Instead of "Said"

         As a writer and a reader I tire of seeing the same words used over and over again.  One of the most-used words in many pieces of writing is said.  He said this, she said that, we said we agreed, and they said no.  Said, said, said…

         I’ve been working on this list for about five years and I’m sure that it is by no means complete.  However, in honor of NaNoWriMo 2008, I am setting it up in my port.  I hope some of you will find it useful.  Here are about 493 different ways to say said; there are fifteen or so listed that are phrases of two or three words.  I’m sure there are many more so if you think of some, I’d love to hear from you so they can be added to the list.

         I’ve put them in alphabetical order so they’re easy to find. I hope you get some use out of this extensive listing and that it encourages you to make your writing more interesting and expressive by using a variety of words.

         Happy writing and best of luck in the November 2008 NaNoWriMo event!

November 1, 2008:  Today I added 36 more words to the list, including rationalized, suggested by Jezz - Lost , and ruminated and reflected or paused to reflect*, suggested by Smiling Sonali WDC Power #1! .  Thanks, you two; your input is much appreciated.  There are now 529 different ways to say said in the list below. (*I put in reflected instead of paused to reflect as reflected has to do with talking and the other indicates a lull in the conversation.)

April 20, 2009:  I added enthused for Stephanie Grace ♥G-MEN! .  Thanks!    I also put in:  inferred, anticipated, tabulated, vacillated, contemplated, capitulated, gave in, related. condescended, illustrated. procrastinated, manipulated, conjectured, postulated, and strafed.  The count now stands at 545.

June 2, 2010:  colluded, plotted, sassed, compromised, derived, machinated, placated.    551

         I am thinking about making another list, putting them into categories based on circumstances in which they might be used.  For instance, if a character is trying to make a decision on a matter, you might use words such as:  considered, deliberated, debated, weighed, countered, decided, concluded, etc.

         I'm also open to ideas for another list of alternative words.  If there's a word or phrase that you see or use frequently and would like to have a list of other possibilities, please feel free to email me.

Deborah

Accentuated
Accused
Acknowledged
Acquiesced
Acquired
Added
Adjudicated
Admitted
Admonished
Advised
Affirmed
Agreed
Alleged
Allowed
Alluded
Amended
Analyzed
Announced
Anticipated
Answered
Apologized
Appealed
Appeased
Approved
Arbitrated
Argued
Articulated
Asked
Assented
Asserted
Assuaged
Assumed
Assured
Attest
Attributed
Authenticate
Averred
Avowed

Babbled
Bad-mouthed
Baited
Bantered
Barked
Bawled
Began
Begged
Believed
Belittled
Bellowed
Bemoaned
Berated
Beseeched
Besought
Betrayed
Bickered
Bit Out
Bitched
Blared
Blasted
Blathered
Bleated
Blubbered
Blurted
Blushed
Boasted
Boomed
Bragged
Brainstormed
Breathed
Bristled
Broadcast
Broke in
Brooded

Cackled
Cajoled
Calculated
Called
Cannonaded
Capitulated
Caroled
Cautioned
Challenged
Changed
Chanted
Charged
Chastised
Chatted
Chattered
Cheered
Chided
Chimed
Chipped in
Chirped
Choked
Chortled
Chuckled
Churned
Cited
Claimed
Clamored
Clucked
Coaxed
Coddled
Cogitate
Colluded
Comforted
Commanded
Commended
Commented
Commiserated
Compared
Complained
Complemented
Complied
Complimented
Compromised
Conceded
Concluded
Concurred
Condescended
Conferred
Confessed
Confided
Confirmed
Conjectured
Connived
Consented
Considered
Consoled
Consorted
Conspired
Consulted
Contemplated
Contended
Contended
Contested
Continued
Contributed
Contrived
Cooed
Corrected
Corroborate
Coughed
Counseled
Countered
Cracked
Credited
Cried
Criticized
Critiqued
Croaked
Crooned
Cross-examined
Crowed
Cursed
Cussed

Debated
Decided
Declared
Declined
Deduce
Defended
Deferred
Delayed
Deliberate
Demanded
Demonstrated
Demurred
Denied
Derided
Derived
Described
Determined
Dictated
Disagreed
Disclosed
Discouraged
Discussed
Dished
Dissuaded
Divulged
Drawled
Droned

Echoed
Edited
Educe
Ejaculated
Elaborated
Elucidated
Empathized
Encouraged
Ended
Enthused
Entreated
Enumerated
Enunciated
Estimated
Exaggerated
Exclaimed
Excogitate
Exhorted
Explained
Exploded
Exposed
Expostulated
Expressed
Extolled
Extrapolated
Exuded
Exulted

