you were saying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "you were saying" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to prompt someone to continue speaking after they have been interrupted or to refer back to something they were discussing. Example: "I apologize for interrupting you earlier. What were you saying about the project timeline?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You were saying, right?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

You were saying?

The Guardian

THE DIRECTOR: Yeah, you were saying.

The New Yorker

O.K., so, anyway, you were saying?

The New Yorker

They understood what you were saying.

Harvard Business Review

You were saying that it's long term.

The New York Times

"You were saying?" he grumbles at me.

The New Yorker

What was that you were saying, Sankaran?

The Guardian - Sport

"You were saying?" The boy's jaw dropped.

The New Yorker

Many of you were saying things.

The Guardian - Sport

You were saying what you thought.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "you were saying", adjust your tone to match the context. In a formal setting, maintain a respectful and attentive demeanor. In a casual setting, a more relaxed tone is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "you were saying" after a conversation has significantly shifted. If too much time has passed or the topic has drastically changed, it's better to reintroduce the original subject more explicitly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "you were saying" functions as an interrogative prompt, encouraging a speaker to resume their previous train of thought or to elaborate on a point that was interrupted. As evidenced by Ludwig AI, it is a common way to smoothly transition back to a previous topic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Academia

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "you were saying" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression designed to encourage continuation or clarification in a conversation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively prompts a speaker to resume their thought after an interruption or to elaborate on a previous point. Its usage spans a range of contexts, from formal settings to casual exchanges, although it is most prevalent in News & Media and Academic settings. While "you were saying" serves as a useful tool for maintaining conversational flow, it is important to avoid using it after significant topic shifts. Instead, reintroduce the subject more explicitly. Some alternatives include "please continue" or "as you were saying".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what were you about to say

Specifically asks about something the person was on the verge of saying.

as you were saying

More formal and acknowledges the interruption.

go on

A brief and informal way to encourage someone to continue speaking.

you were mentioning

Gently reminds the speaker of a previous point.

where were we

Indicates a need to resume a conversation after an interruption.

where were you

Shorter and more casual way to ask where the person was in their story or explanation.

carry on

Encourages the speaker to proceed, but can sometimes sound dismissive depending on tone.

what did you mean

Focuses on clarifying a specific point rather than continuing a general train of thought.

please continue

A formal and polite way to ask someone to proceed.

to get back to your point

Signals a return to a previous topic after a digression.

FAQs

How can I politely ask someone to continue their story?

You can use phrases like "you were saying", "please continue", or "what were you about to say", depending on the context and your relationship with the speaker.

Is "you were saying" appropriate in formal settings?

Yes, "you were saying" can be used in formal settings, but consider alternatives like "as you were saying" or "please continue" for a more polished tone.

What's a casual alternative to "you were saying"?

In informal conversations, you can use phrases like "go on", "where were we", or simply "so" to encourage the speaker to resume.

When should I avoid using "you were saying"?

Avoid using "you were saying" if the conversation has significantly changed direction. In such cases, gently reintroduce the original topic instead.