state a fact

Meaning

1. 1phraseidiom

   to say something that is true, usually in a clear and direct way

   Grammar: The phrase is used as a verb phrase: you state a fact, not 'say a fact'.

   Patterns

   • state a fact
   • state the fact that ...

   She stated a fact that everyone already knew: the office closes at five.

   He did not argue; he simply stated a fact and sat down.

   The report states a fact about the number of students in the class.

Common combinations

simply state a fact

You can simply state a fact without giving your opinion.

state a simple fact

He stated a simple fact: water freezes at zero degrees.

state the facts clearly

Please state the facts clearly so we can understand.

state a fact in court

Witnesses must state a fact in court, not guess.

Synonyms and how they differ

declare

More formal and often official; used when someone announces something publicly.

mention

Weaker; it means to say something briefly, not necessarily a proven fact.

assert

Stronger and more forceful; it suggests you are defending a claim, not just reporting.

Word family

statement noun

A sentence or phrase that gives information.

fact noun

Something that is true or real.

Commonly confused: state a fact or say a fact?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “state a fact”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Explore more words