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General Education
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!
Other Words for Said
To give you the most comprehensive and easy-to-navigate list, we’ve organized our list into two main categories: first, we’re including several lists of other words for “said” by emotion , and second, we’re including several lists of different words for “said” by intention or action . You can decide what meaning you’re trying to express in your writing, and use our lists accordingly!
Happy Words to Use Instead of “Said”
We’re going to kick off our list by giving you a lot of other words for “said” by emotion, starting with synonyms for “said” that convey a happy, joyful, or positive tone.
Sad Words to Use Instead of “Said”
Sadness is a common emotion expressed in writing--let’s look at a few synonyms for “said” that convey sadness.
Angry Words to Replace “Said”
There are a ton of synonyms for “said” that express anger, and we’ve included several of them for you here.
Different Words for “Said” That Express Shock or Surprise
When you want to communicate a tone of shock or surprise in your writing, try using these synonyms for “said”!
Other Words for “Said” That Express Fear
The last emotion it might be helpful to be able to express accurately and vividly in your writing is fear. Here’s a list of synonyms for “said” that you can use to demonstrate a feeling of fear.
Words to Replace “Said” That Are Expository
If you’re working with a quote in which the speaker is clarifying information or explaining something, you can try out these words instead of “said”!
Other Words for “Said” That Are Argumentative
When you incorporate quotes or dialogue that make an argument, use these synonyms for “said” in your attributions.
Words to Use Instead of “Said” That Are Critical
If a speaker in a quote or piece of dialogue is forming a critique, incorporate one of these different words for “said” in your attribution.
Words to Use Instead of “Said” That Are Implicative
Try using these alternative words for “said” that imply meaning.
Words to Replace “Said” That Seek Information
Sometimes you need to include an attribution that shows a speaker is searching for information. These synonyms for “said” can help you establish a tone of inquisitiveness!
Words to Replace “Said” That Reveal Information
Finally, if you need a word other than “said” that reveals information, try out the options in the list below.
When to Use Different Words for “Said” in Your Writing...And When Not To
In most cases, deciding when to use words other than “said” in your writing is up to your discretion. But there are actually some situations when it’s correct to use “said” exclusively to attribute a piece of dialogue or a quote in your writing . This depends on the type of writing, so we’re going to break down the situations when you should definitely use “said” here!
The first situation where you can expect to see writers exclusively using “said” is in any type of writing that relies on AP Style . “AP” stands for “Associated Press,” and this set of style guidelines is the standard for journalistic writing. This includes writing for newspapers, magazines, and public relations in the United States. AP Style provides a lot of rules about grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language use, and using “said” for quote attribution is one of those rules.
Impartiality and objectivity are two values that are extremely important in journalistic writing. Unlike many synonyms for “said,” which reveal a speaker’s feelings, attitude, or intentions, “said” doesn’t try to interpret the feelings, attitude, or intentions of the speaker. “Said” just states factual information: the words in the quote were spoken by a person or group of people . Using “said” allows the journalist to remain impartial and objective about the information, and it also lets readers interpret the meaning of quoted material on their own.
Technical Writing
While not exactly a rule, using “said” is an unspoken expectation for quote attribution in technical writing. Technical writing is a style of writing used in business environments and some scientific fields, like engineering . It’s important for this style of writing to be clear, specific, and, in most cases, concise. In fact, readers of technical writing appreciate a writer’s ability to communicate directly and plainly by using short, direct words. That’s why “said” is the best choice for introducing quotes or paraphrases in technical writing: it’s clear, specific, and concise.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is a third situation that might require you to think strategically about when to use “said.” In creative writing--like fiction, for instance--when and how often to use “said” is pretty much up for debate. There are a lot of synonyms for “said” that you can use to convey the emotions or intentions of a character in dialogue, but you don’t necessarily have to use some flowery synonym for “said” every time you include a piece of dialogue in creative writing. In fact, sometimes it’s okay to strategically omit attributions altogether.
Here’s one example of a way to present dialogue in creative writing that doesn’t overuse attributions:
“I suppose I didn’t see the point.” Paige shook her head. “It’s not like you would’ve let me go if I’d told you ahead of time.”
“That’s really selfish, Paige.”
Even without attributions for every piece of dialogue in the example above, you can still get an idea of how the characters feel and what their intentions are through the dialogue beats (“She crossed her arms angrily,” and, “Paige shook her head”) . Alternatively, dialogue attributions in creative writing are another place where word variety is important. Your attributions are a great way for you to add emotion and imagery to your work. That means sometimes you might simply use “said,” sometimes you might use a more expressive synonym for “said,” and other times you might forego attributions altogether.
Academic Writing
One final writing situation where you’ll find yourself needing to make decisions about when to use “said” is academic, research-based writing. In academic writing, it’s important to be clear about who you are quoting and to provide adequate context for the quote you include. For example, if the scholar you’re quoting is making an argument in the quote you include, it would be more accurate to say, “Dr. Garcia argued” or “Dr. Garcia claimed,” instead of “Dr. Garcia said .” Using a quote attribution that gives your reader a clearer sense of the speaker or writer’s purpose and tone.
3 Reasons Why Word Variety Is Important in Writing
Word variety is important to any type of writing for three main reasons: using a variety of words can make your writing more engaging, more accurate, and more expressive .
First, using a variety of words can make your writing more engaging and interesting for the people who are reading it. In some types of writing, like poetry , repetition is used as a strategic stylistic device. In lots of cases, though, writers repeat the same word because they don’t know its synonyms. After a while, readers might feel a bit exhausted by repetitiveness in a piece of writing. That’s one reason why knowing and using synonyms for commonly repeated words is so important!
Second, word variety can make your writing more accurate. For example, while “said” is always going to accurately describe a piece of dialogue or a quote from an outside source, there are words to use instead of “said” that can reveal the intention behind dialogue or the information conveyed in a quote .
