Synonyms for said that show volume include:


'Said' is one of those words that, as mention tends to phase out of awareness if used correctly.


I used to agonize over this exact issue myself, so I would go back and read books by my favorite authors to see how they got around the issue, because I never remember them using the word 'said'.


Also think about ways to say said that convey volume and tone, i.e. atmosphere. Although Toni Morrison's advice above is good (creating quietness using the spaces around characters' lines), the occasional 'she whispered' has its place, too.

Another example is the word 'stated': think how this conveys a formal tone in your writing, and see if introducing a formal tones works in your story.

"Words to Use Instead of "Said"." ThoughtCo, Apr.

I would never actually post my example in a roleplay, but it was just an example to show how useful other words besides said are.


I suppose it is also a matter of personal preference.

Vary the way you show who's speaking in your dialogue. Use emotive other words for said to season characters' conversations. Yet seasoning shouldn't overpower substance. Use the content of what characters say, their movement, body language, pauses, and silences, to .

Table of contents * Good morning in English * Is it goodmorning or good morning? * Other ways to say good morningGood morning in EnglishGood morning is an English expression used when greeting someone first thing in the morning. It’s light and casual but appropriate to use in virtually all

The infographic below () has some good alternatives. Yet it suggests words such as 'enunciated' as a synonym for 'said'. However, if you were to use this tag randomly in the middle of dialogue it would seem arbitrary.


"Words to Use Instead of "Said"." ThoughtCo.

Next year will be another one of dazzling sky shows and offer opportunities for forging deeper connections with astronomy, said Vanessa Alarcon, an astronomical observer at Griffith Observatory.

Do you have other words to use in your writing instead of thought?



Having said that, and as someone who has trouble sticking to herself, let's go over a few basic guidelines for good—and bad—synonyms for that humblest of dialogue tags.

1.

What are good synonyms for said

Thanks for your reply! I have to admit that after having posted my thoughts yesterday, I remembered that when I'm reading books written by authors like Austen and Dickens, I don't mind the varied attributions so much. Somehow, stylistically, things like "ejaculated" and "replied" and "murmured" seem to fit better in that kind of historical, sweeping literary style.I did have another thought on the subject, in general. As a freelance editor for fiction writers, I've seen a lot of the use of words like "sighed" and "laughed" and "chuckled" (etc.) in dialogue (e.g., "I can't understand it," she sighed). Those words in particular drive me crazy. Has anyone ever actually tried to "chuckle" speech? Or "sigh" words? You can sigh before or after speaking, but not as speech. Similarly, you can laugh before, in the middle of, or after having spoken, but you can't laugh speech. Perhaps it's more those attributions to which I find myself *really* objecting! :)

200+ Other Words For Said: Synonyms to Spice up Your Writing

Yeah, it does! I’m writing a story with my best friend and I had NO IDEA what to say instead of said, and then I found this!! You can guess what happened next! XD

Over 300 words to use instead of said

I agree with Alice. I once read a book in which the author used every word BUT "said" and "asked"... and I *hated* that book. The writing came off as amateur, and it seemed as though the author had done this just to sound smarter. Ironically, in most cases, the tag didn't even make sense, because it didn't actually have anything to do with vocalization, nor do many of the suggestions above. And it's true — words like this detract from the dialogue... Because that's all I remember about the book are those horrible tags. This is, in my opinion, lazy writing. There are much stronger ways to convey what a person is thinking, doing, feeling, etc.

130+ Other Words for Said: Using Synonyms In Your Writing

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the subject, Krysten. It is a fine line between using dialogue tags in places to avoid ambiguity of expression and overusing them and coming across amateurish, as you say. Alice's suggestion of using actions instead of tags is another discussion but is a very effective way to keep the author's presence in the text less obtrusive.