Said.
That word is a nightmare for anyone who teaches writing to kids or teens.
It’s not that the word itself is such a horrible thing. Actually, it’s a nice little four-letter word unlike some others of its kind which I will avoid mentioning because I’m a polite, Christian woman.
It’s just that that poor word is overused so much that its like an old toothbrush…ready to be retired.
That’s why I decided to create some lists of other words for “said” that you can share with your kids.
“Lists?” you inquire.
Why not just one list?
Because I thought it would be more helpful to create a set of three lists by category. That way your kids can search for other words for “said” according to their needs. Here’s what the categories look like:
- Better Than “Said” – A general list of words to replace “said”
- Say It with Feeling – Words for “said” that convey emotion
- How Does It Sound? – Words for “said” that make a sound
As a bonus, I also included a list of words that can be used to replace “asked.” I know that that word can also be a little over used too.
Anyway, let’s get on with the word lists so that your kids can get writing.
Other Words for “Said”
Better Than “Said”
acknowledged
added
admitted
advised
agreed
announced
answered
asserted
assured
began
bet
broke in
called
cautioned
chatted
claimed
clarified
commanded
commented
conceded
concluded
confessed
confided
confirmed
continued
convinced
corrected
decided
declared
denied
described
disagreed
disclosed
divulged
ended
explained
finished
greeted
guessed
hinted
hypothesized
imitated
implied
informed
interjected
interrupted
lectured
maintained
mentioned
motioned
mused
nodded
noted
notified
objected
observed
offered
ordered
perplexed
pointed out
pondered
praised
proclaimed
promised
proposed
put in
puzzled
quipped
quoted
reasoned
recalled
reckoned
reiterated
related
remarked
remembered
reminded
repeated
replied
reported
responded
revealed
speculated
spoke
started
stated
suggested
surmised
tempted
tested
theorized
told
uttered
volunteered
vowed
went on
wondered
yakked
Say It with Feeling
accused
apologized
approved
argued
beamed
blurted
boasted
bragged
burst out
cheered
chided
chortled
chuckled
complained
congratulated
cried
cursed
dared
doubted
encouraged
exclaimed
fretted
gibed
giggled
gloated
gushed
insisted
jeered
jested
jibed
joked
laughed
marveled
mocked
pestered
protested
provoked
quavered
ranted
reassured
retaliated
retorted
scoffed
scolded
simpered
smiled
smirked
snapped
sneered
snickered
sobbed
spat
stormed
taunted
teased
threatened
urged
warned
wept
worried
yelled
How Does It Sound?
babbled
barked
bawled
bellowed
bleated
boomed
breathed
bubbled
chattered
chimed in
chirped
chittered
chorused
clucked
cooed
coughed
croaked
crowed
drawled
dribbled
echoed
gasped
groaned
growled
grunted
grumbled
gulped
gurgled
hissed
hollered
howled
intoned
lisped
mimicked
moaned
mumbled
murmured
muttered
panted
piped
purred
resounded
roared
sang
screamed
shouted
shrieked
shrilled
sighed
slurred
snarled
sniffed
sniffled
snorted
spluttered
sputtered
squeaked
squealed
stammered
stuttered
trilled
wailed
wheezed
whimpered
whined
whispered
yawned
Better Than “Asked”
begged
bugged
coaxed
cross-examined
demanded
enjoined
entreated
inquired
interrogated
nagged
pleaded
prayed
queried
questioned
requested
If you prefer these lists in a handy-dandy, printer friendly format with quaint Japanese dots as a border, you may want to check out my Other Words for “Said” Resource Pages. I’m sure your kids (and you) will love them.
Many blessings,
