550 Alternative Words For "Said" Flashcards
In writing, a dialogue tag is a group of words that follow a line of speech. They provide information about the words between the beginning and end quotation marks such as
What Is a Dialogue Tag?
Repeating "he said, she said," can get annoying, but is it smart to use a different verb? There are abundant words to use instead, yet purists believe you're probably best not using them, since readers pay such little attention to "said" it effectively becomes invisible.
Other Words for "Said" by Emotion
When writing an inquisitive character, sometimes the standard "asked" can become a bit stale. Try using these alternatives when you want to add some variety to your dialogue.
Other Words for "Asked"
Instead of repeatedly using stated to express the way in which a character delivers their words, try using one of these more descriptive alternatives.
Other Words for "Stated"
Okay, so despite the warning, you’ve decided you really need to use one of the words above for "said." In order to make your writing absolutely zing, you might want to go whole hog and add an adverb or a phrase to convey or emphasize exactly how the line of dialogue was said.
Adverbs and Phrases to Explain How Something Was Said
"She said in a..."
List of Phrases for Dialogue
Below is Stephen King's take on the use of adverbs. His advice is to use adverbs very conservatively in order to keep the integrity of your writing intact.
Stephen King on Adverbs for Dialogue Attribution
Since the use of adverbs can often make a writer look amateurish, many choose to use actions instead of adverbs to express emotion. Take, for example, the scenario below, in which a man is feeling frustrated and angry upon learning that his girlfriend has been unfaithful. In the first example, adverbs are used. In the second, actions.
How to Show Emotion Through Actions Instead of Adverbs
jerry on July 15, 2020:
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