Let’s say you incorporate a quote where the author is disagreeing with a point made by a scholar. Sure, you could introduce that quote with, “Dr. Smith said.” But you could be more accurate by introducing the quote with a word that indicates that the quote is going to express disagreement, like, “Dr. Smith countered ” or “Dr. Smith responded .”
Finally, your writing is expressive and vivid when you avoid repetition . When your word choice reflects the emotions or tone expressed by a quote or piece of dialogue that you include in your writing, your readers can get a better sense of your intended meaning. Using synonyms for “said” to create tone and imagery in your writing can help readers better understand your position and make them more willing to buy into your ideas.
What’s Next?
If you’re studying for the verbal portion of your SAT or ACT, we’ve got you covered. Here are our expert guides to the verbal portions of the SAT and ACT , and we even have tips and tricks to help you tackle the essay sections ! These are just a few of the tons (and tons!) of resources we have, so be sure to check out our blog for more information.
This cheat sheet for ways to say “said” can be really helpful if you’re starting to write your college admissions essays . Learn how to start your essay off perfectly , and make sure you know the biggest mistakes you should avoid , too.
If you’re using this guide to help you write creatively, you might be a great fit for a creative writing degree ! Here’s a guide to the best creative writing colleges and programs in the United States.
Ashley Sufflé Robinson has a Ph.D. in 19th Century English Literature. As a content writer for PrepScholar, Ashley is passionate about giving college-bound students the in-depth information they need to get into the school of their dreams.
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300+ Ways to Say “Said” (“Say”): A Word List for Writers
He Said. She Said. They Said.
Said is a convenient word when you need it, and some pundits claim you should never use anything else, ever, to attribute dialogue.
I disagree.
Please don’t get huffy until you read this entire post, especially if you’re a writer who swears on a bushel of Dothraki bells that said is the best way — nay, the only way — to tag conversation.
Repeat any word often enough, and it morphs into an irritation just as obnoxious as a saddle sore on a long ride.
Forget the rules . Invent your own. Whatever engages readers is right.
Consider the Following Micro-Story
An icy draft speared through the living room as John stepped into the house from the wintry blizzard that raged outside. His arms overflowed with packages.
“Please close the door,” Amy said . “It’s freezing in here.”
John said , “Close it yourself!”
Amy said back, in an angry tone, “What did you say?”
“I told you to close it yourself,” he said , in a voice so loud it rattled the windows.
She pressed her lips into a firm white line and said , “You’re the one who pays the heating bill. But I guess you have lots of money. You can afford it.”
He slammed the door closed and said , “If you’d get off your duff and find a job, I wouldn’t have to pay all the bills myself.”
Amy said , “Well, if you hadn’t got me preg —”
“You’re pregnant?” John said . “Why didn’t you say something?”
Try This Instead
Amy glanced up from the baby booties she was knitting. “Please close the door. It’s freezing in here.”
John glowered . “Close it yourself!”
“What did you say?”
“I told you to close it yourself.” The windows rattled. From the angry volume of his voice? Or the storm?
She pressed her lips into a firm white line. “You’re the one who pays the heating bill. But I guess you have lots of money. You can afford it.”
He slammed the door. “If you’d get off your duff and find a job, I wouldn’t have to pay all the bills myself.”
“Well, if you hadn’t got me preg —”
“You’re pregnant?” John beamed and dropped the packages. “Why didn’t you say something?”
Did You Notice the Changes in the Second Piece?
#1. Two paragraphs have no attribution. With obvious back and forth of dialogue, it’s unnecessary and distracting to tag every snippet of speech
#2. Action beats replace dialogue tags in a few spots.
Amy glanced up
John glowered
She pressed her lips
He slammed the door
John beamed
#3. The knitting of baby booties gives readers a clue about the ending, which comes as an abrupt surprise in the first piece.
#4. One adjective, angry , describes John’s attitude. Yes, it’s a tell, and the pundits who recommend that you should always show might disagree with its use. However, rules are made to be broken. Right?
#5. One narrative statement becomes interrogative. Judicious use of questions can draw readers into prose or poetry.
Reread the pieces to see how much stronger the second example is. Both contain the same number of words.
Now Consider a Third Version
John retorted, “Close it yourself!”
“I told you to close it yourself,” he snapped. The windows rattled. Perhaps from the angry volume of his voice?
Did You Catch the Two Said Alternatives?
Retorted and snapped are so much more effective than said .
But don’t overdo! Like exclamation points, em dashes, and ellipses , excessive use of colorful verbs for dialogue tags irritates readers.
By the way, the third piece contains the same number of words as the first two.
And About That Slamming Door
It’s unnecessary to say someone slams a door closed.
Whenever You Need a Direct Replacement for Said , Refer to This List
Some of these words contravene the show, don’t tell rule.
As always, watch for clichés, and apply these suggestions sparingly. Some, while suitable for children, might not be appropriate for adults.
Words such as neighed or whickered can describe a character’s voice , especially appropriate for someone with a horsey face. Frugal use recommended.
Although many writers show their characters laughing, sighing, sobbing, or breathing speech, I recommend you avoid verbs like these as dialogue tags. Save them for action beats, or substitute body language to show emotions.
Lied or doubted and their ilk can break point of view if not used correctly. Many of these would be suitable for micro fiction where tell is often the norm, because show requires too many words.
