With that Being Said: Meaning and Use of This Common Phrase

The English language is full of odd idiomatic phrases, many of which are not intuitive to understand or use. The common phrase “with that being said” is one of them.

“With that being said” is a modifier, helping to transition from one sentence or clause to another. It either sums up and closes off one topic before starting a new one, or it can indicate that the second clause contradicts or qualifies the first.

Continue reading to find out everything you need to know about the meaning and correct usage of the phrase “with that being said.”

What Does “With That Being Said” Mean?

The phrase “with that being said” is a confusing one, partly because we usually use it in an idiomatic or non-literal way. 

If you were to interpret the phrase literally, you’d probably conclude that it means something like, “I said that,” which seems like an illogical thing to pop into a conversation. If someone were listening to you, they’d know what you just said!

In fact, in its earliest use, the phrase “with that being said” probably had exactly this literal meaning (source). Consider this example:

“I am so exhausted by this long walk!” Alice complained. With that being said, she sat down on the grass and mopped her forehead.

In this example, we used the phrase “with that being said” to show that after Alice complained of being exhausted, she sat down, which is literal usage.

However, since the late 19th century, individuals have used the phrase “with that being said”  far more commonly as an idiom with a non-literal meaning. Some scholars believe that the phrase’s popularity has increased in particular over the past two or three decades.

“With That Being Said” as A Qualifying Phrase

The most common idiomatic usage of “with that being said” is as a qualifying phrase that contradicts or modifies the preceding statement. Consider these examples:

1. Raisins are so full of sugar that we can hardly call them healthy food. With that being said, they’re probably better than chocolate if you’ve got a sugar craving.

2. Italy is a very popular honeymoon destination. With that being said, I’d still rather go to Vietnam.

3. I don’t enjoy taking public transport; with that being said, I usually take the bus when I visit my dad.

Note that the second clause or sentence contradicts or modifies the first clause or sentence in each of these examples. The transitional phrase “with that being said” signals that this contradiction or modification is coming. 

We’ll discuss the use of transitional phrases and the correct punctuation when using “with that being said” later in this article.

“With That Being Said” as A Summary Phrase

The second correct idiomatic use of the phrase “with that being said” is to sum up and close off one topic before beginning a new one. Consider these examples:

1. With that being said, let’s move on to the next item on the meeting agenda.

2. With that being said, I think we can put the policy to a vote.

In both of these examples, it’s clear that a topic has been extensively discussed prior to using the phrase “with that being said.” The phrase indicates that the topic is now closed, and now they are opening a new one for discussion.

To learn about another common idiomatic phrase, read “Which in Turn: Understanding the Proper Context in Which to Use this Common Phrase.”

Grammatical Structure of the Phrase “With That Being Said”

Because it is usually used as an idiomatic phrase, “with that being said” doesn’t necessarily follow intuitive grammar rules. However, knowing a little more about its structure may help you use this phrase correctly.

Is It A Verb or Adjective?

As you probably know, the word “said” is a verb and the past tense of the verb “to say.” For example:

• Present tense: I say my prayers every evening.
• Past tense: I said my prayers every evening.

However, in the case of the idiomatic phrase, “with that being said,” the word “said” is not operating as a verb at all, but rather as an adjective. 

The word said is most often used as an adjective in legal writing or speech. For example:

The police gathered the evidence. Said evidence was then admitted in court.

In this example, the word said could be replaced by “the aforementioned” or “the above-mentioned” (source).

In the phrase “with that being said,” the word “said” is also used as an adjective but with a slightly different meaning. In this case, the word “said” describes the state of the previous statement as spoken. If this sounds confusing, have another look at one of our earlier examples:

Italy is a very popular honeymoon destination. With that being said, I’d still rather go to Vietnam.

The word “that” in the example above refers to the sentence “Italy is a very popular honeymoon destination.” The word “said” then describes the state of this sentence as spoken. 

Transitional Words and Phrases

As we’ve already mentioned, the phrase “with that being said” is a transitional phrase. Transitional words and phrases connect two or more ideas contained in clauses or sentences. They can be as simple as a single word, like “and” or “but,” or a longer phrase, such as “on the other hand.”

The choice of transitional word or phrase indicates the relationship between two ideas (source).

It may show that the second clause is an addition to the first, a clarification, a contradiction, a replacement, and so on. Different transitional words and phrases can create a multitude of nuanced meanings.

Consider these examples:

1. Lucy has spent countless hours knitting hats for underprivileged children, not to mention the thousands of dollars she has raised.  

