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I'm writing a paper. In it, I have the following sentence.

The ________ principle has two discrepancies.

I am considering using either "aforementioned" or "aforesaid". How are the meaning of the two different? The definition for "aforesaid" is

Stated or mentioned before; aforementioned.

The definition of "aforementioned" is

Previously mentioned, esp. in a text.

Are their meanings different? When should I use which?

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3 Answers 3

up vote 5 down vote accepted

They make you sound like a lawyer, and I wouldn’t use either. Try The principle (I have) already mentioned or The principle referred to above.

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I find the supercited aforementioned to be way too complicated. It tends to raise eyebrows, and not just superciliously, either. More like supersilliest, perhaps.

You could just call it the stated principle, or (unless this form bothers you too much), the above principle.

Just don’t use supercited. :)

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said implies speech.

If one points out "but that was written and not said" in case you use a speech-related expression in relation to a text, it's pointless nitpicking, but it's the kind of nitpicking easily avoided by using a generic, non-speech-related expression like mentioned instead.

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