A accused, acknowledged, acquiesced, added, admitted, admonished, advised, advocated, affirmed, agreed, alleged, announced, answered, apologized, applauded, argued, asked, assented, asserted, assured, avowed
B babbled, badgered, barked, began, begged, bellowed, bellyached, beseeched, bickered, blabbed, blabbered, blathered, bleated, blubbered, blurted, boasted, boomed, bragged, brayed, broke in, bubbled, burst out
C cajoled, called, carped, cautioned, challenged, charged, chatted, chattered, cheered, chided, chimed in, chirped, chittered, chorused, claimed, clarified, clucked, coached, coaxed, commanded, commented, complained, complimented, conceded, concluded, concurred, confessed, confided, confirmed, congratulated, contended, continued, contradicted, contributed, cooed, corrected, corroborated, counseled, countered, cried, croaked, crowed, cursed
D and E debated, decided, declared, decreed, deduced, demanded, demurred, denied, described, directed, disagreed, disclosed, disputed, dissented, divulged, doubted, drawled, dribbled, droned, echoed, effused, ejaculated, elucidated, emphasized, encouraged, ended, entreated, exclaimed, explained, exploded, exulted
F to H finished, fretted, fussed, gibbered, gibed, gloated, granted, greeted, griped, groaned, growled, grunted, grumbled, guaranteed, guessed, gurgled, gushed, harangued, hinted, hissed, hollered, howled, huffed, hypothesized
I to M imitated, implied, implored, informed, inquired, insisted, interjected, interrupted, intoned, instructed, invited, jabbered, jeered, jested, jibed, joined in, joked, lamented, lectured, lied, lisped, maintained, marveled, mentioned, mimicked, mocked, mumbled, murmured, mused, muttered
N to P nagged, nattered, neighed, nitpicked, noted, objected, observed, offered, opined, ordered, persisted, persuaded, pestered, piped, pleaded, pled, pledged, pointed out, pondered, praised, prated, prattled, prayed, pressed, proclaimed, professed, promised, proposed, protested, provoked, purred, put in, puzzled
Q and R quavered, queried, questioned, quipped, quizzed, quoted, raged, ranted, rattled on, reasoned, reassured, rebuked, recalled, reckoned, recommended, recounted, reiterated, rejoined, related, remarked, remembered, reminded, repeated, replied, reported, reprimanded, reproached, reproved, requested, resounded, responded, resumed, retaliated, retorted, revealed, roared
S and T sang, sassed, screamed, scoffed, scolded, shot, shouted, shrieked, shrilled, slurred, snapped, snarled, sniveled, spat, speculated, spluttered, spoke, squeaked, squealed, stammered, started, stated, stormed, stressed, stuttered, suggested, surmised, swore, tattled, taunted, teased, testified, theorized, threatened, thundered, told, trilled, tutted
U to Y urged, uttered, verified, volunteered, vowed, wailed, warned, weighed in, went on, wheedled, whickered, whimpered, whined, whinnied, whispered, whooped, wondered, worried, yammered, yawned, yakked, yelled, yelped, yowled
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8 thoughts on “ 300+ Ways to Say “Said” (“Say”): A Word List for Writers ”
I don’t use dialogue tags. Never. They’re a distraction created by lazy writers. You have to be more careful to make sure the reader knows who’s talking, though.
Gordon, if you can do that and produce a story that seems natural, good going. However, wouldn’t the absolute avoidance of anything, whether it be dialogue tags or adverbs, seem unnatural to readers?
You make some good points. I find ‘said’ annoying when it is a question. It is technically correct, but that is a personal tick. If it is a question and needs a dialogue tag, I used asked. I am also willing to use whispered and shouted. I really do not care what ‘rule’ someone else makes up. But that is the full list of dialogue tags I am willing to use. If only two people are speaking, the reader should be able to tell who is speaking much of the time without being told. If they cannot, a beat will often be good, but you don’t want to turn your character into a jackrabbit by making her bob about too much either. A judicious mix when needed is, in my opinion, the best choice.
I prefer simple: asked, in/enquired, requested, demanded, stated, whispered, mumbled, murmured, muttered, yelled, shouted, explained, and a few others.
However, when writing for kids or creating a humor piece, words such as brayed, cawed, etc., create the perfect image.
I’m somewhere in the middle when it comes to the “said” argument. While the tags “said” and “asked” are generally invisible, they’re also pretty bland at times and not entirely sufficient at getting across the intended tone or inflection of a person’s voice.
People don’t always just “say” things. Sometimes they scream, whisper, mutter, hiss, and so on.
I’m in the middle too, Rhonda. I’m usually not keen on a character “whinnying” dialogue, but in rare cases, it works.
I hope 2022 is treating you well!
Great article! I love the rewritten versions, much improved, and the list is very helpful too. Your advice is solid — not to be completely rigid on “always use said” but not to overdo the alternates.
One additional consideration when using action beats in lieu of dialogue tags, is whether a listener will be able to interpret dialogue as dialogue when the story is read aloud. In your examples above it’s clear, but sometimes a character will say something that could easily be interpreted as narrative rather than dialogue.
I often read novels aloud to my children, and sometimes have to stop and explain who was speaking, or insert dialogue tags myself.
Thanks, Mike. Great tips!
10 Other Words for “Said” in an Essay
Including quotes in your essays shows that you’re sourcing your work. It’s, therefore, relatively easy to repeatedly write “said” when quoting things from other people.
You should find more interesting ways to quote things to spice up your writing.
This article has gathered some alternatives to show you more words to replace “said” in an essay.
Keep reading to learn other ways to say “said” in an essay. We’ve also provided examples for each to help you understand them better.
1. Explained
Naturally, using “said” before quoting someone is overdone and boring. But there are plenty of more exciting ways to talk about things people have mentioned before.
Let’s start with “explained.” You can use “explained” to quote someone’s explanation .
It shows you have reviewed how someone phrased something and would like to discuss it in your academic writing. This is great because it keeps the reader engaged and tries a different word.
You can also review these examples:
- Bob Taylor explained “my reasoning for this choice is simple, and I care very little for your expressions of rebellion.”
- I could not remember it at the time. But Mathew Fraser explained that “we are not the only ones fighting this.”
2. Mentioned
Another way to say “said” is “mentioned.” It’s a formal synonym that keeps things fresh when quoting information .
Generally, “mentioned” refers to less important information . If you “mention” something, it’s likely that it’s not the most important thing for a reader to pay attention to.
Of course, any mentioned information is still worth reading. However, this word is definitely better utilized when you don’t put much weight behind what you’re sharing.
