"It says here"

[Alice Faber]

Paul Ivsin wrote:
>Can "it says here" be used to mean "I predict" or "it stands to reason"?

It says here that it can be...

>Is this a regional expression?  Only in sports?  The context of the two
>examples below make it clear that "it" does not have a concrete referent
>(that is, there is no written text being read).

Seriously, I believe that I've heard the expression used also in
non-sports contexts, but from sports-type columnists, if that makes
any sense. In other words, it's in informally-written opinion
columns. I wouldn't be surprised, for instance, to find it in
something by Mike Royko or Pete Hamill.
>
>1. Another player who looks like a keeper is quarterback Mike McMahon. If
>Charlie Batch doesn't stay healthy, it says here McMahon will be the Lions'
>starting quarterback by November 2002.
>
>(http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/columns/20010815/welltraveledspellmanoutt.html)
>
>2. You won't hear anything official from the Stars, but it says here the
>decision to keep Turek has been made. All logic points in that direction.
>
>(http://www.findarticles.com/m1208/16_223/54492468/p1/article.jhtml)
>
>Thanks,
>Paul

--
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Alice Faber                                             faber at haskins.yale.edu
Haskins Laboratories                                  tel: (203) 865-6163 x258
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