Sais vs Says — Which is Correct? A Complete Guide

I recall a sentence I written years ago where I paused to check what felt right about Sais vs Says, and you are not alone because many people search for words that look almost the same and sound spoken in English.This pair confuses one word with the other, yet only one belongs in standard use, and this guide fixes that confusion when you come across different cases that feel puzzling. 

Why this matters

Mistakes with a tiny word can make your writing read careless. That matters in emails, reports, schoolwork, and social posts. Use the right form and your message stays clear. Use the wrong form and readers pause or judge your credibility. That pause costs trust.

Below is everything you need. Definitions, rules, example sentences, memory tricks, practice exercises, and even a short case study showing the real impact of a small error. You will get clear facts and concrete steps to master says.

Understanding “says” — the core fact

Says is the third-person singular present tense of the verb say.
That means you use says when the subject is he, she, it, or any singular noun that acts like he, she, or it.

Simple rule

• He says the train leaves at 9.
• She says it will rain tomorrow.
• The book says the recipe needs two eggs.

Short conjugation table

Subject	Present	Past	Present Participle	Past Participle
I	say	said	saying	said
you	say	said	saying	said
he/she/it	says	said	saying	said
we	say	said	saying	said
they	say	said	saying	said

Key fact: In modern standard English, sais is not an English word. If you see it in English prose, it is almost always a typo or influenced by another language.

Where “sais” comes from and why you see it

Sais is a valid form in French. It is the second person singular present subjunctive form of the verb savoir in some conjugations or it may resemble forms of dire depending on variant usage. In plain terms, French verbs sometimes look like sais. That makes sense if you study French. It does not make sense in English.

Why English writers use it by mistake

• Typing errors: Keyboard proximity makes typos possible.
• Autocorrect: Some keyboards may suggest foreign words.
• Guessing: Learners sometimes guess spelling based on pronunciation.
• Influence of other languages: If you know French, Portuguese, or another Romance language you might accidentally type the familiar form.

Practical takeaway: If you write in English, always use says when you mean the third-person singular present.

How to use “says” correctly in real contexts

Here are common situations where says belongs, with examples and short tips.

Reporting speech and quotes

Use says for direct or indirect speech when the speaker is third-person singular.

Examples

• Direct: He says, “I’m done for today.”
• Indirect: He says he’s done for today.

Tip: In formal reporting, said often replaces says for past reporting. Use says for present or ongoing statements.

Instruction and signage

Use says when summarizing instructions or guidelines with third-person subjects.

Examples

• The manual says the battery lasts eight hours.
• The label says “Keep out of reach of children.”

Online posts and comments

Writers often quote other accounts. Use says to present current assertions.

Examples

• The article says the event is free.
• My friend says they will join us Saturday.

Academic and professional writing

Says appears in literature reviews and arguments when describing current positions.

Examples

• The study says the effect is small but consistent.
• The report says that revenue increased in Q3.

Common mistakes with “says” and how to avoid them

Here are the typical traps. Learn them to avoid embarrassment.

Mistake: Using “sais” in English

Why it happens

• Foreign language influence
• Typo

How to avoid it

• Proofread for small errors.
• Use a spellchecker set to English US.
• If you type French often, toggle language settings.

Mistake: Mixing tenses — says vs said

People swap tenses without matching context.

Wrong: He says he loved the movie yesterday.
Right: He said he loved the movie yesterday.
Right alternate: He says he loves the movie.

Rule: Use said for past reporting. Use says for present or habitual reporting.

Mistake: Subject-verb agreement errors

Wrong: They says the plan will work.
Right: They say the plan will work.

Tip: Identify the subject first. If it is plural use say. If it is singular use says.

Mistake: Overusing “says” in writing

Using says repeatedly drains variety.

Fixes

• Replace with synonyms when appropriate: claims, reports, notes, states, explains, remarks.
• Use dialogue tags sparingly in fiction: use action beats instead.

Mistake: Punctuation errors with quotes

Common confusion is where punctuation sits with says.

Examples

• Correct: He says, “I’ll go.”
• Correct: He says that he will go.
• Incorrect: He says “I’ll go”. (Missing comma before opening quote is a style issue in US English)

Tip: In US English, use the comma before direct quotes after a reporting verb like says.

Memory tricks to remember “says”

You need simple anchors that stick. Try these.

• Rule of Thumb: If the subject is he, she, it, or a singular noun use says.
• Pronunciation anchor: says often sounds like /sez/. Picture the z at the end.
• Visual mnemonic: Connect says to a speech balloon. The S at start and end wrap speech.
• Analogy: Think of subject matching like clothing size. He, she, it wear the single-letter “s” garment. So the verb wears s.

Quick one-liner you can write on a sticky note

He, she, it — add s. Use says.

Practical exercises you can do today

Practice is quick and effective. Do these in 10 minutes.

Fill-in-the-blank

1. The teacher _____ the test covers chapters 1 through 5.
2. My phone _____ the battery is full.
3. Doctors _____ that sleep matters most for recovery.
4. The players _____ the coach will decide tomorrow.

Answers: says, says, say, say.

Rewrite sentences to fix tense

• Wrong: She says she finished the homework last night.
• Fix: She said she finished the homework last night.

