they said that

USAGE SUMMARY

"they said that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to introduce a quote or report what someone said. For example: "They said that the meeting had been successful".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They said that was perverse.

The New York Times - Sports

They said that: everyone said that.

The New Yorker

"They said, 'That would be an achievement.

Independent

They said that was unlikely.

The Guardian - Books

They said that was policy.

Vice

They said that had she not behaved this way her baby might have been alright.

Archives of Women's Mental Health

(No really – they said that).

The Guardian

They said that the numbers could rise.

The New York Times

But they said that partisan differences remained.

The New York Times

(They said that it did not).

The New York Times

They said that it tasted weird.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they said that" to clearly attribute statements to a group, ensuring transparency and avoiding ambiguity about the source of information.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "they said that". Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms or rephrasing to maintain reader engagement and avoid monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they said that" functions as a reporting clause, introducing reported speech or indirect discourse. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It attributes a statement or information to a group of people, conveying what they communicated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they said that" serves as a versatile and grammatically sound reporting phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it is both correct and widely applicable for attributing statements to a collective. It appears frequently in news reporting and scientific publications, maintaining a neutral tone. When using "they said that", be mindful of potential overuse and explore synonyms to maintain engagement. Understanding its function and purpose enhances clarity and credibility in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they reported that

Uses "reported" instead of "said", implying the information was conveyed through an official channel or report.

they announced that

Replaces "said" with "announced", suggesting a formal or public declaration.

they stated that

Replaces "said" with a more formal verb, "stated", indicating a more official or deliberate announcement.

they explained that

Uses "explained" instead of "said", implying a detailed account or clarification was provided.

they indicated that

Replaces "said" with "indicated", which suggests a more subtle or indirect communication of the information.

they noted that

Substitutes "said" with "noted", suggesting the information was recorded or observed as a point of interest.

they observed that

Replaces "said" with "observed", indicating the statement is based on direct observation or experience.

they mentioned that

Substitutes "said" with "mentioned", suggesting a less formal or incidental communication.

they communicated that

Substitutes "said" with "communicated", emphasizing the act of conveying information, regardless of the specific method.

they claimed that

Uses "claimed" instead of "said", often implying the statement might be disputed or unverified.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "they said that" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using alternatives like "they stated that", "they reported that", or "they indicated that".

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

While "they said that" is grammatically correct, the "that" can often be omitted without changing the meaning. For example, both "they said that it was good" and "they said it was good" are acceptable.

When is it appropriate to use "they claimed that" instead of "they said that"?

"They claimed that" implies that the statement might be doubtful or unverified. Use it when you want to express some skepticism about the truthfulness of what was said, as opposed to neutrally reporting information with "they said that".

What are some less formal alternatives to "they said that"?

For a less formal tone, you could use phrases like "they mentioned that", "they noted", or simply integrate the statement without explicitly attributing it with "they said that" every time.