What to say when said is too much.

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.

admiredconsoledcomfortedsighedreassuredgushedsoothedpraisedprofessedbeamedempathizedinvitedofferedvolunteered

Sad – Alternative for said

sobbedweptpleadedgrievedmournedsniveledmewledcriedblubberedlamentedbawledmumbledsighedwailedbeggedsniffled

Anger – alternative for said

shoutedyelledgrowledbellowednaggedaccusedfumedcriticizedseethedsnappeddemandedretortedhissedupbraidedremonstratedscoldedtauntedteased

Fearful alternative for Said

screamedcautionedwarnedstammeredgaspedstutteredblurtedtrembledquaveredfalteredshriekedquakedthunderedswore

Excitement alternative for said

cheeredcried outbeamedrejoicedexclaimedgushedyelledcrowedholleredtrumpetedsang

Uncertainty instead of said.

wonderedaskedqueriedquestionedhesitatedinquiredsupposedspeculated

Emotional words for said

advisedimpliedentreatedhintedconcludedclaimedheldcontendedsuggestedinsistedexpressedvoicedchimed input forthannouncedobservedimpartednotedbegancontinuedutteredsharedrevealedrepliedexplainedwhisperedwent onaccusedcorrectedlamentedridiculedacknowledgedcoughedlaughedroaredaddedcounteredlecturedsangadmittedcriedliedsassedadvisedcroakedlispedscoffedaffirmedcrowedmaintainedscoldedagreedcursedmarvelledscreamedallegeddaredmentionedscreechedannounceddecidedmimickedseethedanswereddeclaredmoanedsharedapologizeddefendedmockedshotapproveddemandedmotionedshoutedargueddemurredmumbledshriekedaskeddeniedmurmuredshrilledasserteddescribedmusedsighedassureddisagreedmutteredsimperedbabbleddisclosednaggedslurredbadgereddivulgednoddedsmirkedbarkeddrawlednotedsnappedbawleddribbledobjectedsnarledbeganechoedobservedsneeredbeggedeffusedofferedsnickeredbellowedemphasizedopinedsniffedbleatedencouragedorderedsniffledblubberedexclaimedpantedsnortedblurtedexplainedpesteredsobbedboastedexplodedpipedspatboomedexultedpleadedspeculatedbraggedfinishedpledspilledbreathedfrettedpointed outsplutteredbubbledgaspedponderedspokeburst outgawkedpraisedsputteredcackledgibedprayedsqueakedcajoledgiggledproclaimedsquealedcalledgloatedpromisedstammeredcautionedgreetedpronouncedstartedchallengedgrimacedproposedstatedchatteredgroanedprotestedstormedcheeredgrowledprovokedstressedchidedgrumbledpurredstutteredchimed ingruntedput insuggestedchirpedguessedpuzzledsurmisedchitteredgulpedqueriedtauntedchokedgurgledquestionedteasedchortledgushedquippedtemptedchorusedhintedquizzedtestedchuckledhissedragedtestifiedclaimedholleredrantedthankedclarifiedhowledreasonedtheorizedcluckedhuffedreassuredthreatenedcoachedhummedrecalledthunderedcoaxedhypothesizedreckonedtrilledcomfortedimitatedrecountedurgedcommandedimpliedreiteratedvolunteeredcommentedimploredrelatedvowedcomplainedinformedremarkedwailedcomplimentedinquiredrememberedwarnedconcededinsinuatedremindedwent onconcludedinsistedrepeatedweptconcurredinstructedrepliedwheezedconfessedinsultedreportedwhimperedconfidedinterjectedrequestedwhinedconfirmedinterruptedresoundedwhisperedcongratulatedintimatedrespondedwonderedcontendedjeeredretaliatedworriedcontinuedjestedretortedyawnedcontributedjibedreturnedyelledconvincedjokedrevealedyelped

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.