What does 'that being said' mean?

What it means: "However" or "despite what I just said." It acknowledges the previous point while introducing something that qualifies or contrasts with it.

"The project was successful. That being said, we need to address the budget overrun."

Why natives say this: It's a sophisticated discourse marker that signals: "I'm not abandoning what I said — I'm adding nuance." It's softer than "but" and more formal than "however."

When it sounds wrong: Overuse. Many speakers use it as a filler to sound thoughtful. If every other sentence starts with "that being said," it loses all meaning.

• "However" — formal, direct
• "That said" — slightly shorter, same meaning
• "Even so" — acknowledges tension between the points
• "But" — simple and often the best choice

Register: Neutral to formal. Common in presentations, essays, and professional speech.

Tags: discourse markers, professional English, writing, transitions