Other Words for "Said"

Using "said" over and over makes your writing less effective. "Said" works when you are explaining a single reference to an author's works, or having just one person speak. However, your writing will sound more professional if you use alternative words for said when you have:

• Longer dialogue
• More than one person speaking
• More than one sentence about an author's work

Using other words for said is important when writing dialogue or conversation, whether it is an essay, a novel, a play, or a short story. Alternative verbs for said can help you:

• Convey emotion
• Present character more clearly
• Explain the relationship between the people speaking

Using the list below of Words for Said can help you actually think through the emotions that your character is feeling. I've grouped them according to types of emotions.

When citing research, you need to include the name of the author and the title of the article or book you are using.

Example: According to Robert Klass in "Wonderful Lives of Ants," the ant world is much more like a human society than most of us realize (Klass 45).

Long Paraphrases or Summaries. Many times, you might be paraphrasing or summarizing a source for more than just one sentence. To show the reader that you are continuing to give ideas from that source, you need to use author tags, which means you use the last name of the author and then a verb like "said."

example: Klass says that fire ants have a particularly interesting way of working together to survive a flood. The author describes the situation of an individual fire ant drowning when swept into the water. However, he notes, when the ants link together in a large mass, they can float for days without drowning.

Author Tags and Nouns: For the most professional sounding citations, you need to use alternative words for the name of the author as well as for said as the above example shows. See my chart for a list of good author last name substitutes.

Verb tense: Usually, you will use the present tense of the word for talking about a summary, quotation or paraphrase.

Choosing the right "Said" word can help you put your evaluation of the source into your paper more easily, and show how this source helps present your own ideas. For example, if the source supports you, you can say:

• John Rayburn concurs with...
• Silvia Rath agrees....
• Joshua Reynolds supports the idea that

If the author presents an opposing view, you can make this clear by using:

• John Rayburn disagrees...
• On the other hand, Silvia Rath argues...
• Joshua Reynolds refutes the idea that...

If you want to show that a source is authoritative you can use a reference to their expertise after you have introduced them by name:

• Neil Armstrong disagreed with their findings. After examining the data, this scientist concluded...
• Bernie Sanders has charted his own way in devising public policy. In spite of what others say, this politician disagrees...
• Stephan Hawking decided to examine the theory. Knowing the subject thoroughly, this expert draws the conclusion...