Perhaps these essay samples will also help you:
- She mentioned that “wolves do not concern themselves with the opinion of sheep.” This created the movement as we know it today.
- Carla Hill mentioned “I will not back down from the challenge.” Hence, we watched what unfolded after.
3. Suggested
People make suggestions all the time. And, as it happens, you can use “suggested” as a formal way to say “said.”
“Suggested” works well when quoting people’s opinions . A suggestion often relates to an opinion rather than a fact, making it clear that you’re expressing how someone feels.
We recommend using it when you’re unsure of the validity of someone’s comment. It’s still useful in academic writing, but it lets readers know they should take the quote with a pinch of salt.
- Paul De Angelo suggested that “things can get better if we really try.” So, we have commenced a green initiative.
- He suggested that “we must continue doing things this way.” Needless to say, it helped people to understand what comes next.
Claims are common in essays. People claim things all the time to try and share facts and opinions. Generally, claims can be disproved (with a little bit of research and quality debating skills).
Therefore, “claimed” is an excellent alternative to “said.” You can use it in academic writing, as it shows you how to quote what someone said in an essay.
Generally, this phrase works best when sharing thoughts and ideas . You can always argue someone’s claim, so it’s a good way to set up contradicting points.
Also, these examples should clear things up:
- The Right Clan claimed that “ we do not know what to say to the apostates.” It created a rebellion in their system.
- We are sure they claimed “this is the only way to complete the acts.” Therefore, we had to continue as noted.
5. Remarked
Feel free to try “remarked” as a formal way to say “said” in an essay. It’s highly effective in formal writing because it shows that someone made a statement relative to your essay’s content.
If you can find a way to relate someone’s quote to your writing, feel free to use this.
It allows the reader to follow your ideas and understand why you included certain quotes. That way, you can ensure that things make sense as you write about different points.
You can also review the following examples:
- Scott Hillary remarked that “we could not go through these waters.” It was a shame because it was the only way to progress.
- They both remarked that “good tidings would come to those who asked for them.” Is that a moral lesson?
Arguments make for more interesting essays. If you can include appropriate and relevant essays, you’re liable to get a much better grade from the reviewer.
Therefore, “argued” is a word you can use instead of “said” in an essay.
It allows you to quote someone’s opinion and argue a different viewpoint . This is a great way to set up a narrative and encourage the reader to develop their own ideas based on your opinions.
Here are a few essay examples to help you:
- Sam Smith argued that “the people are against his beliefs, but he will not yield.” It was quite a powerful moment.
- “This is the best choice you have,” argued King Langsford. It stopped the onslaught in its tracks.
7. Commented
When someone makes a comment, it means they’ve briefly shared a view . Therefore, “commented” allows you to replace “said” when sharing someone’s viewpoint or opinion.
Typically, “commented” doesn’t work for highly-valued information. It’s much better for minor details and comments made by important people in your writing.
Here are a few examples to help you with it:
- Mr. Sullivan commented “this is an excellent piece of creative writing.” Therefore, I think the book is worth publishing.
- Missy Adams commented that “we are not alone in this experience.” Take that as you will to determine what we must do.
Quotes are also called statements. Therefore, it would be silly not to include “stated” at least once in your academic writing.
It’s a direct and clear way to discuss what someone has said. This allows your readers to understand someone’s opinion and find out why they might have said something.
Also, including statements as quotes allows your reading to stand out. It shows you’ve sourced the information you’re writing about, ensuring that it’s correct.
You can also review these essay samples:
- Hillary Mathews stated “we have not set anything in stone. Things can change at any moment.” It set the plan in motion.
- We stated that “this was going to be the only choice.” We needed to highlight that before continuing with the project.
While it might not be a particularly common choice, there’s nothing wrong with writing “shared” instead of “said.” It works well in essays to give you something different to write .
We recommend using “shared” only once in an essay. It makes for a suitable replacement for “said” when sharing minor details or quotes from important people.
If you can make the quote relevant to your essay, then there’s no reason not to use “shared.” It’s just as effective as “said” and much less common, making it a more interesting word to include.
Here are a few examples to help you understand it:
- “This is the turning point,” Addison King shared . I think that’s why so many people took her so seriously.
- I do not know why they said it, but Shorts & Docs shared “the information that we must inspect is right before our eyes.”
10. Clarified
You may also use “clarified” in certain instances. It’s an excellent formal synonym for “said” that shows someone confirmed information .
Generally, “clarified” works before a quote sharing important information. It shows that you want to clarify something for the reader to avoid any confusion .
We highly recommend using it when sharing sensitive or important things in your writing. That way, the reader can keep up with your writing without losing track of your ideas.
Here are some examples to help you:
- Mathew Kirkland clarified “we will not have to fight these fights any longer.” It stopped the battle on the spot.
- Noel Apollo clarified that “things will only get worse before they get better.” We can now see what he meant by that.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here .
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Alternatives to Using “Said” When Quoting a Source
- 2-minute read
- 24th July 2014
When discussing the arguments of other thinkers, as we often have to do when writing a paper , you might find yourself writing “so and so says…” quite often. While this is good enough most of the time, you may also want to vary your word choice.
Moreover, in academic writing , “says” or “said” might not fully communicate what you intend. It may therefore be better to use a more precise alternative.
Alternatives to “Said”
There are plenty of synonyms for “said” that can be used in academic writing. For instance, if we imagine quoting an author called Johnson, instead of “Johnson says that,” we could write:
- States (“Johnson states that the results are consistent with past studies…”)
- Asserts (“Johnson asserts that the technique is flawed…”)
- Argues (“Johnson argues that the test should be revised…”)
- Claims (“Johnson claims that the conclusion is valid…”)
- Believes (“Johnson believes that modern science should be trusted…”)
However, it should be noted that most of these words are more specific than “said.” As such, you’ll need to check that the word you pick fits the situation.
