Writing techniques, and selecting another word instead of ‘said’.
Have you been contemplating writing? Or have you written a short story or eighty thousand words? Writing can be therapeutic until you begin the editing side of things. Some authors love editing, while others hate it with a passion.
Things to look out for – repeating words. Check your word doc and go to search or find and type in a word you notice multiple times. Discover just how many times you have the one word. See if you can change it for another word meaning the same thing.
For example the word said – try any of these, depending on the storyline and character.
Affectionate – alternative for said.
- admired
- consoled
- comforted
- sighed
- reassured
- gushed
- soothed
- praised
- professed
- beamed
- empathized
- invited
- offered
- volunteered
Sad – Alternative for said
- sobbed
- wept
- pleaded
- grieved
- mourned
- sniveled
- mewled
- cried
- blubbered
- lamented
- bawled
- mumbled
- sighed
- wailed
- begged
- sniffled
Anger – alternative for said
- shouted
- yelled
- growled
- bellowed
- nagged
- accused
- fumed
- criticized
- seethed
- snapped
- demanded
- retorted
- hissed
- upbraided
- remonstrated
- scolded
- taunted
- teased
Fearful alternative for Said
- screamed
- cautioned
- warned
- stammered
- gasped
- stuttered
- blurted
- trembled
- quavered
- faltered
- shrieked
- quaked
- thundered
- swore
Excitement alternative for said
- cheered
- cried out
- beamed
- rejoiced
- exclaimed
- gushed
- yelled
- crowed
- hollered
- trumpeted
- sang
Uncertainty instead of said.
- wondered
- asked
- queried
- questioned
- hesitated
- inquired
- supposed
- speculated
Emotional words for said
- advised
- implied
- entreated
- hinted
- concluded
- claimed
- held
- contended
- suggested
- insisted
- expressed
- voiced
- chimed in
- put forth
- announced
- observed
- imparted
- noted
- began
- continued
- uttered
- shared
- revealed
- replied
- explained
- whispered
- went on
| accused | corrected | lamented | ridiculed |
| acknowledged | coughed | laughed | roared |
| added | countered | lectured | sang |
| admitted | cried | lied | sassed |
| advised | croaked | lisped | scoffed |
| affirmed | crowed | maintained | scolded |
| agreed | cursed | marvelled | screamed |
| alleged | dared | mentioned | screeched |
| announced | decided | mimicked | seethed |
| answered | declared | moaned | shared |
| apologized | defended | mocked | shot |
| approved | demanded | motioned | shouted |
| argued | demurred | mumbled | shrieked |
| asked | denied | murmured | shrilled |
| asserted | described | mused | sighed |
| assured | disagreed | muttered | simpered |
| babbled | disclosed | nagged | slurred |
| badgered | divulged | nodded | smirked |
| barked | drawled | noted | snapped |
| bawled | dribbled | objected | snarled |
| began | echoed | observed | sneered |
| begged | effused | offered | snickered |
| bellowed | emphasized | opined | sniffed |
| bleated | encouraged | ordered | sniffled |
| blubbered | exclaimed | panted | snorted |
| blurted | explained | pestered | sobbed |
| boasted | exploded | piped | spat |
| boomed | exulted | pleaded | speculated |
| bragged | finished | pled | spilled |
| breathed | fretted | pointed out | spluttered |
| bubbled | gasped | pondered | spoke |
| burst out | gawked | praised | sputtered |
| cackled | gibed | prayed | squeaked |
| cajoled | giggled | proclaimed | squealed |
| called | gloated | promised | stammered |
| cautioned | greeted | pronounced | started |
| challenged | grimaced | proposed | stated |
| chattered | groaned | protested | stormed |
| cheered | growled | provoked | stressed |
| chided | grumbled | purred | stuttered |
| chimed in | grunted | put in | suggested |
| chirped | guessed | puzzled | surmised |
| chittered | gulped | queried | taunted |
| choked | gurgled | questioned | teased |
| chortled | gushed | quipped | tempted |
| chorused | hinted | quizzed | tested |
| chuckled | hissed | raged | testified |
| claimed | hollered | ranted | thanked |
| clarified | howled | reasoned | theorized |
| clucked | huffed | reassured | threatened |
| coached | hummed | recalled | thundered |
| coaxed | hypothesized | reckoned | trilled |
| comforted | imitated | recounted | urged |
| commanded | implied | reiterated | volunteered |
| commented | implored | related | vowed |
| complained | informed | remarked | wailed |
| complimented | inquired | remembered | warned |
| conceded | insinuated | reminded | went on |
| concluded | insisted | repeated | wept |
| concurred | instructed | replied | wheezed |
| confessed | insulted | reported | whimpered |
| confided | interjected | requested | whined |
| confirmed | interrupted | resounded | whispered |
| congratulated | intimated | responded | wondered |
| contended | jeered | retaliated | worried |
| continued | jested | retorted | yawned |
| contributed | jibed | returned | yelled |
| convinced | joked | revealed | yelped |
With these words, they might be useful in your next manuscript or what you are working on right now. Give it a go and see if any of these other words will fit. You never know, it might improve the flow of your writing, and the characters attitude when they are speaking in your manuscript.
M. L. Tompsett - Author 