ENGLISH
REFERENCE

that said

conj.
B2 Upper Intermediate General-service
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.


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.

Last updated July 29, 2026