Think your manuscript’s filled with repeating words or phrases? “Said” is one of the most re-used terms in the English language, which is a pity considering how many other terms there are for speaking. Below are some simple words that can substitute “said” easily, separated by situations your speaker may be in. As you write keep in mind my rule about “said”: use “said” more often than any other synonyms. This emphasizes the importance of the synonyms and the tone of the conversation.
First talker
♣ Began
♣ Started
♣ Began
♣ Started
Talking Next
♦ Acknowledged
♦ Answered
♦ Protested
♦ Responded
♦ Retorted
♦ Replied
♦ Acknowledged
♦ Answered
♦ Protested
♦ Responded
♦ Retorted
♦ Replied
Last Speaker
♣ Concluded
♣ Concurred
♣ Determined
♣ Ended
♣ Finished
♣ Concluded
♣ Concurred
♣ Determined
♣ Ended
♣ Finished
Keeps Speaking
♦ Elaborated
♦ Commented
♦ Continued
♦ Lectured
♦ Ranted
♦ Surmised
♦ Elaborated
♦ Commented
♦ Continued
♦ Lectured
♦ Ranted
♦ Surmised
Seeking Attention
♣ Enunciated
♣ Explained
♣ Elaborated
♣ Hinted
♣ Implied
♣ Enunciated
♣ Explained
♣ Elaborated
♣ Hinted
♣ Implied
♣
♣ Lectured
♣ Reiterated
♣ Recited
♣ Reminded
♣ Stressed
♣ Lectured
♣ Reiterated
♣ Recited
♣ Reminded
♣ Stressed
Judgemental
♣ Advised
♣ Criticized
♣ Suggested
♣ Advised
♣ Criticized
♣ Suggested
Small Talk
♦ Commented
♦ Guessed
♦ Mentioned
♦ Noted
♦ Commented
♦ Guessed
♦ Mentioned
♦ Noted
♦ Observed
♦ Pointed out
♦ Remarked
♦ Stated
♦ Voiced
♦ Pointed out
♦ Remarked
♦ Stated
♦ Voiced
Joining the Conversation
♣ Added
♣ Cut in
♣ Joined in
♣ Implored
♣ Added
♣ Cut in
♣ Joined in
♣ Implored
♣ Input
♣ Inquired
♣ Interrupted
♣ Insisted
♣ Inquired
♣ Interrupted
♣ Insisted
♣ Proposed
♣ Queried
♣ Questioned
♣ Recommended
♣ Testified
♣ Queried
♣ Questioned
♣ Recommended
♣ Testified
Striking a Deal
♦ Consented
♦ Decided
♦ Bargained
♦ Begged
♦ Exhorted
♦ Implored
♦ Pleaded
♦ Prayed
♦ Offered
♦ Urged
♦ Consented
♦ Decided
♦ Bargained
♦ Begged
♦ Exhorted
♦ Implored
♦ Pleaded
♦ Prayed
♦ Offered
♦ Urged
Weak/Timid
♣ Appealed
♣ Begged
♣ Blurted
♣ Complained
♣ Cried
♣ Faltered
♣ Sobbed
♣ Wheezed
♣ Appealed
♣ Begged
♣ Blurted
♣ Complained
♣ Cried
♣ Faltered
♣ Sobbed
♣ Wheezed
Annoyed
♦ Grumbled
♦ Grunted
♦ Quipped
♦ Scolded
♦ Teased
♦ Grumbled
♦ Grunted
♦ Quipped
♦ Scolded
♦ Teased
Smugly Smart/Assumed
♣ Articulated
♣ Asserted
♣ Assured
♣ Avowed
♣ Claimed
♣ Commanded
♣ Cross-examined
♣ Articulated
♣ Asserted
♣ Assured
♣ Avowed
♣ Claimed
♣ Commanded
♣ Cross-examined
♣
♣ Determined
♣ Demanded
♣ Digressed
♣ Directed
♣ Foretold
♣ Instructed
♣ Interrupted
♣ Determined
♣ Demanded
♣ Digressed
♣ Directed
♣ Foretold
♣ Instructed
♣ Interrupted
♣
♣ Predicted
♣ Proclaimed
♣ Quoted
♣ Surmised
♣ Theorized
♣ Ventured
♣ Predicted
♣ Proclaimed