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Saying that “Johnson argues such and such,” for instance, only makes sense if you are quoting an argument. As such, it wouldn’t make sense to say “Johnson argues that his favorite ice-cream is vanilla,” since this is an opinion, not an argument.
Likewise, some terms have connotations that you need to understand before you use them. The word “alleges,” for instance, can be a synonym for “says,” but it implies that the claim is unproven, controversial or doubtful. It therefore has quite a specific use.
Nor should you avoid using the word “says” in your work. It’s simply a case of being aware of how often you use particular terms and trying to find a suitable alternative if you are using any single term (including “said”) too much.
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Synonyms For “Say” or “Said”
For narrative writing, sometimes you want to use a verb other than “he says” or “she said.” This is a cheatsheet to help you break out of that rut.
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27 replies on “Synonyms For “Say” or “Said””
These comments are so old, I was 1 when the first comment was written, but anyways, this was a lifesaver, THX
What would you use if you had to do a character that is sad but happy and anouncing something
Yelled, Raged, and DAB ON IT (LOL)
that is called onomatoeipia
Hello, this word list helped me a lot, I have learned a lot of different words
what if i am using character who is shy and what words i would use say for that?
Mumble, Murmur, Whisper, Stutter, etc.
it would be helpful if there were words for called as i am writing a story
Hey! Thanks for this list! It will help in my 6th grade writing class but I have a question. What if a chracater is to speak in a nervous tone, or a bully-like tone. It would mean a lot that you could find these answers and possibly more tones for perfect essay writing! But I will definetly use these tips in my essay. thanks!
If you plan to have talking animals, you can also use “yowled”, “mewed”, “bark”, “yipped”, “squawked” and other depending on the animal.
Crackled, fizzled, beeped and similar can be used for mechanical creatures.
thanks this helps a lot with animal and other misc stuff!
Thank you. This is going to help me on my essay, and my writing. I’m 14 and I write novel type books in my spare time, if I have any at all.
You’re welcome, Kayla.
[…] http://wiredpen.com/resources/synonyms-for-say-or-said/ […]
Thank you for these life saving tips! There really going to help me with my book, it’s SciFi and has a lot of dialog. But you need another tone, like chat or something. Because I wanna find words that I can use in normal chat.
I have a 141 word list
thank you. I am 14 and writing a novel that has a lot of dialog. This really helped me!
Thank you, this will help me alot with my essay.
Awesome… thankyou
really usefull! also i would add cried to the sad list.
Life saver.
What a useful list. Thankyou. May I add – cautioned, yelled, roared, allowed (agreement) tittered, chuckled, hissed, growled. I’ve seen ’empathised’ in books but that’s not strictly accurate as empathy is the ability to *feel* what someone else is feeling and often used quite wrongly.
You can sympathise, as that is understanding, but not empathise. :)
Also, to any budding writers, there are many words which even experienced writers use wrong (and get them past lazy editors! ) One is “prone” – if a person is lying prone, they are face down (look it up in the dictionary is my rule) this leads to hilarious visual situations such as when someone is ‘lying prone and gazing at the stars’ !! The other word which really annoys is ‘brackish” this is a mixture of salt and fresh water, as one might find in an estuary, it does NOT mean dirty water, as is so often implied. The other important thing is to make your clauses agree. To write, “Driving in to work, a tree fell on Mary’s car” means the tree was driving. :) ‘Driving in to work, Mary’s car was hit by a tree’ – is better
“She was so tired she jumped into the bed in her underclothes” recently caused me to laugh out loud.
The rule here is to ask yourself “what or who is that first clause about?” The 2nd clause should be about that too.
Dan, thanks for alerting me to the Spam!
Thanks a lot for these ! :] Rachelle is just stupid and ignorant. She won’t get far in life with her attitude.
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verb as in make declaration
Strongest matches
add , announce , answer , assert , claim , convey , declare , deliver , disclose , do , estimate , express , maintain , mention , read , repeat , reply , report , respond , reveal , speak , state , suggest , tell , voice
Strong matches
affirm , allege , communicate , conjecture , divulge , flap , gab , guess , imagine , imply , jaw , judge , lip , opine , orate , perform , pronounce , rap , recite , rehearse , relate , remark , render , rumor , spiel , utter , verbalize , yak
Weak matches
break silence , come out with , give voice , make known , put forth , put into words
Discover More
Example sentences.
We are not guests in the Middle East,” Nasrallah says., “We are the owners of this region.
See why Charlize Theron interrupts her and says.:“You have to stop saying that.”
He must hold himself ever in readiness to wiggle-waggle in the perpetual Simon-says-thumbs-up game which his crowd is playing.
Bristles—my friend Bristles of the Universal-says he's a perfect—what do they call that pretty street in Southampton?
My notion is it's a sight more interestener nor the Say-an-says.
Un-un-uncle Mose s-says she's raised s-s-s-six sev—en other folks' ch-ch-ch-childern, anyhow.
There's not a trade agoing,Worth knowing or showing,Like that from glory growing!Says the bold soldier boy.
On this page you'll find 78 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to says, such as: respond, claim, convey, speak, suggest, and add.
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
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Last updated on Dec 02, 2021
270+ Other Words For "Said" To Supercharge Your Writing
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 said when you're tagging your dialogue. After all, it's probably the clearest, least distracting way to indicate who's saying what. That being said, it can be useful to deploy a specific and powerful dialogue tag every now and again.
Which dialogue tag are YOU?
Find out in just a minute.
To help you find that perfect synonym to inject action and emotion into your dialogue, here are over 270 other words for said:
Neutral/multi-purpose words
Happy/excited words , sad/upset words , angry words , annoyed words, frightened/pained words, prideful words.
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Words to express uncertainty
Words that make fun, words that ask a question, words that give an answer, download this 'greatest hits' list.
For this infographic, we've narrowed down the 270 most essential dialogue words for you to know! Simply enter your email below to get it in your inbox within minutes.
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Upgrade your dialogue with our list of 270 alternatives to “said.”
