“For the Record” introduces a statement the speaker wants clearly remembered, documented, or used to correct the record. This guide stays with the supported present-day meaning and usage boundary and does not infer an unsupported first-use date, inventor, or origin story.
ReviewedEvidence1 sourceSectionPhrases & Idioms
Quick answer
Use “for the record” before a statement you want explicitly remembered, documented, or distinguished from an earlier claim.
Key details
Canonical FormFor the Record
Core Meaningintroduces a statement the speaker wants clearly remembered, documented, or used to correct the record
Further guidance
History Boundary
Current dictionary-supported meaning is published without claiming an exact inventor, coinage date, or absolute first use.
Meaning
introduces a statement the speaker wants clearly remembered, documented, or used to correct the record.
Usage Boundary
The phrase can sound corrective or emphatic; use it when that emphasis is useful rather than as a neutral transition.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
“Can’t see the forest for the trees” means being so occupied with individual details that the larger situation or overall point becomes difficult to recognize. A British form commonly uses “wood” instead of “forest.”
The standard expression is “for all intents and purposes,” meaning essentially, practically, or in all important respects. “For all intensive purposes” is a common sound-based error and should be avoided in edited writing.
“For What It’s Worth” introduces information or an opinion while acknowledging that the listener may not find it important or useful. This guide stays with the supported present-day meaning and usage boundary and does not infer an unsupported first-use date, inventor, or origin story.
“Set the Record Straight” means to state the true facts in order to correct a misunderstanding or false account. The guide stays with current documented meaning and does not add unsupported origin chronology.
“A dime a dozen” is a chiefly US idiom for something very common, easy to find, and not especially distinctive. The wording can carry a dismissive tone when it suggests that something is readily replaceable.
“A drop in the bucket” describes an amount that is very small compared with what is needed or compared with a much larger whole. Cambridge labels it as the US form and gives “a drop in the ocean” as the UK counterpart.
“A leopard can’t change its spots” is a saying about the persistence of character, especially negative traits. Cambridge also records the “doesn’t change its spots” form. This guide limits the page to present-day form and meaning rather than asserting an unsupported exact origin date.
