That Said vs. With That Said – Which is Correct?

Both “that said” and “with that said” are correct English expressions meaning “despite that” or “however.” “That said” is shorter, more common, and usually more polished, while “with that said” is slightly wordier and can sound conversational. In most formal writing, choose “that said” unless emphasizing a transition between ideas.

Similar questions about grammatical forms arise in comparisons such as “Which are” vs. “That are”.

That Said or With That Said – Which is Correct?

Both that said and with that said are grammatically correct. They are transitional expressions used to acknowledge a previous point before introducing a qualification, contrast, or related thought.

That said is the more concise and widely preferred version, especially in formal writing, business communication, academic prose, and journalism. With that said has the same basic meaning, but it contains extra words and may sound more conversational or slightly less direct.

Neither phrase is a misspelling. The choice is mainly stylistic. In most situations, that said is the clearest option, although with that said remains acceptable when a speaker or writer wants a more deliberate transition.

The Best Trick to Remember the Difference

Use the shorter-is-better test: if you can remove “with” without changing the meaning, choose that said. For example, “The plan is expensive. That said, it may be worthwhile” means the same thing as “The plan is expensive. With that said, it may be worthwhile.” The shorter version is usually more polished.

Word or Phrase	Part of Speech	Meaning	Example
that said	Conjunctive adverbial phrase	However; despite the previous point	The route is longer. That said, it is safer.
with that said	Conjunctive adverbial phrase	With that point acknowledged; however	The task is difficult. With that said, we can complete it.

How to Use That Said

That said introduces a contrast or qualification. It signals that the writer accepts, acknowledges, or has just mentioned one point but is about to add another point that limits, balances, or contrasts with it.

The phrase often appears at the beginning of a sentence and is followed by a comma. It can also appear after a semicolon or at the end of a sentence, although beginning a new sentence is the most common arrangement. The expression works in formal, professional, and casual contexts.

Example 1: The apartment is small. That said, its location is excellent.

Example 2: We have not finished the research. That said, the early results are encouraging.

Example 3: The software takes time to learn; that said, it offers powerful tools.

Etymology of the phrase that said

That said developed from a shortened form of expressions such as “that having been said” and “having said that.” In this construction, said refers to something previously stated. Over time, the phrase became a fixed transition meaning “with that point acknowledged” or “nevertheless.”

How to Use With That Said

With that said performs the same grammatical and rhetorical function as that said. It introduces a contrasting observation, qualification, or conclusion after acknowledging what came before.

The phrase is correct, but it is longer than necessary because that said already expresses the same idea. It can be useful when a speaker wants to emphasize the transition or when the rhythm of a sentence calls for a slightly fuller expression. In highly edited writing, however, that said is often the preferred choice.

Example 1: The proposal needs further revision. With that said, it has a strong foundation.

Example 2: I understand your concerns. With that said, we still need to meet the deadline.

Example 3: The journey was exhausting. With that said, everyone agreed that it was worthwhile.

Etymology of the phrase with that said

With that said is based on the same underlying construction as that said. The opening word with frames the previous statement as an acknowledged circumstance or condition. The phrase became established as a conversational transition meaning “having said that” or “in light of that point.”

Related Concepts

Understanding how transitional expressions connect ideas makes it easier to use both phrases accurately and punctuate them correctly.

• Contrast transitions: Words and phrases such as however, nevertheless, and still signal a contrast between ideas. Like that said, they often qualify or limit a previous statement.
• Conjunctive adverbial phrases: A phrase such as that said can connect ideas across sentences, but it does not normally join two independent clauses with only a comma.
• Sentence transitions: Transitional expressions guide readers from one idea to the next. They clarify whether the next point adds information, contrasts with the previous point, or shows a result.
• Parenthetical expressions: Because these phrases interrupt or frame the flow of an argument, they are commonly separated from the surrounding sentence with commas.

Examples from Media and Literature

The following examples demonstrate how the expressions can work in contexts similar to those found in books, films, journalism, and everyday commentary:

• Book review: “The novel moves slowly at first. That said, its detailed characters reward patient readers.”
• News analysis: “The economic figures improved this quarter. That said, analysts remain cautious about the year ahead.”
• Film discussion: “The movie received mixed reviews. With that said, its performances were widely praised.”
• Business communication: “The initial proposal exceeds our budget. That said, we may be able to revise the scope.”
• Everyday conversation: “The hike was challenging. With that said, the view at the summit was spectacular.”

Practice Exercises

Choose the phrase that best completes each sentence. In every example, both expressions are grammatically possible, but one may be more concise or stylistically suitable.

1. The restaurant is expensive. ______, the food is excellent.
2. I appreciate your offer. ______, I have decided to accept another position.
3. The instructions are long. ______, they are easy to follow.
4. The project has faced delays. ______, the team has made significant progress.
5. ______ the forecast is uncertain, the outdoor event will continue as planned.

Answer Key

1. That said — The concise form is the best choice in this straightforward transition.
2. With that said — This phrase can add emphasis before a firm personal decision, although that said is also correct.
3. That said — The shorter phrase creates a clean, polished transition.
4. That said — The phrase efficiently contrasts the delays with the progress.
5. With that said — The phrase works naturally before a dependent clause beginning with “the forecast.”

That Said Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
however	Introduces a contrasting or limiting idea.
nevertheless	Shows that the next point remains true despite what came before.
nonetheless	Means “despite that” or “even so.”
even so	Acknowledges a previous point before presenting a contrast.
still	Signals that a statement remains valid despite another fact.

With That Said Synonyms

Synonym	Definition
having said that	Acknowledges a previous statement before adding a qualification.
that being said	Introduces a contrasting or balancing thought.
however	Marks a contrast between the preceding and following ideas.
even so	Means “despite that” and introduces an opposing point.
on the other hand	Presents a different perspective or contrasting consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Question 1: Is “that said” grammatically correct?
Yes. That said is a standard English transition meaning “however,” “nevertheless,” or “despite what was just mentioned.”

Question 2: Is “with that said” grammatically correct?
Yes. With that said is also correct and has essentially the same meaning as that said. It is somewhat more wordy and may sound more conversational.

Question 3: Which is better in formal writing: “that said” or “with that said”?
In most formal writing, that said is the better choice because it is concise, familiar, and direct. Use with that said only when its added rhythm or emphasis improves the sentence.

Conclusion

That said and with that said are both correct expressions used to introduce a contrast or qualification. The shorter that said is generally the stronger choice for professional and formal writing, while with that said is acceptable and slightly more conversational. Pro Tip: Choosing the concise form can make your writing sound clearer, sharper, and more polished—qualities that strengthen your professional reputation.