♣ Quoted
♣ Surmised
♣ Theorized
♣ Ventured
Thinking
♦ Guessed
♦ Hypothesized
♦ Speculated
♦ Theorized
♦ Thought aloud
♦ Pondered
♦ Postulated
♦ Proposed
♦ Wondered
♦ Guessed
♦ Hypothesized
♦ Speculated
♦ Theorized
♦ Thought aloud
♦ Pondered
♦ Postulated
♦ Proposed
♦ Wondered
Supporting Another Speaker
♣ Affirmed
♣ Agreed
♣ Alleged
♣ Confirmed
♣ Affirmed
♣ Agreed
♣ Alleged
♣ Confirmed
Secretive
♦ Cautioned
♦ Confided
♦ Disclosed
♦ Divulged
♦ Whispered
♦ Warned
♦ Cautioned
♦ Confided
♦ Disclosed
♦ Divulged
♦ Whispered
♦ Warned
Nervous Manner
♣ Babbled
♣ Bawled
♣ Fretted
♣ Sputtered
♣ Stammered
♣ Stuttered
♣ Babbled
♣ Bawled
♣ Fretted
♣ Sputtered
♣ Stammered
♣ Stuttered
Spoke Quietly
♦ Breathed
♦ Hissed
♦ Mumbled
♦ Murmured
♦ Muttered
♦ Uttered
♦ Whispered
♦ Breathed
♦ Hissed
♦ Mumbled
♦ Murmured
♦ Muttered
♦ Uttered
♦ Whispered
Loud
♣ Announced
♣ Crowed
♣ Declared
♣ Shouted
♣ Announced
♣ Crowed
♣ Declared
♣ Shouted
Said Rudely
♦ Boasted
♦ Bragged
♦ Gloated
♦ Jeered
♦ Mocked
♦ Snapped
♦ Sneered
♦ Boasted
♦ Bragged
♦ Gloated
♦ Jeered
♦ Mocked
♦ Snapped
♦ Sneered
Bad Guy Talking
♣ Dictated
♣ Equivocated
♣ Ordered
♣ Reprimanded
♣ Snarled
♣ Threatened
♣ Dictated
♣ Equivocated
♣ Ordered
♣ Reprimanded
♣ Snarled
♣ Threatened
Furious
♦ Argued
♦ Barked
♦ Bellowed
♦ Challenged
♦ Cursed
♦ Exploded
♦ Fumed
♦ Growled
♦ Hissed
♦ Hollered
♦ Howled
♦ Retorted
♦ Roared
♦ Swore
♦ Thundered
♦ Argued
♦ Barked
♦ Bellowed
♦ Challenged
♦ Cursed
♦ Exploded
♦ Fumed
♦ Growled
♦ Hissed
♦ Hollered
♦ Howled
♦ Retorted
♦ Roared
♦ Swore
♦ Thundered
Common Verbs to use in Arguments
♣ Chided
♣ Contended
♣ Corrected
♣ Countered
♣ Debated
♣ Defended
♣ Denied
♣ Elaborated
♣ Lectured
♣ Objected
♣ Preached
♣ Ranted
♣ Retorted
♣ Chided
♣ Contended
♣ Corrected
♣ Countered
♣ Debated
♣ Defended
♣ Denied
♣ Elaborated
♣ Lectured
♣ Objected
♣ Preached
♣ Ranted
♣ Retorted
Guilty/Reluctance/Sorry
♦ Admitted
♦ Apologized
♦ Conceded
♦ Confessed
♦ Professed
♦ Admitted
♦ Apologized
♦ Conceded
♦ Confessed
♦ Professed
Overwhelmed by Emotions
♣ Croaked
♣ Lamented
♣ Pleaded
♣ Pledged
♣ Sobbed
♣ Sympathized
♣ Wailed
♣ Whimpered
♣ Croaked
♣ Lamented
♣ Pleaded
♣ Pledged
♣ Sobbed
♣ Sympathized
♣ Wailed
♣ Whimpered
Happily Said
♣ Cajoled
♣ Chuckled
♣ Exclaimed
♣ Gushed
♣ Jested
♣ Joked
♣ Laughed
♣ Snorted
♣ Cajoled
♣ Chuckled
♣ Exclaimed
♣ Gushed
♣ Jested
♣ Joked
♣ Laughed
♣ Snorted
Strangely Happy
♦ Cheered
♦ Extolled
♦ Exclaimed
♦ Jabbered
♦ Raved
♦ Cheered
♦ Extolled
♦ Exclaimed
♦ Jabbered
♦ Raved
Surprised
♣ Gasped
♣ Marveled
♣ Gasped
♣ Marveled
♣ Screeched
♣ Shouted
♣ Shrieked
♣ Squeaked
♣ Squealed
♣ Shouted
♣ Shrieked
♣ Squeaked
♣ Squealed
♣ Yelped
♣ Yelled
♣ Wondered
♣ Yelled
♣ Wondered
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog.