To see how master writers assemble their dialogue, head over to our final post in this series for some choice examples of dialogue.
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100 Best Words to Use Instead of “Said”
You’re probably looking for the words to use instead of said because this term is appearing too many times in your writing. Well, you’re not alone. Many people have difficulties avoiding this word in academic, fiction, and other forms of writing.
When you use the word “said”, you’re referencing or reporting the thoughts, feelings, or expressions of other people. The most appropriate way to do this is by introducing the speaker or attributing the thoughts, expressions, or statement to that person. This explains why most people are unable to avoid incorporating the word “said” or using a quotation in their writing.
However, you could be using too many quotations in an essay or any other form of writing. You could also be repeating “said” too many times in your writing. Upon noticing this, you might pause and ask, ‘what are better words for said?’
Well, you can use better words than said when referencing the thoughts or words expressed by somebody else in your writing. These words can be used to refer to thoughts or emotions that another person expresses in writing or verbally.
Why You Should Know the Words to Use Instead of Said
You should know more words that you can use instead of said in your writing for several reasons. Here are the three main reasons to know the words that you can use instead of said.
- Make your writing more interesting and engaging : When you use different words instead of said in your writing, you make your write-up more interesting and engaging to read. That’s because you avoid repetition that can make readers feel exhausted when reading your work.
- Make your work more accurate : Some words can express the emotions or thoughts of the speaker more accurately than said. Thus, using these words can reveal the speaker’s intention or the information they wanted to convey more accurately.
- Make your writing more vivid and expressive : Using other words to reflect the tone or emotions of the speaker instead of quotes will make your writing more vivid and expressive. This gives readers a better sense of the intended meaning.
But finding the right words to use in your writing other than said can be challenging. That’s why our English assignment helper has come up with our other words for said list to help you. This list comprises 100 words to use instead of said. And it groups other words for said by emotion or thought of the speaker.
Other Words than Said that Express Happiness
When a person says something in a joyful mood, you can use other words to replace said in your writing or conversation. These words can convey the positive, joyful, or happy tone of the person using words that rhyme with said. Here are some of them.
- Congratulated
These are some of the words to say instead of said when you want to express the joyful tone of the speaker.
Sad Words that Can Replace Said
Maybe you want to express the sadness of the speaker using other words instead of said. Sadness is a very common emotion that people express in writing. Here are some of the other words to use instead of said when expressing sadness.
These are other words for said to show that a person was not happy when saying something.
Angry Words for Said
Perhaps, you’re wondering, what words can you say instead of said to show that the speaker was angry? Well, you can use several words that replace said when you want to express feelings of anger. Here are some of them.
- Interrupted
These are just some of the words to say other than said when you want to show that the speaker was angry. The list of words for said in this category is long and can even go to hundreds. Nevertheless, the words listed here are the most commonly used to express the anger of the speaker.
Alternative Words for Said that Show Uncertainty or Fear
Do you want to express the uncertainty or fear shown by the speaker? In that case, use these replacement words for said to convey the same emotion or feeling.
Depending on the situation, you can use these words for said to express fear or uncertainty more vividly and accurately.
Words Other than Said that Express Disagreement or Loudness
You can use different words for said to show that somebody did not agree with the sentiments of other people. These are words besides said, that can be used to express the loudness with which a person expresses their disagreement.
Use these words in your essay to show that the speaker was in disagreement with the other people in a conversation. However, you should pick the words to use carefully to ensure that you convey the disagreement tone of the speaker properly.
More Words for Said
There are many words like said that can be used in different predicaments. For instance, you can use certain words to show that the speaker was emotionless when stating something. Some of the other words for said in an essay are expository. Here are more words that you can use instead of said in your writing.
- Corroborated
- Substantiated
This list of words to use instead of said is not exhaustive. There are more than 100 words for said that can be used to convey different feelings or thoughts of the speakers. The most important thing is to pick the words to use carefully. That way, you will convey the emotions of the speakers more vividly and accurately in your writing. Take a closer look at our list of hard words to spell . This might be helpful as well.
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Words that introduce Quotes or Paraphrases
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Remember that you are required to cite your sources for paraphrases and direct quotes. For more information on MLA Style, APA style, Chicago Style, ASA Style, CSE Style, and I-Search Format, refer to our Gallaudet TIP Citations and References link.
Words that introduce Quotes or Paraphrases are basically three keys verbs:
- Neutral Verbs( here )
- Stronger Verbs( here )
- Inference Verbs( here )
Neutral Verbs: When used to introduce a quote, the following verbs basically mean “says”
Examples of Neutral Verbs
The author says. The author notes. The author believes. The author observes. The author comments. The author relates. The author declares. The author remarks. The author discusses. The author reports. The author explains. The author reveals. The author expresses. The author states. The author mentions. The author acknowledges. The author suggests. The author thinks. The author points out. The author responds. The author shows. The author confirms.
Sample Sentences
- Dr. Billow says that being exposed to television violence at a young age desensitizes children to violence in real life (author’s last name p.##).
- As the author notes , “In an ideal classroom, both gifted children and learning disabled children should feel challenged” (p.##).
- Burdow believes that being able to write using proper English grammar is an important skill (author’s last name p.##).
- Dr. Patel observes that “most people tend to respond well to hypnotherapy” (p. ##).
- We see this self doubt again in the second scene, when Agatha comments , “Oh, times like this I just don’t know whether I am right or wrong, good or bad” (p. ##).
- Goeff then relates that his childhood was “the time he learned to live on less than bread alone” (p. ##).
- The author declares , “All people, rich or poor, should pay the same taxes to the government” (p. ##).
- Godfried remarks , “Ignorance is a skill learned by many of the greatest fools” (author’s last name p.##).
- The article discusses the qualities of a good American housewife in the 1950s (author’s last name p.##).
- After the war is over, the General reports that “It seemed a useless battle to fight even from the start” (p.##).
- Danelli explains , “All mammals have hair” (p.##).
