When writing fiction, must I always use "said" & "asked," or is this ok: "Twice," he corrected.

Question

Another line I'm having issues with is:

"I was p-pushed," he stuttered.

Is that wrong? Should it actually be: "I was p-pushed," he said, stuttering. ????

Thanks for any input!

Answer 1

Those sound right. One thing is that you have to use different words to mix it up. So the reader doesn't get bored. Also if you write a dialog you don't have to have "he said; she said." You could just move on to the next line, but of coarse that might only be useful when only 2 people are talking.

Answer 2

It is fine to use words other than "said" and "asked. The "stuttered" line is fine. However, corrected is not. Correct is a transitive verb, which means you need both a subject and an object for that sentence. You cannot simply correct, you have to correct someone or something. Just like you would never say "I tasted" without saying what it was that you tasted

Answer 3

Your way is fine. And, by the way, writing is an art form and thus anything goes. If you read books by Anthony Burgess or James Joyce you will notice how they write in unconventional styles - often even making up words. Your grammar is correct, but also know that if you want to change it creatively, you can do so but must first prove that you know the rules, and also remain consistent with those changes, or at least bring up the fact that you did make those changes for your own artistic purpose.

Answer 4

Yes, but don't use those words too often. When reading, you'll notice that you'll never even notice when an author uses said or asked, but if they say:

"You'll always be my best friend," Steve gregariously commented.

then it sticks out like a sore thumb and interrupts the flow that the reader had goin and can frustrate the reader. Especially when they don't know what gregarious means. So yes, you can use other words than said or asked to spice it up a little bit, but stay conservative, for the reader's sake.

Answer 5

It's perfectly okay to use "he stuttered" or "he corrected" or any number of other words and terms than "said" or "asked."

I'm reading The Seaboard Parish by George MacDonald right now, and it has some examples I could cite. For instance:
{Indeed," she went on, "I..."

Dora broke out, "I..."

"...than talk about it," I returned.

Mrs. Coombes spoke for her. "She's shy, but..."}

That last example doesn't use any words at all; just a preliminary sentence leading into the dialog. You could also use words like "answered" and "replied" or "suggested" and many more.

Answer 6

I easily have been in Angels Stadium, Dodger Stadium, Yankee Stadium, Petco Park and despite the call is of that sauna in Miami in purple Sox equipment. each and every person treats you with comprehend/ignores you, different than the yank followers. there is purely too plenty historic previous there. It makes it relaxing. As on your adventure, i could in no way comprehend why a Yankee fan could take place at Fenway for a purple Sox--Tigers interest in Yankee equipment. positioned on Tiger equipment for Heaven's sake. of direction you would be the main loathed guy or woman interior the park. easily donning a Yankee hat interior the city of Boston isn't the brightest of strikes as a wide-spread remember.

Answer 7

Yeah. He said, stuttering sounds better because it adds more emotion than saying he stuttered. Instead of saying he said, try adding other words like "choked" or "muttered" or "replied". It sounds less repetitive that way. I use "he said" in my work all the time.

Answer 8

The original version is fine. There's nothing wrong with it. I'm an author myself and always have to have a large supply of words like that to use.

Answer 9

Of course thats fine. It clarifies and simplifies the sentence and helps the flow. Especially if you are an author you can take larger creative liberties than those.

Answer 10

"He, said, she said," are fine, but consider inserting action tags before the dialogue--therefore, eliminating the "saids."

Example:

Jim glared at his opponent and then laughed. "Ha! I gotcha! It's your move."

A tag of "He said" is not necessary anytime the reader can determine who is speaking.