternatives to "the article said" for academic writing?

In academic writing, you might use alternatives such as "the study found", "the research indicated", or "the analysis showed". These options emphasize the scholarly nature of the source.

Is it acceptable to use "the article said" in informal writing?

Yes, "the article said" is perfectly acceptable in informal writing. However, for more variety, you could also use phrases like "the piece noted" or "it was written in the article".

How do I avoid repeating "the article said" too often?

To avoid repetition, integrate the information from the article directly into your sentences and use varied attributive phrases. Also, try starting some sentences with the subject matter instead of the attribution.