The transitional phrase “not to mention” indicates that the second part of the sentence adds to the first part.

2. I have never liked the taste of fish; however, I do love seafood.

The transitional word “however” indicates that the second part of the sentence contradicts or conflicts with the first part.

3. Don’t take your dog to the park down the road; instead, drive him to the one outside town.

The transitional word “instead” indicates that the second part of the sentence replaces the first part.

By considering what you already know about the use of the phrase “with that being said,” in addition to the examples above, it should be clear that “with that being said” is a transitional phrase that indicates either a contradiction or a summary.

The Question of Punctuation

You may already have noticed that many of the example sentences we have used so far follow the same punctuation rules. A transitional word or phrase is often preceded by a semicolon and followed by a comma. For example:

1. Don’t take your dog to the park down the road; instead, drive him to the one outside town.

2. I don’t enjoy taking public transport; with that being said, I usually take the bus when I visit my dad.

In both of these examples, the semicolon separates two clauses linked by a transitional word or phrase that shows the relationship between them. 

We could use a semicolon in these examples because the sentences are closely linked in meaning. Note that the clauses could stand alone as sentences:

1. I don’t enjoy taking public transport. With that being said, I usually take the bus when I visit my dad.

Sometimes, the two clauses linked by the transitional word or phrase are too long to combine into one sentence, such as in this example:

2. Raisins are so full of sugar that we can hardly call them a health food. With that being said, they’re probably better than chocolate if you’ve got a sugar craving.

You can see that combining the two sentences would create a long and unwieldy sentence. In most cases, a transitional word or phrase is followed by a comma, which indicates a pause or breath before the sentence continues.

What’s the Best Way to Use “With That Being Said”?

The phrase “with that being said” is a good choice when you are trying to achieve a particular tone: conversational, non-confrontational, and balanced rather than argumentative or contradictory.

Consider these examples:

The children might have been excited to see each other after so long, but it was naughty of them to make such a mess in the sitting room.

It’s understandable that the children were excited to see each other after so long. With that being said, it was naughty of them to make such a mess in the sitting room.

Notice that the first example is strongly phrased. The ultimate meaning of the phrase is clear: the children were naughty to make a mess. The use of the single word “but” helps create this more confrontational tone.

The second example is more balanced, and the meaning is more ambiguous. The tone is more sympathetic to the children and the reasons for their naughtiness.

This tone is created by the use of the sympathetic phrase “it’s understandable” and the phrase “with that being said.”

How Not to Use “With That Being Said”

Now that you know how to use this common phrase properly take a moment before you sprinkle it all over your writing.

This phrase is usually a conversational device, which means that, in written English, it can be superfluous and wordy. In fact, many people overuse the phrase to the point that it becomes a cliché.

To keep your writing smooth and easily understandable, it’s always worth considering whether you can replace several words with just one and retain your meaning. 

Let’s look at the examples we’ve already discussed, replacing the phrase “with that being said” with a single word in each case:

1. Raisins are so full of sugar that we can hardly call them health food. Nevertheless, they’re probably better than chocolate if you’ve got a sugar craving.

2. Italy is a very popular honeymoon destination, but I’d still rather go to Vietnam.

3. I don’t enjoy taking public transport; however, I usually take the bus when I visit my dad.

Many writers prefer the simpler, more direct style shown in these examples. But as long as your usage is correct, whether you use a longer phrase like “with that being said” or a single word as shown in the examples above is your style choice.

Variations of the Phrase

Several phrases have the same meaning that we can use in the same way as “with that being said.” Likewise, we can also use many transitional words that indicate contradiction to replace this phrase (source).

Phrases with the same meaning	Single words with the same meaning
Be that as it may	nevertheless
Bearing that in mind	nonetheless
That said	however
Having said that	but
All things considered	all together

Final Thoughts

Idiomatic English can be tricky and inconsistent, so consider getting yourself a copy of The Oxford New Essential Dictionary and the style guide, Dreyer’s English. Both are available on Amazon and will help you navigate the ins and outs of English writing.

When it comes to using an odd or idiomatic phrase like “with that being said,” make sure you know exactly what it means and how you should use it before you throw it into your writing.

Using an idiom incorrectly signals that you don’t understand the language perfectly. Even if you use it correctly, overusing a phrase like this can make your writing feel messy and too wordy. If in doubt, choose a single word — it’s simpler and easier, and you’re more likely to get it right.

Think about the tone you’re trying to achieve, and if you’re not sure that you’re using any phrase or word correctly, leave it out and choose one that you understand better. Making yourself clearly understood is more important than sounding fancy!