When to Use Synonyms for the Word Said
Use Said to Avoid Swaying Dialogue & Drawing Attention to Tags
Sep 11, 2009
Many inexperienced writers try to find as many different ways of saying the word said as possible to add variety and interest to their writing. Although this is admirable, the word said should be used most of the time to avoid drawing unnecessary attention to dialogue tags and avoid potential sway in newsworthy stories. For other instances, these synonyms of the word said come in handy.
Use Said Most Frequently to Avoid Sway & Implication in Articles
The most important reason the word said should be used by journalists and any writer quoting sources is to avoid potentially swaying or implying meanings or opinions. If a quote ends in the tag Suzie claimed, it sounds as though the writer isn't sure if Suzie is telling the truth, although the writer might have just been trying to avoid repeating the word said.
Use Said to Avoid Directing Unnecessary Attention to Dialogue Tags
In dialogue tags (the phrase just before, between, or following quotes -- typically he or she said), the word said should be used more frequently than any other synonym of said. Why? As overdone as they are, the words he said, she said simply blend into the writing, drawing little to no attention to themselves, and after all, why should they deserve attention? The focus should be on the dialogue itself, and the dialogue tags should only be visible when clarification of who is speaking is necessary.
But what if the speaker is angry? Shouldn't the word shouted be used over said? No. Not usually, anyway. The dialogue should be written in a way that the reader understands the speaker is angry before reaching the dialogue tag. "I can't believe she stole my bag!" has an implied tone of anger and added the word shouted would not change much in the sentence.
When Should Synonyms of Said be Used?
If there could be confusion as to the tone of the speaker, sarcasm versus frustration for example, the word said can be replaced with another word that could better clarify the speaker's tone. Remember to be sure any substitution of said can be used as an action, not a modifier. Do not write John laughed as a dialogue tag but instead John said, laughing or John said with a laugh.
The best time to substitute the word said by itself is when the word is used outside of dialogue tags. Try substituting said when summarizing a conversation or series of events within a paragraph.
List of Synonyms for the Word Said
- accepted
- accused
- acknowledged
- acquiesced
- added
- addressed
- adlibbed
- admitted
- advised
- advocated
- affirmed
- agreed
- allowed
- alluded
- announced
- answered
- approved
- argued
- articulated
- asked
- asserted
- assumed
- assured
- babbled
- bargained
- barked
- bawled
- began
- begged
- belittled
- bellowed
- bickered
- bid
- bitched
- blabbed
- blabbered
- blared
- blasted
- blurted
- boasted
- boomed
- bragged
- breathed
- burst
- called
- cautioned
- challenged
- charged
- chattered
- cheered
- chewed out
- chortled
- claimed
- coaxed
- commanded
- commented
- complained
- complied
- concluded
- confided
- confirmed
- consented
- contemplated
- continued
- contradicted
- conversed
- conveyed
- countered
- cried
- criticized
- cursed
- debated
- decided
- declared
- delivered
- demanded
- denied
- described
- determined
- dictated
- digressed
- directed
- disagreed
- disclosed
- discussed
- disputed
- disrupted
- divulged
- doubted
- droned
- echoed
- elaborated
- emphasized
- encouraged
- exclaimed
- explained
- exploded
- expressed
- faltered
- fumed
- gabbed
- gossiped
- greeted
- griped
- groaned
- growled
- grumbled
- grunted
- guffawed
- gulped
- gushed
- haggled
- hesitated
- hinted
- hissed
- hollered
- imagined
- imitated
- implied
- improvised
- indicated
- inferred
- informed
- injected
- inquired
- insisted
- instructed
- insulted
- interjected
- interrogated
- interrupted
- jeered
- joked
- judged
- justified
- lamented
- lashed out
- let on
- lied
- made known
- maintained
- marveled
- mentioned
- mimicked
- misquoted
- misstated
- moaned
- mocked
- mouthed
- mumbled
- murmured
- mused
- muttered
- nagged
- narrated
- negotiated
- noted
- notified
- objected
- observed
- opposed
- panted
- persisted
- persuaded
- piped in
- pitched in
- pleaded
- pointed out
- pondered
- praised
- preached
- predicted
- presented
- pried
- probed
- proclaimed
- prompted
- quarreled
- questioned
- quizzed
- quoted
- rambled
- ranted
- reasoned
- reassured
- rebutted
- reciprocated
- recited
- reckoned
- recommended
- referred
- reflected
- regretted
- remarked
- reminded
- repeated
- rephrased
- replied
- reported
- reproached
- requested
- responded
- restated
- resumed
- retold
- returned
- revealed
- reviewed
- rhymed
- roared
- roasted
- rumored
- scoffed
- scolded
- scowled
- screamed
- screeched
- scrutinized
- shouted
- shrieked
- sighed
- slurred
- snapped
- snarled
- sneered
- snickered
- snorted
- sobbed
- spat
- specified
- spewed
- spieled
- sputtered
- spoke
- spouted
- sputtered
- squawked
- squeaked
- squealed
- stammered
- stated
- stormed
- stressed
- stumbled
- stuttered
- submitted
- suggested
- summarized
- summed up
- summoned
- supposed
- swore
- talked
- tattled
- taunted
- teased
- testified
- threatened
- thundered
- told
- translated
- trumpeted
- twitted
- twittered
- understated
- urged
- uttered
- vented
- ventured
- verified
- vocalized
- voiced
- volunteered
- vowed
- wailed
- warned
- wept
- wheezed
- whimpered
- whined
- whispered
- whistled
- whooped
- wished
- wondered
- yakked
- yapped
- yawned
- yelled
- yelped
Remember that the word said should only be replaced minimally, especially in journalism articles. When in doubt as to the meaning of the word, stick with the classic said.
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