In the Said vs. On the Said – Which is Correct?
Both “in the said” and “on the said” are grammatically possible, but they are not interchangeable. Use “in the said” for something contained within a previously mentioned document, agreement, or place. Use “on the said” for a surface, date, property, or other context governed by the preposition “on” in context.
In the Said or On the Said – Which is Correct?
Both “in the said” and “on the said” can be correct. The right choice depends on the noun that follows and the relationship being expressed.
“In the said” usually introduces something contained within, stated in, or located inside a previously mentioned document, agreement, record, building, or area. For example, “The obligations in the said agreement remain binding” means that the obligations are contained in the agreement.
“On the said” usually refers to a surface, a particular date, a location such as land or premises, or a subject recorded on a document or list. For example, “The meeting took place on the said date” refers to a specific date already mentioned.
The word “said” means “previously mentioned” in this formal construction. It is especially common in contracts, legal documents, official notices, and older-fashioned prose. In ordinary modern writing, the aforementioned, the previously mentioned, or a direct noun phrase may sound more natural.
The Best Trick to Remember the Difference
Use the preposition that would normally work without said. If you would say in the agreement, write in the said agreement. If you would say on the date or on the property, write on the said date or on the said property.
A simple memory trick is: “in” means inside or within; “on” means touching, attached to, situated upon, or occurring at a particular point in time. The word said does not determine the preposition—the following noun and its meaning do.
| Word | Part of Speech | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| in the said | Prepositional phrase | Within or contained in something previously mentioned | The clause in the said contract is enforceable. |
| on the said | Prepositional phrase | Situated upon, attached to, or occurring at something previously mentioned | The inspection occurred on the said date. |
How to Use “In the Said”
“In the said” is used when a person wants to refer to information, terms, events, or objects contained within something mentioned earlier. The phrase is most common before nouns such as agreement, contract, document, report, letter, notice, record, and building.
The expression has a formal and sometimes legal tone. It is grammatically acceptable, but it may sound unnecessarily stiff in everyday communication. In ordinary prose, alternatives such as in that agreement, in the document mentioned earlier, or in the report are often clearer.
Example 1: The obligations described in the said agreement will remain effective for five years.
Example 2: The witness confirmed that the information in the said report was accurate.
Example 3: Several valuable items were found in the said building during the inspection.
Etymology of the Word “Said”
Said is the past participle of the verb say, which comes from Old English secgan. Over time, legal and official writing developed a special adjectival use of said to mean “previously mentioned.” In expressions such as the said agreement, it functions as a formal reference word rather than simply describing speech.
How to Use “On the Said”
“On the said” is used when the noun that follows normally takes the preposition on. Common examples include on the said date, on the said day, on the said property, on the said premises, and on the said page.
The phrase is particularly frequent in formal notices, property documents, court filings, contracts, and official correspondence. It can refer to a particular time, a physical surface, land or premises, or something displayed or recorded on a page, list, map, or screen.
Example 1: The parties signed the document on the said date.
Example 2: No construction may take place on the said property without written permission.
Example 3: The relevant details appear on the said page of the official record.
Etymology of the Word “Said”
In on the said, the word said has the same historical origin and formal meaning as it does in in the said. It identifies a person, date, property, page, or object that has already been mentioned. The preposition on supplies the spatial or temporal meaning.
Related Concepts
Understanding prepositions and formal reference words makes it easier to choose between in the said and on the said.
- Prepositions: Prepositions express relationships involving place, time, direction, or connection. The choice between in and on depends on the relationship between the noun and the rest of the sentence.
- Formal reference words: Words such as said, aforesaid, and aforementioned refer back to something already introduced.
- Legal and bureaucratic language: Formal documents often use said to avoid repeating a full noun phrase, although modern plain-language guidance frequently recommends simpler wording.
- Time and place prepositions: English commonly uses on with specific days and dates, while in often refers to an enclosed space or something contained within a document or area.
Examples from Media and Literature
The following examples reflect the kinds of contexts in which these expressions appear in official writing, journalism, fiction, and legal narratives:
- Contracts: A contract may refer to “the obligations set out in the said agreement,” because the obligations are contained within the agreement.
- News reports: A report about a court case may state that an incident occurred “on the said date,” referring to a date already established in the story.
- Property documents: A land-transfer document may describe restrictions applying “on the said premises,” meaning the property previously identified.
- Historical fiction: A character writing an official letter might use “the facts stated in the said letter” to create a formal or period-appropriate tone.
- Government notices: An administrative notice may direct residents to appear “on the said day” or submit information “in the said application.”
Practice Exercises
Choose the correct phrase, in the said or on the said, to complete each sentence.
- The terms described ______ agreement must be followed.
- The ceremony took place ______ date listed in the notice.
- The owner may not build ______ property without approval.
- The figures ______ report were later corrected.
- The signature appears ______ final page of the document.
Answer Key
- in the said — The terms are contained within the agreement.
- on the said — Specific dates normally take on.
- on the said — Property or premises can take on when referring to activity situated there.
- in the said — The figures are contained within the report.
- on the said — Information or writing is displayed on a page.
“In the Said” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| in the aforementioned | In something mentioned previously; very formal |
| in the previously mentioned | Within the item referred to earlier |
| in that | Within a previously identified item; more natural in ordinary writing |
| within the document | Inside or contained in the specified document |
“On the Said” Synonyms
| Synonym | Definition |
|---|---|
| on the aforementioned | On something mentioned previously; highly formal |
| on the previously mentioned | On the item, date, or place referred to earlier |
| on that | On a previously identified item; generally more natural |
| on the specified | On the particular date, property, page, or surface identified |
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Is “in the said” grammatically correct?
Yes. “In the said” is correct when the following noun is something that contains information or activity, such as a document, agreement, report, letter, or building. For example, “The clause in the said contract applies to both parties.”
Question 2: Is “on the said” grammatically correct?
Yes. “On the said” is correct when the following noun normally takes on, such as a date, day, property, premises, page, surface, or list. For example, “The event occurred on the said date.”
Question 3: Should I use “in the said” or “on the said” in a contract?
Use in the said for terms or information contained in a contract, and on the said for a date, property, premises, page, or surface. However, plain-language alternatives such as in this agreement and on that date are often clearer.
Conclusion
Both “in the said” and “on the said” are valid, but they express different relationships. Choose in for something contained within a document, agreement, report, or place. Choose on for a date, day, property, premises, page, or surface. Pro Tip: In professional writing, replace overly formal said with a clearer phrase such as this, that, or previously mentioned whenever possible.