Faked
Faltered
Feared
Feigned
Festered
Figured
Finished
Fired back
Flared
Flattered
Flaunted
Flung
Foamed
Foretold
Formulated
Fretted
Frowned
Fumed
Furnish

Gabbed
Gaffed
Gagged
Gasped
Gave in
Gibbered
Giggled
Gloated
Goaded
Gossiped
Granted
Greeted
Grieved
Grinned
Griped
Groaned
Grouched
Growled
Grumbled
Grunted
Guessed
Guffawed
Gulped
Gurgled
Gushed

Hammered
Hastened
Hesitated
Hinted
Hissed
Hollered
Homed in
Hooted
Hoped
Horned in
Howled
Huffed
Hummed
Hypothesized

Illustrated
Imitated
Imparted
Implied
Implored
Indicate
Inferred
Informed
Inquired
Insinuated
Insisted
Instigated
Instructed
Insulted
Interceded
Interjected
Interposed
Interpreted
Interrogated
Interrupted
Intimidated
Intimidated
Intoned

Jabbered
Jeered
Jested
Jettisoned
Joked
Judged
Justified

Lambasted
Lamented
Laughed
Lectured
Lied
Lilted
Lisped
Listed

Machinated
Made known
Maintained
Maligned
Manipulated
Marveled
Mediated
Memorized
Mentioned
Mimicked
Moaned
Mocked
Mollified
Mourned
Mulled
Mumbled
Murmured
Mused
Muttered

Nagged
Nodded
Noted

Objected
Observed
Offered
Opted
Ordered

Panicked
Panted
Parried
Perceived
Permitted
Persisted
Persuaded
Pestered
Piped
Placated
Pleaded
Pled
Pledged
Plotted
Pointed out
Pondered
Postulated
Pouted
Praised
Prattled
Preached
Predicated
Predicted
Pressed
Pretended
Prevaricated
Proceeded
Proclaimed
Procrastinated
Prodded
Profaned
Professed
Promised
Prompted
Promulgate
Pronounced
Prophesied
Proposed
Protested
Provoked
Purred
Pursued
Put in
Puzzled

Quavered
Queried
Questioned
Quibbled
Quipped
Quoted

Railed
Rambled
Ranted
Rationalized
Rattled
Raved
Reasoned
Rebuked
Recalled
Recanted
Recited
Recognized
Recommended
Reflected
Regretted
Reiterated
Rejoined
Related
Relented
Relinquished
Remained
Remarked
Remembered
Reminded
Reminisced
Remonstrated
Renounced
Repeated
Replied
Reported
Reprehended
Reprimanded
Reproached
Requested
Resisted
Resolved
Responded
Resumed
Retorted
Returned
Revealed
Reviled
Ridiculed
Roared
Rumbled
Ruminate

Sang
Sassed
Sated
Schmoosed
Scoffed
Scolded
Scorned
Screamed
Screeched
Seethed
Sermonized
Shifted
Shot back
Shouted
Shrieked
Shrilled
Shrugged
Sighed
Simplified
Sizzled
Slandered
Slurred
Smiled
Smoldered
Snapped
Snarled
Sneered
Snickered
Sniffed
Sniped
Snorted
Sobbed
Soliloquied
Soothed
Spat
Specified
Spelled out
Spewed
Spilled
Spoke
Spouted
Spurted
Sputtered
Squawked
Squeaked
Squealed
Stalled
Stammered
Stated
Stipulated
Stormed
Strafed
Stressed
Struggled
Stuttered
Submitted
Substantiate
Suggested
Sulked
Summarized
Supported
Surmised
Surrendered
Swore
Sympathized

Tabulated
Tantalized
Tattled
Taunted
Teased
Tempted
Testified
Theorized
Thought aloud
Threatened
Thundered
Told
Tormented
Trilled
Twittered

Upheld
Urged
Uttered

Vacillated
Validated
Vaunted
Vented
Ventured
Vied
Voiced
Volunteered
Vouched
Vowed

Waffled
Wailed
Wanted to know
Warbled
Warned
Wavered
Weighed
Wept
Whimpered
Whined
Whinnied
Whispered
Whistled
Wished
Wondered
Wore on
Worried
Wrangled

Yakked
Yammered
Yapped
Yawed
Yawned
Yearned
Yelled
Yelped
Yielded
Yodeled
Yowled