who says

USAGE SUMMARY

"who says" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used as a response to a statement, either to express disbelief or to challenge the statement. Example: "I'm going to jump off this building." "Who says?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Who says?

The New York Times - Books

Who says it?

The Economist

But who says?

The New York Times

Who says so?

The New York Times

Who says "Who Dat"?

The New Yorker

Who says and why?

The New York Times

Who says you'll win?

The New York Times

Who says I'm dead?

The New Yorker

Who says size doesn't count?

The New York Times - Books

Who says I like it?

The New Yorker

WHO says farmers are inflexible?

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing dialogue, "who says" can add a touch of skepticism or disbelief to a character's response.

Common error

Avoid using "who says" excessively in formal writing. Opt for more sophisticated alternatives like "according to whom" or "on what basis is this claim made" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "who says" primarily functions as an interrogative expression, challenging a preceding statement or assertion. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in questioning authority, expressing skepticism, or inviting justification for a claim.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "who says" is a common and grammatically sound interrogative expression used to challenge statements, express disbelief, or seek justification. Analysis of Ludwig's examples reveals its prevalence in News & Media, with less frequent usage in formal academic contexts. The phrase functions as a rhetorical question and has a generally neutral to informal register. While "who says" is widely understood and accepted, using more formal alternatives such as "according to whom" may be preferable in professional or academic writing. Ludwig AI confirms the expression is correct and usable in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

who claims

Replaces "says" with "claims", implying a challenge to the veracity of the statement.

who asserts

Similar to "claims", but "asserts" suggests a more forceful declaration that might be questioned.

who declared

Shifts the tense to past, indicating a previous declaration being questioned.

who stated that

More formal and explicit than "who says", useful in formal contexts.

who is saying that

Adds emphasis to the act of saying, potentially highlighting the speaker's identity.

where did you hear that

Focuses on the source of the information rather than the speaker's identity, implying skepticism.

where does it say

Challenges the existence of evidence supporting the statement, suitable when concrete evidence is expected.

by whose authority

Questions the legitimacy or credentials of the speaker to make such a statement, highly formal.

according to whom

Formal way to ask about the source of the information, implying potential unreliability.

who is the source

Directly asks for the originator of the statement, often used when the information seems dubious.

FAQs

How can I use "who says" in a sentence?

Use "who says" to challenge a statement or express disbelief. For example: "They say it's impossible to achieve. "Who says"?"

What can I say instead of "who says"?

You can use alternatives like "who claims", "who asserts", or "according to whom" depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it always appropriate to start a sentence with "who"?

While starting a sentence with "who" is grammatically correct, it's important to ensure it's used in a way that maintains clarity and avoids awkward phrasing. ""Who says"" is an exception to starting a sentence with "who", but should be used carefully and mostly in informal contexts.

What's the difference between "who says" and "who said"?

""Who says"" is typically used to challenge a general statement or belief, while "who said" refers to a specific person who made a statement in the past. For example, ""Who says" money can't buy happiness?" vs. "Who said 'I have a dream'?"