That said

Using That said is like being a professional diplomat. You usually place it at the start of a new sentence. It needs to follow a statement you just made. For example, you might say, "The movie was three hours long." Then, you add the pivot: "That said, I was never bored." Notice the comma. It always follows That said. This pause gives your listener a second to prepare for the change in direction. You can also use a semicolon if you want to look extra fancy in an email. It connects two independent thoughts into one smooth flow. It works best when the two points are directly related. If you talk about your cat and then use That said to talk about the weather, people will be very confused. Use it to refine your original point. Use it to add a "but" that sounds a lot more sophisticated than just saying "but."

This phrase is the "business casual" of English. It is not as stiff as Nevertheless. It is not as lazy as But anyway. You will hear it in corporate boardrooms. You will see it in high-end journalism like *The New Yorker*. However, you will also hear it at a brunch table. It makes you sound intelligent and thoughtful. If you use it in a text message, your friends might think you are being a bit serious. In a job interview, it is a superpower. It shows you can handle complex information without getting overwhelmed. It sits right in the middle of the formality scale. It is polite enough for a CEO but relaxed enough for a podcast. It is the perfect tool for when you want to sound like you actually know what you are talking about. Just don't use it three times in one paragraph, or you’ll sound like a politician trying to dodge a question.

Let's look at how this pops up in the wild. Imagine you are looking at a new apartment. The rent is way too high. You tell your partner, "This place is way out of our budget. That said, the view of the park is incredible." You are acknowledging the cost but admitting the view might make it worth it. Or think about a Yelp review. "The service was quite slow tonight. That said, the tacos were the best I've had in years." The phrase saves the restaurant from a one-star rating. It provides a "silver lining." In a professional Slack channel, you might say, "The deadline is very tight. That said, I think the team can pull it off if we focus." It acknowledges the stress while providing a boost of confidence. It's the ultimate "yes, and..." but for adults with responsibilities.

Use this phrase when you want to show you are objective. It is great for giving feedback. If you have to tell someone their work needs improvement, start with a compliment. Then, drop the That said. It softens the blow. It is also perfect for debating. It shows you have listened to the other person's argument. You aren't just waiting for your turn to speak. You are processing their point. Use it when a situation is complicated. Use it when there isn't a simple "yes" or "no" answer. It is very useful in travel vlogs too. "The flight was delayed for six hours. That said, the airline gave us a free hotel voucher." It helps you tell a complete story with all the ups and downs. It turns a complaint into a balanced observation.

Don't use That said when the two ideas are exactly the same. "I love pizza. That said, I really like pepperoni." That makes zero sense. You aren't pivoting; you are just repeating yourself. Also, avoid using it for very minor transitions. If you're just moving to the next topic, use Anyway or Moving on. Using That said creates a specific expectation of a contrast. If you don't provide that contrast, your listener will feel like they missed something. Don't use it in very informal slang contexts either. If you're shouting at a gaming console, That said is probably too formal. "You killed me! That said, nice shot!" sounds like a Victorian ghost playing *Call of Duty*. Keep it for when you actually want to bridge two distinct thoughts.

A very common error is saying This said. It sounds similar, but it is technically incorrect in standard English. Another one is Said that. People often flip the words around. ✗ Said that, the food was good → ✓ That said, the food was good. Another mistake is forgetting the comma. Without the comma, the sentence runs together and loses its rhythmic punch. Some people also try to use it to mean Because of that. That is a completely different meaning. That said is for contrast, not for cause and effect. Don't use it as a synonym for Therefore. If you do, your logic will be backwards. Lastly, don't confuse it with Having said that. Actually, they mean the same thing, but That said is just the shorter, punchier version.

You have a few options depending on how much time you want to take up. That being said is the most common variation. It is a bit more formal and adds a little more weight to the transition. Having said that is the classic, slightly older version. It feels very British and very proper. If you want to be extremely formal, you can use All that having been said. That one is a bit of a mouthful. In very casual speech, people might just say Still... or Mind you.... Those serve the same purpose but with much less effort. In the US, With that being said has become very popular in sports interviews. Coaches love to use it to talk about a loss while still praising their players. It's the "I'm not mad, just disappointed" of transitions.

Is That said the same as However? Almost. However is a bit more general. That said specifically references the exact words you just spoke. Can I start a paragraph with it? Yes, absolutely. It's a great way to link two paragraphs that have different viewpoints. Is it okay for academic writing? Yes, it's very common in essays and research papers. It shows the writer is considering counter-arguments. Does it work in text messages? It does, but it makes you sound a bit like an adult. If you want to sound "cool," stick to But. If you want to sound smart, use That said. Is there an antonym? Not exactly, but phrases like Furthermore or In addition do the opposite—they add more of the same idea instead of contrasting it.