How many words can you think of to use instead of said?
Be sure you use the correct word. When you go to a thesaurus, it will give you MANY synonyms, but don’t just plug in any old word. “Muttered” and “shouted” are both synonyms for “said”, but mean very different things. While it’s true that English Teachers will admonish you for not using “better” words than the boring “said”, Elmore Leonard, the author of such famous novels as “Get Shorty” says just the opposite in his TEN RULES FOR GOOD WRITING: ————————————–… 3. Never use a verb other than “said” to carry dialogue. The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. But said is far less intrusive than grumbled, gasped, cautioned, lied. I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with “she asseverated,” and had to stop reading to get the dictionary. 4. Never use an adverb to modify the verb “said” . . . . . . he admonished gravely. To use an adverb this way (or almost any way) is a mortal sin. The writer is now