- The author reveals his true feelings with his ironic remark that we should “just resort to cannibalism to defeat world hunger” (p. ##).
- Forton expresses disapproval of the American welfare system (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- The author states that “More than fifty percent of all marriages end in divorce” (p. ##).
- He also mentions , “Many children grow up feeling responsible for their parents’ mistakes” (p. ##).
- Jones acknowledges that although the divorce rate is increasing, most young children still dream of getting married (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- The author suggests that we hone our English skills before venturing into the work force (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- The author thinks that the recent weather has been too hot (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Folsh points out that there were hundreds of people from varying backgrounds at the convention (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Julia Hertz responded to allegations that her company was aware of the faulty tires on their cars (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- His research shows that 7% of Americans suffer from Social Anxiety Disorder (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Jostin’s research confirmed his earlier hypothesis: mice really are smarter than rats (author’s last, year, name p. ##).
Stronger Verbs: These verbs indicate that there is some kind of argument, and that the quote shows either support of or disagreement with one side of the argument.
Examples of Stronger Verbs The author agrees . . .The author rejects . The author argues . The author compares . (the two studies) The author asserts . The author admits . The author cautions . The author disputes . The author emphasizes . The author contends . The author insists . The author denies . The author maintains . The author refutes . The author claims . The author endorses .
Sample Sentences MLA Style
- Despite criticism, Johnston agrees that smoking should be banned in all public places (author’s last name p.##).
- The author argues that “subjecting non-smokers to toxic second-hand smoke is not only unfair, but a violation of their right to a safe environment” (p.##).
- Vick asserts that “cigarette smoke is unpleasant, and dangerous” (p.##).
- The author cautions that “people who subject themselves to smoky bars night after night could develop illnesses such as emphysema or lung cancer” (p.##).
- Rosentrhaw emphasizes that “second-hand smoke can kill” (p.##).
- Still, tobacco company executives insist that they “were not fully aware of the long term damages caused by smoking” when they launched their nationwide advertising campaign (author’s last name p.##).
- Though bar owners disagree, Johnston maintains that banning smoking in all public places will not negatively affect bar business (author’s last name p.##).
- Jefferson claims that banning smoking in public places will hurt America’s economy (author’s last name p.##).
- Johnson refutes allegations that his personal finances have been in trouble for the past five years (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Whiley rejects the idea that the earth could have been formed by a massive explosion in space (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Lucci compares the house prices in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Although they have stopped short of admitting that smoking causes cancer in humans, tobacco companies have admitted that “smoking causes cancer in laboratory rats” (p. ##).
- For years, local residents have been disputing the plans to build a new highway right through the center of town (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Residents contend that the new highway will lower property values (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- The Department of Transportation denies claims that the new bridge will damage the fragile ecosystem of the Potomac River (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
- Joley endorses the bridge, saying “our goal is to make this city more accessible to those who live outside of it” (p. ##).
Inference Verbs: These verbs indicate that there is some kind of argument, and that the quote shows either support of or disagreement with one side of the argument. Examples of Inference Verbs The author implies . The author suggests . The author thinks . Sample Sentences MLA Style
- By calling them ignorant, the author implies that they were unschooled and narrow minded (author’s last name p.##).
- Her preoccupation with her looks suggests that she is too superficial to make her a believable character (author’s last name p.##).
- Based on his research, we can assume Hatfield thinks that our treatment of our environment has been careless (author’s last name p.##).
One phrase that is often used to introduce a quotation is: According to the author, . . .
- According to the author, children with ADD have a shorter attention span than children without ADD (author’s last name, year, p. ##).
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- 40 Useful Words and Phrases for Top-Notch Essays
To be truly brilliant, an essay needs to utilise the right language. You could make a great point, but if it’s not intelligently articulated, you almost needn’t have bothered.
Developing the language skills to build an argument and to write persuasively is crucial if you’re to write outstanding essays every time. In this article, we’re going to equip you with the words and phrases you need to write a top-notch essay, along with examples of how to utilise them.
It’s by no means an exhaustive list, and there will often be other ways of using the words and phrases we describe that we won’t have room to include, but there should be more than enough below to help you make an instant improvement to your essay-writing skills.
If you’re interested in developing your language and persuasive skills, Oxford Royale offers summer courses at its Oxford Summer School , Cambridge Summer School , London Summer School , San Francisco Summer School and Yale Summer School . You can study courses to learn english , prepare for careers in law , medicine , business , engineering and leadership.
General explaining
Let’s start by looking at language for general explanations of complex points.
1. In order to
Usage: “In order to” can be used to introduce an explanation for the purpose of an argument. Example: “In order to understand X, we need first to understand Y.”
2. In other words
Usage: Use “in other words” when you want to express something in a different way (more simply), to make it easier to understand, or to emphasise or expand on a point. Example: “Frogs are amphibians. In other words, they live on the land and in the water.”
3. To put it another way
Usage: This phrase is another way of saying “in other words”, and can be used in particularly complex points, when you feel that an alternative way of wording a problem may help the reader achieve a better understanding of its significance. Example: “Plants rely on photosynthesis. To put it another way, they will die without the sun.”
4. That is to say
Usage: “That is” and “that is to say” can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: “Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.”
5. To that end
Usage: Use “to that end” or “to this end” in a similar way to “in order to” or “so”. Example: “Zoologists have long sought to understand how animals communicate with each other. To that end, a new study has been launched that looks at elephant sounds and their possible meanings.”
Adding additional information to support a point
Students often make the mistake of using synonyms of “and” each time they want to add further information in support of a point they’re making, or to build an argument . Here are some cleverer ways of doing this.
6. Moreover
Usage: Employ “moreover” at the start of a sentence to add extra information in support of a point you’re making. Example: “Moreover, the results of a recent piece of research provide compelling evidence in support of…”
7. Furthermore
Usage:This is also generally used at the start of a sentence, to add extra information. Example: “Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that…”
8. What’s more
Usage: This is used in the same way as “moreover” and “furthermore”. Example: “What’s more, this isn’t the only evidence that supports this hypothesis.”