Spot and correct the error

• They says the policy changed.
• Correction: They say the policy changed.

Exercise tip: Do one set of five sentences each day for a week. Then pick a page of email and scan for sais or incorrect forms.

Real-world application — a short case study

Small mistake had big consequences in an internal company memo. Names are fictional to protect privacy.

Case study summary
A product team sent a release note that read: “QA sais the build is stable.” Leadership scanned the note quickly and assumed QA had not finished validation. A release was delayed 48 hours while the team clarified. The delay cost time and client trust.

What went wrong

• The typo sais created doubt.
• The memo lacked clarity on who verified stability.
• Reviewers interpreted the mistake as uncertain language.

How it should have read

• “QA says the build is stable and ready for release.”
• Or better yet: “QA reports the build is stable after passing tests A through D.”

Lesson
Small errors create friction. Proofreading and precise wording prevent costly delays.

Alternatives to “says” — when to use them and why

Variety improves style and precision. Choose synonyms when they fit.

Common alternatives and uses

• says — present simple, neutral reporting.
• said — past reporting.
• states — formal or official tone.
• reports — used with data or findings.
• claims — use when the speaker’s truth is in doubt.
• notes — good for brief mentions.
• adds — useful in dialogue to move conversation.
• observes — implies thoughtful commentary.
• remarks — brief comment with tone.
• explains — when more detail follows.

Pick the verb that matches tone and certainty. Replacing says without care can change meaning.

Example table showing nuance

Reporting verb	Tone	Best when
says	neutral	direct speech
claims	skeptical	contested statements
reports	factual	data and findings
states	authoritative	formal declarations
notes	casual	asides and brief mentions

How to proofread for “says” mistakes fast

Use a checklist while editing.

Quick proofreading checklist

• Scan for sais using Find. Replace immediately.
• Check subject-verb agreement for all reporting verbs.
• Verify tense consistency in reporting clauses.
• Read the sentence aloud to hear if it sounds natural.
• If you use synonyms replace carefully so meaning stays exact.

Tool tip: Set your spellcheck language to US English. Automatic grammar checkers often flag foreign forms. They are not perfect so rely on the checklist.

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Mini quiz — test your skill

Pick the correct form for each sentence.

1. The report _____ the numbers will improve next quarter.
2. She _____ the movie was fantastic yesterday.
3. The committee _____ they will meet on Friday.
4. He _____ that he enjoys the new design.
5. The instructions _____ to press Start to begin.

Answers

1. says
2. said
3. said or says depending on timing; use says if they confirm now.
4. says
5. say or says? If instructions are plural use say. If “the instruction” singular use says. So: The instructions say to press Start.

Explanation: The word instructions is plural so pair with say.

Common punctuation with “says”

Punctuation matters with reporting verbs. Follow these simple rules.

• Use a comma before an opening quotation after says in US English.
  • Correct: She says, “I will join.”
• Use no comma with indirect speech.
  • Correct: She says she will join.
• Use a period or other punctuation to end the sentence outside the quote, unless the quote includes full sentence punctuation.
  • Correct: He says, “We leave at noon.”
  • Correct: He says that we leave at noon.

Quotes and examples from reputable writing style guidance

Writers and editors rely on standard rules for reporting verbs. Two quick authoritative points

• Use says with third-person singular subjects in the present tense.
• Use said for past reporting in narrative or news reports.

Those points come from standard English grammar and style guides. They reflect living usage in journalism and academia. Using says in the proper place keeps your tone current and accurate.

Extended examples and contrast

Here are fuller examples that show variations in real sentences.

Dialogue in fiction

• “I’ll handle it,” she says, tapping the table.
• “I handled it,” she said, tapping the table.

News report

• The spokesperson says the city will open new shelters.
• The spokesperson said the city opened new shelters yesterday.

Academic writing

• Recent research says that the correlation is weak.
• Recent research reports a weak correlation based on sample data.

Business email

• Team update: QA says the new module passes tests. Next steps follow.
• Better: QA reports the new module passed tests A through D. Release starts Monday.

Practical checklist before you hit send

Make this a habit

• Run a Find for sais and seys and correct them.
• Check each reporting verb for subject-verb match.
• Make tense consistent across the paragraph.
• Replace overused says with precise verbs after confirming meaning.
• Read the message aloud. If it trips, fix it.

FAQs 

1. Is “sais” ever correct in English?

No. Sais is not a valid English word. It is always a spelling error. You should use says instead.

2. Why do people confuse sais and says?

The confusion happens because says is pronounced like sez. The sound tricks your ear, especially when you write fast.

3. Is “says” the same in British and American English?

Yes. Both British and American English use says the same way. There is no difference.

4. What tense is the word “says”?

Says is the third person singular present tense of the verb say. It is used with he, she, or it.

5. How can I avoid making this mistake again?

Pause and check your spelling. Remember that sais does not exist in English, while says is always correct.

Conclusion

The confusion between Sais vs Says is common, but the rule is simple. Says is the correct spelling in every case, while sais is just a misspelling. Once you remember how English pronunciation can mislead your spelling, you will feel confident choosing the right word every time.