Like I Said or As I Said – Difference Explained (Examples)

The phrases “like I said” and “as I said” are examples of English phrases that are often used interchangeably.  However, there is a difference in when you’re supposed to use each phrase. This article will hopefully clear  up any confusion you may have by explaining when to use each phrase.

Difference Between “Like I Said” and “As I Said”

The phrases “like I said” and “as I said” are both used to repeat a point you’ve already made.  However, “like I said” is more often used in an informal setting while “as I said” is more often used in  a formal setting.

Both “like I said” and “as I said” are grammatically correct. They can be used interchangeably in sentences.

However, in formal speech and writing, the phrase “as I said” is more commonly used. The phrase “like I  said” is more often used in informal speech and writing.

Like I Said

“Like I said” is used in informal speech and writing when you want to reiterate a point you have  made earlier. 

“Like” is a word that means “similar to”. Thus, saying “like I said” is synonymous with the phrases “similar  to what I said” and “as I said”. The phrase “like I said” is used informally to refer to something you said  previously.

It is also sometimes used in a passive-aggressive manner, to let someone know that you feel that they did not  listen to something you have already said.

Here are some examples of how to use “like I said” in a sentence:

1. Like I said, she doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong.
2. If you had broken up with him, like I said, you wouldn’t be having this problem right now.
3. Like I said earlier, I will not be answering any questions today.
4. See? There are no classes today, like I said.
5. The professor isn’t the problem; like I said, it’s the students causing trouble.
6. No late submissions will be accepted, like I said before
7. Like I said, we need to work on this for at least a year.

As I Said

“As I said” is used when you want to refer to an earlier point you have already made. It is used in  both formal and informal speech and writing

“As” is used in the phrase “as I said” to mean “in the same way”. “As I said”, then, is synonymous with the  phrases “similar to what I said” and “like I said”. However, unlike “like I said”, the phrase “as I said” is  acceptable in both formal and informal settings.

Here are some examples of how to use “as I said” in a sentence:

1. As I said, she doesn’t know the difference between right and wrong.
2. As I said, you wouldn’t be having this problem right now if you had broken up with him last year.
3. As I said earlier, I will not be answering any questions today.
4. No late submissions will be accepted, as I said before
5. The professor isn’t the problem; as I said, it’s the students causing trouble.
6. As I said, there will be no classes next week.
7. We need at least a month to finish this project, as I said.

Is “Like I Said” or “As I Said” Most Formal?

The phrase “as I said” is considered more formal than the phrase “like I said”. 

“As I said” is more often used formally, such as in academic papers. On the other hand, the phrase “like I  said” is more often used informally, such as in casual conversation.

Which Is Used The Most?

According to Google Ngram Viewer, “as I said” is more frequently used than “like I said”.

Google Ngram Viewer can chart how often both phrases are used in a wide range of books. Data from books  published between the years 1950-2019 indicate that the phrase “as I said” has remained consistent in being  more frequently used than “like I said”.

“As I said” decreased in usage from 1950 to 2000. Since then, however, it has steadily increased in usage to  the point that it is used as much in 2019 as it was in 1950.

On the other hand, the use of the phrase “like I said” did not gain popularity until the 1990s. It has steadily  increased in usage since then, but is still significantly less used than “as I said”.