Have you ever stopped mid-sentence and wondered Should I write saids or says here You’re not alone. Even fluent English speakers get confused by these two tiny words. They look similar sound related and both come from the same root verb. That’s exactly why mistakes happen so often in everyday writing, emails blogs and even professional documents.
The confusion around saids or says usually comes from tense, context, and habit. Many people use one when they actually mean the other. Although they look/sound similar they serve completely different purposes. Once you understand how each word works, choosing the right one becomes effortless.
In this guide, we’ll break everything down in a friendly, simple way with examples, comparisons, and real-life conversations so you’ll never hesitate again.
Section 1: What Is “Saids”?
Meaning of “Saids”
Saids is commonly assumed to be the past tense of say, but here’s the important truth:
👉 “Saids” is NOT standard English.
In modern English grammar, the correct past tense and past participle of say is said, not saids. This is where the confusion around saids or says begins.
How “Saids” Is (Incorrectly) Used
Some learners add -s to make a word sound past tense, especially if English isn’t their first language. You might see sentences like:
- ❌ She saids she was tired.
- ❌ He saids he will call later.
These sentences are grammatically incorrect.
Where “Saids” Appears
- ❌ Not accepted in American English
- ❌ Not accepted in British English
- ❌ Not used in academic, professional, or casual writing
The word saids may appear in:
- Informal speech errors
- ESL learner writing
- Typos or unedited content
But it has no grammatical role in correct English.
Correct Alternatives
Instead of saids, use:
- said (past tense)
- says (present tense)
Examples (Correct vs Incorrect)
- ❌ She saids she likes coffee.
✅ She said she likes coffee. - ❌ My boss saids the meeting is canceled.
✅ My boss said the meeting was canceled.
Short Usage Note
Historically, English evolved with irregular verbs, and say became said—not saids. That’s why adding -s doesn’t work here.
📌 Key takeaway: In the debate of saids or says, saids is simply not correct English.
Section 2: What Is “Says”?
Meaning of “Says”
Says is the third-person singular present tense form of the verb say. It is 100% correct and widely used in everyday English.
You use says when talking about:
- He
- She
- It
- A singular noun (e.g., the teacher, my phone, the sign)
How “Says” Is Used
Says describes:
- What someone states regularly
- What is true now
- What is written or displayed
Examples in Sentences
- She says she loves traveling.
- He says the project is finished.
- The label says “Fragile.”
In the comparison of saids or says, this is the form you use when speaking about the present.
Spelling and Grammar Rules
- Base verb: say
- Third-person singular: says
- Pronounced: /sez/ (not sayss)
Regional or Grammatical Notes
- ✅ Used in US English
- ✅ Used in UK English
- ✅ Accepted in formal and informal writing
There is no spelling difference between American and British English for says.
📌 Quick reminder: If the action is happening now or is generally true, says is the correct choice—not saids.
Key Differences Between Saids and Says
Understanding the difference between saids or says becomes easy when you look at function, tense, and correctness.
Bullet Point Differences
- Saids is grammatically incorrect
- Says is present tense and correct
- Saids should never be used in standard English
- Says works with he, she, it, and singular nouns
- Saids is often a learner or typing mistake
Comparison Table
| Feature | Saids | Says |
|---|---|---|
| Grammatical correctness | ❌ Incorrect | ✅ Correct |
| Tense | None (invalid form) | Present tense |
| Used in US English | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Used in UK English | ❌ No | ✅ Yes |
| Common in formal writing | ❌ Never | ✅ Yes |
| Correct alternative | said | says |
Real-Life Conversation Examples
Dialogue 1
A: She saids she’s coming late.
B: You mean she said that, right?
🎯 Lesson: Never use saids—use said for the past.
Dialogue 2
A: What does the notice saids?
B: It actually says the office is closed.
🎯 Lesson: Use says when referring to written information.
Dialogue 3
A: My teacher says practice makes perfect.
B: That’s true—she always says that.
🎯 Lesson: Repeated or general statements use says.
Dialogue 4
A: He saids he emailed you.
B: No, he said he would email me.
🎯 Lesson: Past actions need said, not saids.
When to Use Saids vs Says
Practical Rules
- ❌ Never use saids
- ✅ Use says for present tense
- ✅ Use said for past tense
Simple Memory Tricks
🧠 Memory Hack #1:
If you can replace the word with “is saying”, use says.
🧠 Memory Hack #2:
If it already happened, use said—never saids.
US vs UK Writing
There is no difference between American and British English when choosing between saids or says:
- Both reject saids
- Both accept says and said
Fun Facts or History
- The verb say comes from Old English “secgan”, which later evolved into said and says.
- Says is one of the most commonly used reporting verbs in English journalism and storytelling.
📚 Fun fact: News headlines often use says to keep information current and engaging
Conclusion:
The confusion between saids or says is understandable but the solution is simple. Saids is not a real verb form in standard English while says is a correct and essential present tense verb. Once you remember that said handles the past and says handles the present your writing becomes instantly clearer and more professional.
Whether you’re writing emails, blog posts or casual messages choosing the right word shows confidence and clarity. Keep these rules in mind practice with examples and trust your instincts
