THE before "said person" , "said building", "said anything"

Question

Do we use THE before "said person" or "said thing" I think there should always be a "the" before "said anything" but because I read so many people just use "said anything" with out the article "the" , I am confused!

Person A: It's cold outside, you'll get sick, dumbo!
Person B: This line only works if said person is not wearing a jacket or some warm clothing!

Shouldn't it be" If THE said person is not wearing ....."

Thanks!

KJinCali79 · Accepted Answer

Said person means the aforementioned person (the person named or mentioned previously, or I suppose, that you were just speaking about).  It is not often heard in conversational English.  It is used in legal documents or sometimes in sarcastic speech.  It is the shortened form of "aforesaid" and operates as an adjective in that usage.  Perhaps because, by definition, it is known who you are referring to, it doesn't need an article because it's operating as if it were taking the place of the person's name.  At least that's how it works in legal documents; I'm not sure I follow the use in your example.

Fivejedjon · Answer

KJinCali79 I'm not sure I follow the use in your example.

You are not alone. It doesn't work. There is no 'said person'.

Dib · Answer

fivejedjon KJinCali79 I'm not sure I follow the use in your example.You are not alone. It doesn't work. There is no 'said person'.

I have no clue, some body please help me out

Fivejedjon · Answer

With or without the definite article, 'said person' does not work in your sentence.

CalifJim · Answer

DibI have no clue, some body please help me out

Person A: It's cold outside, you'll get sick, dumbo!
Person B: This line only works if said person is not wearing a jacket or some warm clothing!

Meaning:

Person B: This line only works if the person we already referred to is not wearing a jacket or some warm clothing.

This doesn't work because there is no person that A and B have already referred to within this dialog.

If you think that there is such a person in the form of "you" (you'll get sick), then let me say that the referent of this "you" is unclear. Two possibilities immediately come to mind.

Person B refers to "this line" as if everything Person A just said is merely an example of something that could be said; therefore, "you" would refer to someone unknown, vague, and general, outside the scope of this dialog. That certainly can't count as a person already referred to.

If, however, Person A is addressing B directly, then "you" is B, and "said person" won't work at all because B would, in this case, say ... if I am not wearing a jacket ... because "said person" can't be used to refer to oneself.

So in neither of these two cases does it make sense to think of "you" as the person already referred to.

But except for "you", there is no other candidate for the person already referred to, so the reference "said person" is floating in space, referring to nothing.

CJ

THE before "said person" , "said building", "said anything"

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions