I have one question, though. The truth is now that Ive had time I see that maybe its not going to work out. Jabbed, sneered, rebuked, hissed, scolded, demanded, threatened, insinuated, spat, glowered. To help you find that perfect synonym to inject action and emotion into your dialogue, here are over 270 other words for said: Master the art of dialogue in 10 five-minute lessons. There is some controversy among writers about If yes, you dont need a tag, Too many tags make your dialogue start to feel like a compendium of emotive speech-verbs. skull session. Thank you for this great article! In this case, if the surrounding narration is in third person, the thought is written in first-person, present-tense (since it occurs in the unfolding moment). Use gesture, movement or reaction to show your reader details of character and setting. Its a pleasure! Im working on a story at the moment and I always use this when I work on it. Delivered to your inbox! Words for said may show or suggest: The connotations of tags are important. As I progressed through the proofing, I said / I thought d-tags were cropping up WAYYYY too frequently. he snapped) unnecessary. The narration beforehand makes it clear whos speaking, and the details of the characters speech give away who says what: She picked a bit of fluff off her top, looked out the window. As a bonus today you can download this cheat sheet for yourselves. If a character screams or declares every line, your reader may become irritated by the constant visibility of the authors hand. 1. to put a question to; inquire of: I asked her but she didn't answer. 2. to request information about: to ask the way. 3. to put into words so as to gain information, attention, etc.; utter; pose: to ask the right questions. 4. to request: to ask a favor. Theyre the salt and spice in dialogue, not the whole meal, Use emotive dialogue tags for the peaks and valleys of a scene. Fourteen words that helped define the year. We developed this list because we were looking for strong verbs that would eliminate the use of adverbs. Thank you for sharing this article with category-wise dialog words. CCCXXXIX. Start quiz To help you find that perfect synonym to inject action and emotion into your dialogue, here are over 270 other phoenix college testing > Uncategorized > another word for asked in dialogue. Other ways to say she said avoid dialogue tags entirely. I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card. Its a pleasure, ES. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Killer speech tags are created with strong, descriptive verbs. Asked synonyms What is another word for Asked? punctuation, to show concentration; pauses: The w-wascal wabbit wan He wished each R could be clearer. Hear a word and type it out. Learn a new word every day. He interrogated her. synonyms for dialogue Compare Synonyms communication conference conversation dialog discourse discussion exchange chat colloquy confab confabulation converse duologue flap (Eg. Wacky writing is the best, just look at how popular writers such as Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket are. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Youre being intense again, Guy.. 1 as in requested to make a request for don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance requested sought pled (for) spoke (for) plead (for) called (for) Im glad you enjoyed this article. This common mistake by new writers, need, Read More 50 Words Not to Use Instead of Said, 240 Great Words to UseContinue, If you joined us here at Writing A Great Book, then you want to become a writer. 20 years ago my husband, John began writing a science fiction series, called, Read More Writer, Is This Website Right For YouContinue. Cried, mumbled, sobbed, sighed, lamented. So the more common approach for thoughts is to italicize the thought. Synonyms for asked about include asked, posed, raised, posited, proffered, put, submitted, presented, proposed and propositioned. To save this word, you'll need to log in. To say that laughed is an appropriate synonym is simply false. Weve gathered some, Read More 36 Free Writing Tools for the Successful WriterContinue, Weve made it easy for you to find more powerful verbs by putting all 400 dynamic verbs into categories. Good luck with it. This will help so much ! Its clear from the narration, description and actions who is saying what in the scene. Im just anxious to get those morons out of command and into a brig, I nuzzled my head into Montys reddish hair and sighed before continuing, Monty, Im honestly not quite sure what Ill do afterwards, though. yelled, shouted, bellowed, screamed, whispered) Tone or pitch (e.g. Similarly, in the first speakers retort, we dont need a tag telling us his tone (that its curt, sarcastic, or hostile). Use the content of what characters say, their movement, body language, pauses, and silences, to create deeper, more layered exchanges. Synonyms for Said (verbs related to dialogue). .css-1w804bk{font-size:16px;}See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. shrieked, groaned, squeaked), Emotion (e.g. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. Romy Sommer in Writing dialogue: What to avoid, webinar preview here. I have seen your reply just now. You will be helping others to find and use this information. Dialogue. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dialogue. Often, this is preferable, letting the characters emotion or tone show in their precise choice of words, phrasing, movement (more on this below) or gestures. We can infer the character is still mad. They let characters words do the emoting. In some cases you can use "Dialogue" instead a noun "Asking". Join a community of over 1 millionauthors. So, if you want to write more concise, direct, and dramatic, Read More 400 Action Verbs To Energize Your WritingContinue, Settings a Spectacular Way to Show Your Characters, Redundant Words: What They Are And How to Fix Them, Powerful Arguments to Supercharge Your Story. Read other words for said as well as tips for keeping your dialogue natural and engrossing: In written conversation or dialogue, a tag is a group of words following quoted speech (e.g. Even so, its hard to argue that the first version is better than the second. Show all Definitions . An example: Then, we have to get some solid proof somehow, thought John. Asked. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asked. Sometimes you can use "Asking" instead a noun "Dialogue". But that would be telling. Hi Little_Cat, thank you for your kind feedback, Im glad you found this article useful. Not surprisingly Ive come across grammatical errors a plenty. It would be strange, for example, for a character to sneer the words I love you, since the word sneer connotes contempt rather than affection. Thank you for your kind feedback, Joan. Because of their interruption, as well as their shock that John is still speaking when they return, we also get a sense of how John speaks. Im glad to hear youve finished your book and that our article was helpful. Its a pleasure, Lkennedy, thank you for reading our blog. What is another word for ask? I would like to ask a question that has been perplexing me for awhile.. ;Im glad I found something like this! Used in a sentence: We asked the teacher which chapters would be on the test. Ask can also mean to make a request for something. In this sense, it is often used in the phase to ask for. Real-life examples: Children ask Santa Claus for presents at Christmas. Your mom asks you to clean your room. The detectives would ask Steven about his whereabouts on that fateful evening.. If you search for alternative dialogue tags to use in your story, youll find many lists. Delivered to your inbox! PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI, VOLUME 107, NOVEMBER 3, 1894. Check out: 50 words to never use instead of Said and 240 word to Use, Dont forget your PDF List of Replacement words for ASK>, John & Patty @writingagreatbook.com 2020, Your email address will not be published. Contexts Verb To have made an inquiry To have put forward one's questions To have made a request, or demand, of someone more Verb To have made . an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue, talking or a talk between two or more people, Post more words for dialogues to Facebook, Share more words for dialogues on Twitter, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. Apologised, relented, agreed, reassured, placated, assented. Use physical gesture and motion instead of said, 4. It is my earnest desire that the Administration engage in a productive dialogue on the merits of these issues.. I was-John, can we pause this for a second, I really need the bathroom.When I returned, I couldnt believe he was still going. Its a pleasure. Yet it suggests words such as enunciated as a synonym for said. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. One of the main purposes of dialog is to give your readers a glimpse into your characters attitudes. definitions. How many can you get right? The strength of the exclamation mark in the second characters reply makes any dialogue tag showing emotion (e.g. So usage of the verb thought as a dialog verb seems right! LV. Example: They had plenty of evidence, but hardly enough to sway a jury. It identifies who spoke and/or the tone or emotion behind their speech. Use ways to say said that add atmosphere, 5. But lets not be hasty. He placed his hand on the small of her back. Synonyms for ASKED: quizzed, questioned, interrogated, queried, grilled, examined, catechized, surveyed; Antonyms of ASKED: answered, replied, responded, remarked, observed, commented, retorted, rejoined rap session. That sounds a fun genre mix, good luck with your novel! Hear a word and type it out. head-to-head. Malinger More With This Word Of The Day Quiz! We have all heard the adage show dont, Read More Write Anxiety for Your Character With Easy To Use PhrasesContinue, Yes, there really are 50 words writers use all the time instead of said. Dont forget to share This valuable list. As you can see from the above, there are many ways to show who is speaking in dialogue. More Information about words to use Instead of Ask See: hat words can I use instead of ask, Quara, : 50 words to never use instead of Said and 240 word to Use. However, if you were to use this tag randomly in the middle of dialogue it would seem arbitrary. Consoled, comforted, reassured, admired, soothed. - Christine, on Dialogue words: Other words for said (and what to avoid), Adjectives for description: 60 precise words, Plot hole pitfalls: 7 tips to avoid and fix, Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags, How to make dialogue in writing carry your story, Writing dialogue: Complete guide to storied speech, Novel characters: 15 top character creation tips, Writing descriptive sentences: 6 simple rules. Another way to say Said? in dialogue with translation in English - English Reverso dictionary, see also 'dialect',dislodge',dilute',divulge', examples, definition, conjugation Required fields are marked *. These writers feel that by using other words instead of ask the writer is adding their own comments to the dialog. Declared, insisted, maintained, commanded. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Using alternate words to replace ask gives you the opportunity to add emotion to your dialog. What is another word for Dialogue? How the characters engage with the setting (the woman turning to face the window, for example) reveals their emotions mid-dialogue. When each letter can be seen but not heard. Words that should never be used to replace said. Can you see how writing with strong verbs instead of ask adds to the characterization of the people who are speaking. As if he were the only one at the party whod ever had any adventures. Then we have to get some solid proof somehow, thought John. Malinger More With This Word Of The Day Quiz! Whats your story about? Shouted, yelled, babbled, gushed, exclaimed. Credit for your thoughts? He murmured as his hands smoothed the front of my shirt. For example, using ellipses, i.e. 2012 - Nglish: Translation of dialogue for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of dialogue for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dialogue. Here, because the second character addresses John by name, we know whos been speaking. Hear a word and type it out. 2023 NOW NOVEL CC. channel of communication. Synonyms for DIALOGUE: conference, discussion, debate, consultation, symposium, council, meeting, forum, argumentation, consult Merriam-Webster Logo Menu Toggle Read more in our complete guide to dialogue.Here are some tips for using dialogue tags such as said and synonyms for said well: The problem with dialogue tags is they draw attention to the authors hand. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Im still in school, but I love to right and am working on my first novel. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Which dialogue tag are YOU? The reader gets to fill in the blank spaces, prompted more subtly by the clues you leave (an exclamation mark or a pointed, cross remark). Can we use thought also as a dialogue verb/word? Instead of letting different ways to say said do heavy lifting, remember this sage advice from Toni Morrison: I never say She says softly. If its not already soft, you know, I have to leave a lot of space around it so a reader can hear its soft. 1 as in responded to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence) replied to the news that she had won the scholarship by jumping around the room and cheering Synonyms & When in doubt, a simple said is often enough. The stranger the tag, the more colourful and quirky, the more it will stick out in your dialogue. Required fields are marked *. No I absolutely will not! She banged the pitcher of water down on the counter so hard Sarah was surprised the bottom didnt crack open. After that it all, well went downhill. He asked her. Hear a word and type it out. Just because its a writing device commonly used in dialogue doesnt mean you have to use it. to act or behave in response (as to a stimulus or influence), to speak or write in reaction to a question or to another reaction, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. Fourteen words that helped define the year. Actually, we created this list because we disagree with that philosophy. Random semantically related. Using tags sparingly allows your reader the pleasure of inferring and imagining. The word said, like asked, does not tell you anything about the emotion behind a characters words. To see how master writers assemble their dialogue, head over to our final post in this series for some choice examples of dialogue. Many writers believe said and ask are invisible. Decide if dialogue tags are necessary. For example: Speak slower. The speech therapists eyes were stern.The w-wascal wabbit wan- he enunciated, wishing each R could be clearer. Synonyms for dialogue chat colloquy communication confab confabulation conference conversation converse dialog discourse discussion duologue exchange flap interlocution lines parlance parley powwow rap rap session remarks repartee script sides small talk more . We believe they will add pizzazz to your speech tags. Chapter One. Im just wondering if, after weve dealt with the two dunces, youll want to stay.. Simplify dialogue instead, Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags, How to make dialogue in writing carry your story, Writing dialogue: Complete guide to storied speech, Amazon for authors: 6 ways to use it better, How to finish a novel: 10 ways to follow through, Writing skills: How to improve yours 10 ways, Writing riveting inciting action: 7 ideas. Fourteen words that helped define the year. Asking and dialogue are semantically related. Hello Jordon, They believe using alternate words is distracting. Here are 5 simple ways to avoid clunky overuse of he said/she said: Sometimes we say she said, he said or they said when we dont need to. Thank you for your clarification. Join a concise, self-study four-week course to learn how to write dialogue that builds character and plot without needing 500 words for said. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Learn a new word every day. The brevity, the fact its only two words, conveys his tone. Join Kickstart your Novel and get professional feedback on your first three chapters and story synopsis, plus workbooks and videos. To gush means to express oneself extravagantly or emotionally; talk effusively, and its useful for those moments when your character is excited, overjoyed, or otherwise just cant contain their emotions. Despite there being many other words for said, remember to use dialogue tags and said synonyms only where necessary: Over at The Write Practice, Kellie McGann takes a look at dialogue tags and how to use them effectively in your writing. Thank you. Need help improving your dialogue? How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Writing Novels is both an adventure and a challenge. 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meetthem. For example, you wouldnt need to use dialogue tags in the following example. 1. Thats not what you said yesterday She hesitated, turned and walked to the window. Synonyms for said that show volume include: The above words remind us that tags that indicate volume and tone are typically reserved for extremes of tension, emotion or environment. Yet these are suitable tags for climactic moments. Now of course it is the unenviable task (read chore) of proofing it. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. I dont know about you, but I am always looking for things to help my writing. Words for said may show or suggest: Volume (e.g. Something about what notto do in an avalanche. conversations Synonyms & Similar Words conversations discussions converses chats discourses exchanges colloquies banters debates repartees railleries babbles prattles symposia chatter While some synonyms for said read naturally (such as words conveying volume like whispered), others come across as overwritten and forced, particularly in the wrong context. Thank you so much. Although Toni Morrisons advice above is good (creating quietness using the spaces around characters lines), the occasional she whispered has its place, too. asked given marked named price-marked priced published stated tagged ticketed requested adjectivewanted appealed asked demanded desired hunted needed petitioned requisitioned takes a look at dialogue tags and how to use them effectively in your writing. Another thinks it is not. To us, adverbs tend to dilute the power of the dialog. That being said, it can be useful to deploy a specific and powerful dialogue tag every now and again. Dialog is an essential part of storytelling. Your email address will not be published. This can be used to indicate a thought, but is maybe best used for thoughts that are spoken aloud as the speech marks make it easy to confuse with spoken/voiced material. Novel writing coach Romy Sommer says of dialogue: Keep it as tight as possible, and move as quickly as possible into the purpose of the conversation. In conversation between characters, alternatives for said can tell the reader: Here are dialogue words you can use instead of said, categorised by the kind of emotion or scenario they convey: Shouted, bellowed, yelled, snapped, cautioned, rebuked. Yet seasoning shouldnt overpower substance. Youll figure it out, lass. It is appropriate too, to the situation (the end of an intimate relationship). So, we created a cheat sheet. How many can you get right? Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. Writing effective, compelling dialogue has multiple elements. Hi Kenneth, Im glad to hear that. 1. Learn a new word every day. Lets look at an example: She has every Taylor Swift album on vinyl, and she even had backstage passes to her last concert, he gushed. It will make it a lot easier to not sound repetitive. This was awesome, I kept referring back to this page, and my vocabulary got so much bigger. Synonyms for Asked (other words and phrases for Asked). Some common synonyms of ask are inquire, interrogate, query, and question. While all these words mean "to address a person in order to gain information," ask implies no more than the putting of a question. Replied. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/replied. Learn a new word every day. Hear a word and type it out. Your characters likely do have bodies, so dont be afraid to use them. He wondered whether he was boring her. When each letter can be seen but not heard. If I were to err on one side of the debate, Id fall in with the just use said folks, not with the avoiders. (E.g. Allrightsreserved, following speech with that characters actions, avoids dialogue that resembles heads in vats, 3. Using alternate words to replace ask gives you the opportunity to add emotion to your dialog. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. Crafting a dialogue can be one of the hardest parts in storytelling. Use emotive other words for said to season characters conversations. Nglish: Translation of asked for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of asked for Arabic Speakers. Because its on a new line, and responds to what the other said, we know its a reply from context. I leaned into his embrace, relaxing slightly. Find out in just a minute. He grilled her. Another way to say Asked? Great question. Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright 2013 by the Philip Lief Group. question and answer session. However, if clarity of speech were relevant to a scene, you could use this word as a tag as it would fit. When each letter can be seen but not heard. Well I hadnt thought about it yet. He stepped closer. Thank you for sharing your feedback. It is the silent butler of dialoguediscreetly serving us the voices of our characters. Will you stay? I think it is. Learn a new word every day. I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card. To save this word, you'll need to log in. The advantages of showing who said what via movement and gesture are: Using gestures and actions such as the following, as outlined above, helps to lend character and emotion to dialogue: Also think about ways to say said that convey volume and tone, i.e. Thats what this list is for. Delivered to your inbox! Related, recounted, continued, emphasized, remembered, recalled, resumed, concluded. He paused for a moment, considering. How many can you get right? He implored her. If youre unsure about your use of dialogue tags, our novel editing services will help you make dialogue read naturally. Saying, what are you smoking? I love this list and the writing tips as well. Because its clear the glaring first-person I is the character speaking at first, we dont need to add I said. Im currently writing a novel, so Im often writing dialogue. Given that there are countless verbs that can take the place of said, should you simply find a stronger, more emotive one and use that? Its a one-way street, John holding the floor (and holding his listeners ransom). an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue, talking or a talk between two or more people, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. Make characters bellow or whisper every other line and the device loses its effect. accused, argued, badgered, barked, bellowed, bickered, chastised, chided, clipped, clucked, commanded, complained, corrected, countered, cursed, dared, demanded, disagreed, exploded, fumed, goaded, growled, grumbled, harshed, hissed, hollered, howled, huffed, insulted, interrupted] You may draw attention to the character who has said a line by immediately following speech with that characters actions. In the second, making glaring an action rather than tethering it to the dialogue gives us a stronger sense of the scene. yelled, shouted, bellowed, screamed, whispered), Tone or pitch (e.g. synonyms. There is some controversy among writers about using other words beside said and ask. For some authors, its a matter of stylistic preference. Another word for dialogue: a discussion between representatives of two nations or groups | Collins English Thesaurus inquire question beg request seek request demand request, question interrogate question call for request request question questioned participle bid invite requested plead request claim quiz question summon invite begged demanded inquired pray invite question require take query solicit crave urged Thankfully, Ive completed the book somehow! An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. Learn more about Now Novels editing services for novels. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Sol laughed out of his whiskers, with a big, loose-rolling sound, and sat on the porch without waiting to be, A little boy of two years and one month was once, Mr. Agnew saw the picture, recognised its merit, and wrote a cheque for the full amount. I want some, a positive phrase. If you've read our previous post on writing dialogue, you'll know that you shouldn't be afraid to default to he said, she said, or they saidwhen you're tagging your dialogue. Ive been having trouble elaborating on my dialogue, and this will help SOOOO much. Practice creating a realistic dialogue for every character with these prompts. Synonyms for Dialogue. conversation talk, speech discourse conversation, talk chat talk, speech discussion talk, conversation talk conversation, speech colloquy conversation, One problem we often see in beginners dialogue is that all the emotion is crammed into either spoken words or dialogue tags. Your email address will not be published. Delivered to your inbox! This is really helpful. Whispered, stuttered, stammered, gasped, urged, hissed, babbled, blurted. 2. Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright 2013 by the Philip Lief Group. Thats fantastic, Estefan youre never too young to start! See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. 2012 - 1. My hat is suitably doffed. Upgrade your dialogue with our list of 270 alternatives to said.. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. - Christine, on 421 ways to say said? How many can you get right? Hear a word and type it out. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' Thank you very much for this blog! Im still in High-School but Im aiming to start young ,my writing is a little wacky but this helped SO much ! Simply enter your email below to get it in your inbox within minutes. Use said or other tags only where necessary, 3. But lets not be hasty, he said, clearly wanting to control her retreat, too. Show how people speak using action and gesture, Volume (e.g. After all, it's probably the clearest, least distracting way to indicate who's saying what. Enter your email or get started with a social account. I will admit that the words your character says are immensely more important than the dialog tag. So here is our list of strong, descriptive verbs to replace ask. 25 (OF 25). How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. Back to Main Page. 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