Word
that said
Definition
conj. a way to introduce a second fact that makes your first statement seem less certain. It is like saying 'however' or 'on the other hand'.
conj. Used to introduce a statement that contrasts with or qualifies what has just been mentioned, functioning as a transition to a concessive clause.
Examples
“The food is expensive; that said, it is delicious.”
“The new regulations might be difficult for small businesses to implement; that said, the long-term environmental benefits are undeniable.”
“The results of the study were somewhat inconclusive due to a small sample size; that said, they provide a compelling foundation for future research in the field.”
Examples
simple
“The food is expensive; that said, it is delicious.”
contextual
“The new regulations might be difficult for small businesses to implement; that said, the long-term environmental benefits are undeniable.”
complex
“The results of the study were somewhat inconclusive due to a small sample size; that said, they provide a compelling foundation for future research in the field.”
Usage
Acts as a sentence connector; usually follows a semicolon or a full stop and is followed by a comma.
Teaching tip
teach this as a more natural, conversational alternative to 'nevertheless' or 'however'; it is very common in spoken professional English to soften a criticism.
Pitfall
That said the weather was cold.
That said, the weather was cold.
Requires a comma after the phrase when used as a sentence-initial connector.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/that-said