i need it for a story im writing but i dont know lots i need like 15-20 different ones but if you cant you can give me anything you got its all useful
2006-11-05 12:23:29 · 26 answers · asked by mcr_concert_luva 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Might I add, however, that some writers say that reaching for flashy synonyms for simple words like "said" can detract from your point by snapping the reader back to an awareness they are reading something crafted by a writer, and not a real, living, breathing scene.
Since reading this, I wince a little when I read a joke or anecdote (always by an amateur) where the writer didn't let anyone "say" -- but, rather, always made them "declare" or "effuse." It's a painful symptom of sophomoric overwriting, imho.
2006-11-05 12:30:42 · answer #1 · answered by martino 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
How about:
1. answered 10. argued 20. announced
2. praised 11. revealed
3. analyzed 12. promised
4. questioned 13. condemned
5. admitted 14. swore
6. anticipated 15. choked out
7. provoked 16. cried
8. shared 17. pried
9. confirmed 18. dragged out
18. growled 19. spoke up
Here is 20 words that could be used as said, now you just have to figure out how.
I really hope that this helps and you can use some of these words. Best of luck to you!!
2006-11-05 23:04:42 · answer #2 · answered by Donna J 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A
accused
added
ad-libbed
admitted
advised
affirmed
agreed
alleged
announced
answered
argued
articulated
asked
asserted
assumed
assured
attacked
averred
B
babbled
balked
bantered
barked
bawled
beckoned
begged
bellowed
blabbed
blasted
blubbered
blurted
boasted
boomed
bragged
brayed
breathed
bubbled
C
cackled
called
chanted
chattered
chimed
chirped
chortled
chuckled
choked
commanded
commented
complained
consoled
continued
cooed
corrected
cracked
cried
crowed
D
dared
debated
declared
declined
decried
deduced
defended
deferred
delivered
demanded
denied
denounced
described
dictated
directed
divulged
drawled
E
echoed
emitted
emphasised
encouraged
enunciated
exclaimed
exhorted
explained
exploded
expressed
G
gabbed
gasped
giggled
gossiped
grinned
groaned
growled
grumbled
grunted
H
hesitated
hinted
hissed
hollered
howled
hummed
I
imparted
implied
indicated
insisted
instructed
interjected
interrupted
invited
J
jawed
joked
joshed
justified
L
laughed
lied
lamented
M
maintained
mentioned
mimicked
moaned
mouthed
mumbled
muttered
N
nagged
niggled
noted
O
objected
observed
ordered
P
panted
pattered
persisted
persuaded
phrased
pipedpleaded
positioned
prattled
preached
predicted
proclaimed
pronounced
proposed
protested
puffed
Q
queried
questioned
quipped
quizzed
quoted
R
ranted
reasoned
recalled
recited
refused
related
relayed
reflected
remarked
reminded
repeated
replied
reported
responded
restated
retorted
roared
S
scoffed
scolded
screamed
screeched
shouted
shrieked
sighed
snapped
snarled
snickered
sniffed
snorted
sobbed
sounded
specified
speculated
spewed
spieled
spoke
sputtered
squawked
squeaked
squealed
stammered
stated
stressed
stuttered
submitted
suggested
T
tattled
teased
testified
thanked
thought
thundered
told
U
urged
uttered
W
wailed
warbled
wept
whimpered
whined
whispered
whistled
wondered
V
verbalised
vocalised
voiced
vowed
Y
yapped
yawned
yelled
yelped
Okay, now that we know HOW to say SAID, how do we say it better?
Try adding a few of these to your writing:
with great vigor behind her back carefully hospitably furtively
despairingly abusively worriedly responsibly wearily
morosely dismissively timidly with enthusiasm amiably
hoarsely honestly slowly pleasantly lovingly
reasonably turning around quickly enthusiastically sharply
unreasonably with mouth full softly under her breath angrily
gently
2006-11-05 20:50:14 · answer #3 · answered by ichigo_li2 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Exclaimed, explained, shouted, sighed, described, decried, cried, screamed, whispered, snorted, giggled....
Your "action" word will depend on the dialog. If it is just a plain conversation, you use action words to describe that scene.
If the characters are fighting, then, you use words that describe a fight- whether verbally or physically.
If the scene is emotional, use words to "draw" a picture of someone going through a terrible time.
Good luck.
PS- Check a Thesaurus. I found the thesaurus to be very helpful in writing.
2006-11-05 20:39:54 · answer #4 · answered by Lizzie 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the only times you shouldn't use the phrase 'said' would be when you're trying to get across some emotion or expression the character is using. Usually, sticking with 'said' or simply tagging the quotation with an action (-Mark stared at him "You've got to be kidding..."-) is enough. (I noticed some writers going overboard with avoiding the word)
In faster-paced scenes it usually works best simply having the quotation with no tags attached (unless the conversation is confusing or between more than two people).
Hope this helps. :)
2006-11-07 19:42:00 · answer #5 · answered by creative writer 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Instead of saying he said or she said, why not just have the people talking as thought you and i were talking, because you can always used things like , " Oh Johny you did mean that ? Johny looked at Mary with a smile and walked away.
This way you know who said what to who, with out saying he said .
May God bless you and have a great day
2006-11-05 20:39:21 · answer #6 · answered by jan d 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I agree completely with Martino's response to you.
By all means, use some of the more familiar suggestions people have given you. But use them very sparingly. Stick with "said" most of the time, and make "what they say" the important aspect of your story.
2006-11-06 00:13:41 · answer #7 · answered by sublimetranscendental 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
uttered, shrieked, snorted, chuckled, sneered, murmured, whispered, shouted, pontificated, verbalized, smiled, described, asked, frowned...
In other words, you don't have to say that she "said" it, but you can use descriptive words which fit into the situation being described.
For example:
What? She shrieked in horror!
or
What? She uttered in terror.
or
What? She murmured, eyes rolling with disdain.
or
What? She asked, tentatively, not really wanting the answer.
Good luck!
2006-11-05 21:23:23 · answer #8 · answered by LindaLou 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are painting a picture with words.
Stated, stuttered, blurted, mumbled, uttered, stammered, laughed, screamed...these all describe the mood of the statement.
A thesaurus will really help you out. Good luck!!! :)
2006-11-05 20:47:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
u can tell the reader how they spoke, such as:
nervously repeated
quivered
the words "_________" eloquently emminated from her/his lips
stammered
explained
depicted
quietly spoke
uttered the faintest "_______"
muttered
stuttering, he said, "_____"
replied indifferently
announced
recited
named
spoke
told the person...
asked
shouted
u can also say somthin like-
he then told his mother that he wouldn't clean his room.
so that u dont have to do so much dialogue.
a thesaurus helps, read other books to get examples
2006-11-05 20:35:57 · answer #10 · answered by IG 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