what does say

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what does say" is not correct and usable in written English. It should be used in a context where the subject is specified, such as "what does he say" or "what does it say." An example could be: "What does the sign say?" Alternative expressions include "what does it mean" and "what is said."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

What does say about the Herbalife situation?

The New York Times

What does say about children and buttons?

BBC

So what does Say Something do?

TechCrunch

And Macon and I would go back to Giraldi and ask what does, say, this line in the novel here mean to you.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

What do say to that?

Forbes

So what do say, James?

WikiHow

What does ethics say?

The New York Times - Magazine

What does that say?

The New York Times

"What does this say?

The New York Times

And what does he say?

The New Yorker

So what does Steve say?

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you see the phrase written somewhere, check that is part of a more articulated question. Example: "And Macon and I would go back to Giraldi and ask what does, say, this line in the novel here mean to you."

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "what does say" without a specified subject. This omission creates a grammatically incorrect and unclear question. Always include the person, thing, or entity that is doing the saying for clarity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what does say" functions as an interrogative fragment, typically introducing a question. It requires completion with a subject to form a grammatically correct sentence. The examples Ludwig provides highlight this incompleteness, as they are usually parts of a longer, correctly structured question.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Academia

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "what does say" is generally considered grammatically incorrect and incomplete. As Ludwig AI underlines, the phrase lacks a specified subject, making it an improper question format. Although some instances appear in sources like news articles and academic texts, these are typically parts of complete, grammatically sound sentences. For clear and effective communication, it is recommended to use alternative phrases that include a subject, such as "what does he say?" or "what does it mean?", ensuring the question is both grammatically correct and easily understood.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what does someone say

Specifically asks about the statement made by an individual.

what did you say

Requests a repetition of a statement, typically when not heard or understood.

what does it mean

Focuses on the meaning or implication of something, rather than a direct quote.

what is the meaning of

Emphasizes the definition or significance behind a concept or statement.

what do you mean

Inquires about the intended meaning or explanation from the listener.

how do you interpret

Asks for an explanation of the perceived meaning or significance.

what is your opinion

Seeks a personal viewpoint or assessment on a particular topic.

what's your take on it

Asks for an individual's perspective or understanding of a situation.

what are your thoughts

Requests a person's reflections or considerations on a matter.

what are the implications

Focuses on the potential consequences or effects of a statement or action.

FAQs

How can I correctly use "what does say" in a sentence?

The phrase "what does say" is grammatically incomplete. To use it correctly, you must include a subject. For example, you could ask, "what does he say?", "what does it say?", or "what does the author say?"

What are some alternatives to "what does say" that are grammatically correct?

Instead of "what does say", you can use phrases like "what does he mean?", "what is said?", or specify the subject: "what does the report indicate?"

Is "what does say" grammatically correct, or should I use another phrase?

The phrase "what does say" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because it lacks a subject. It is better to use a complete sentence that specifies who or what is doing the saying, such as "what does she say?"

What is the difference between "what does say" and "what does it mean"?

"What does say" is an incomplete and incorrect phrase needing a subject. "What does it mean?" is a complete and grammatically correct question that inquires about the significance or interpretation of something.