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Reblogged this on The Feed By Our Pantheons Way and commented:
This is an exquisitely useful post, I uttered.
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I say, dear sir! I see what you did there.
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Love the suggestions!! replacing “said” is definitely a pain in the rear, I always struggle to come up with enough variety in replacements so this post is an awesome help for me!! thank you!
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Reblogged this on Lyn Horner's Corner and commented:
Great list of “speaking” verbs!
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Terrific list! I have long kept a list of speaking verbs that I often refer to when writing. I’ll definitely be adding some of yours.
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You know, I’ve heard just the opposite when it came to the word said. Ugh!
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Hmmm… I don’t think I’ve heard that, at least, not when the word said is used in past tense like in this post. Some of these words can’t be used in present tense (not because of grammar, they just sound/read weird when you change to present tense.)
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I read it in some writer’s tips somewhere. I thought that it didn’t sound right. Thanks for clarifying.
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There are several schools of thought on this. Many writers believe it’s best to eliminate “he said, she said” from your dialogue entirely. This would eliminate the need for replacing “said” and keep the reader in the dialogue. I agree that if you set up the scene right, and block character activity and non-verbal interaction well then “said” is often unnecessary.
I don’t feel comfortable eliminating said entirely. In some scenes I cut the tag and the dialogue feels wrong. That being said (I couldn’t resist), I’m perfectly comfortable using “said” and not trying to find a replacement. Especially when using adverb linked verbs (chuckled, joked, cried, gasped) that often become shortcuts for description and action that convey the speaker’s state better (and more dramatically).
The third school would argue American language, and readers, follow Anglo-Saxon roots and shorter words, “argued,” “pissed,” “said” read better than longer Latinate words like “advocated, urinated, commented.” I am very much from that school and encourage young writers to avoid longer, polysyllabic words—especially because, in many cases, the Latinate word has a specific connotation inappropriate to the current sentence. E.g., “Holy shit, there’s a bear in my house,” Sally recited, or “If you don’t choose the correct word, not only might you confuse your reader, I will mark your papers down,” Professor Lawrence jabbered.
That being the case, this is a handy list for young writers to have available, and if they find themselves in the situation where a substitute for “said” is needed, this will save a lot of time. I appreciate the effort you put into sharing.
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Reblogged this on Wind Eggs and commented:
There are several schools of thought on using the word “said” in dialogue. Many writers believe it’s best to eliminate “he said, she said” from your dialogue entirely. This would eliminate the need for replacing “said” and keep the reader in the dialogue. I agree that if you set up the scene right, and block character activity and non-verbal interaction well then “said” is often unnecessary.
I don’t feel comfortable eliminating said entirely. In some scenes I cut the tag and the dialogue feels wrong. That being said (I couldn’t resist), I’m perfectly comfortable using “said” and not trying to find a replacement. Especially when using adverb linked verbs (chuckled, joked, cried, gasped) that often become shortcuts for description and action that convey the speaker’s state better (and more dramatically).
The third school would argue American language, and readers, follow Anglo-Saxon roots and shorter words, “argued,” “pissed,” “said” read better than longer Latinate words like “advocated, urinated, commented.” I am very much from that school and encourage young writers to avoid longer, polysyllabic words—especially because, in many cases, the Latinate word has a specific connotation inappropriate to the current sentence. E.g., “Holy shit, there’s a bear in my house,” Sally recited, or “If you don’t choose the correct word, not only might you confuse your reader, I will mark your papers down,” Professor Lawrence jabbered.
That being the case, this is a handy list for young writers to have available, and if they find themselves in the situation where a substitute for “said” is needed, this will save a lot of time. I appreciate the effort the Mad Scribbler put into compiling the following post:
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I agree that “said” shouldn’t be forgotten. Here’s my rule: use “said” more often than any other synonyms. This emphasizes the importance of the synonyms and the tone of the conversation.
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I admire the work you’ve done in compiling this list. When an attention-getting word is needed to describe an utterance, there are certainly many choices offered here, but most often it’s best to stick with “said” or to use no tag at all when possible.
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It depends on the type of literature you’re writing. If an author is writing a MG level book, or a conversation with three or more speakers, then this can be a helpful resource.
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That’s true.
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Reblogged this on The Owl Lady.
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