One of the words that comes up most commonly in various types of writing, from fiction to academic writing, is the word “said.” Any time a writer is referencing the words or thoughts expressed by another person, whether that be thoughts expressed verbally or in writing, an appropriate way to introduce--or attribute--that person’s thoughts is with the phrase “said.”
But if you’re incorporating a lot of quotations in your writing, you might find yourself repeating the word “said” a lot. Repeating the same phrase in a piece of writing can start to feel monotonous, which is why incorporating synonyms or an oft-used word or phrase can make your writing more interesting and accurate. But here’s some good news: there are tons of other words for “said” out there for you to use!
To help you build a repertoire of words to replace “said,” we’re going to do the following in this article:
- Explain the importance of using word variety and avoiding repetition of the same word in your writing
- Explain when to use “said” and when not to use “said”
- Provide a comprehensive list of alternative words for “said,” organized into categories based on emotion and intention
Ready to check out some synonyms for “said”? Then let’s get going!