9. Likewise
Usage: Use “likewise” when you want to talk about something that agrees with what you’ve just mentioned. Example: “Scholar A believes X. Likewise, Scholar B argues compellingly in favour of this point of view.”
10. Similarly
Usage: Use “similarly” in the same way as “likewise”. Example: “Audiences at the time reacted with shock to Beethoven’s new work, because it was very different to what they were used to. Similarly, we have a tendency to react with surprise to the unfamiliar.”
11. Another key thing to remember
Usage: Use the phrase “another key point to remember” or “another key fact to remember” to introduce additional facts without using the word “also”. Example: “As a Romantic, Blake was a proponent of a closer relationship between humans and nature. Another key point to remember is that Blake was writing during the Industrial Revolution, which had a major impact on the world around him.”
12. As well as
Usage: Use “as well as” instead of “also” or “and”. Example: “Scholar A argued that this was due to X, as well as Y.”
13. Not only… but also
Usage: This wording is used to add an extra piece of information, often something that’s in some way more surprising or unexpected than the first piece of information. Example: “Not only did Edmund Hillary have the honour of being the first to reach the summit of Everest, but he was also appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire.”
14. Coupled with
Usage: Used when considering two or more arguments at a time. Example: “Coupled with the literary evidence, the statistics paint a compelling view of…”
15. Firstly, secondly, thirdly…
Usage: This can be used to structure an argument, presenting facts clearly one after the other. Example: “There are many points in support of this view. Firstly, X. Secondly, Y. And thirdly, Z.
16. Not to mention/to say nothing of
Usage: “Not to mention” and “to say nothing of” can be used to add extra information with a bit of emphasis. Example: “The war caused unprecedented suffering to millions of people, not to mention its impact on the country’s economy.”
Words and phrases for demonstrating contrast
When you’re developing an argument, you will often need to present contrasting or opposing opinions or evidence – “it could show this, but it could also show this”, or “X says this, but Y disagrees”. This section covers words you can use instead of the “but” in these examples, to make your writing sound more intelligent and interesting.
17. However
Usage: Use “however” to introduce a point that disagrees with what you’ve just said. Example: “Scholar A thinks this. However, Scholar B reached a different conclusion.”
18. On the other hand
Usage: Usage of this phrase includes introducing a contrasting interpretation of the same piece of evidence, a different piece of evidence that suggests something else, or an opposing opinion. Example: “The historical evidence appears to suggest a clear-cut situation. On the other hand, the archaeological evidence presents a somewhat less straightforward picture of what happened that day.”
19. Having said that
Usage: Used in a similar manner to “on the other hand” or “but”. Example: “The historians are unanimous in telling us X, an agreement that suggests that this version of events must be an accurate account. Having said that, the archaeology tells a different story.”
20. By contrast/in comparison
Usage: Use “by contrast” or “in comparison” when you’re comparing and contrasting pieces of evidence. Example: “Scholar A’s opinion, then, is based on insufficient evidence. By contrast, Scholar B’s opinion seems more plausible.”
21. Then again
Usage: Use this to cast doubt on an assertion. Example: “Writer A asserts that this was the reason for what happened. Then again, it’s possible that he was being paid to say this.”
22. That said
Usage: This is used in the same way as “then again”. Example: “The evidence ostensibly appears to point to this conclusion. That said, much of the evidence is unreliable at best.”
Usage: Use this when you want to introduce a contrasting idea. Example: “Much of scholarship has focused on this evidence. Yet not everyone agrees that this is the most important aspect of the situation.”
Adding a proviso or acknowledging reservations
Sometimes, you may need to acknowledge a shortfalling in a piece of evidence, or add a proviso. Here are some ways of doing so.
24. Despite this
Usage: Use “despite this” or “in spite of this” when you want to outline a point that stands regardless of a shortfalling in the evidence. Example: “The sample size was small, but the results were important despite this.”
25. With this in mind
Usage: Use this when you want your reader to consider a point in the knowledge of something else. Example: “We’ve seen that the methods used in the 19th century study did not always live up to the rigorous standards expected in scientific research today, which makes it difficult to draw definite conclusions. With this in mind, let’s look at a more recent study to see how the results compare.”
26. Provided that
Usage: This means “on condition that”. You can also say “providing that” or just “providing” to mean the same thing. Example: “We may use this as evidence to support our argument, provided that we bear in mind the limitations of the methods used to obtain it.”
27. In view of/in light of
Usage: These phrases are used when something has shed light on something else. Example: “In light of the evidence from the 2013 study, we have a better understanding of…”
28. Nonetheless
Usage: This is similar to “despite this”. Example: “The study had its limitations, but it was nonetheless groundbreaking for its day.”
29. Nevertheless
Usage: This is the same as “nonetheless”. Example: “The study was flawed, but it was important nevertheless.”
30. Notwithstanding
Usage: This is another way of saying “nonetheless”. Example: “Notwithstanding the limitations of the methodology used, it was an important study in the development of how we view the workings of the human mind.”
Giving examples
Good essays always back up points with examples, but it’s going to get boring if you use the expression “for example” every time. Here are a couple of other ways of saying the same thing.
31. For instance
Example: “Some birds migrate to avoid harsher winter climates. Swallows, for instance, leave the UK in early winter and fly south…”
32. To give an illustration
Example: “To give an illustration of what I mean, let’s look at the case of…”
Signifying importance
When you want to demonstrate that a point is particularly important, there are several ways of highlighting it as such.
33. Significantly
Usage: Used to introduce a point that is loaded with meaning that might not be immediately apparent. Example: “Significantly, Tacitus omits to tell us the kind of gossip prevalent in Suetonius’ accounts of the same period.”
34. Notably
Usage: This can be used to mean “significantly” (as above), and it can also be used interchangeably with “in particular” (the example below demonstrates the first of these ways of using it). Example: “Actual figures are notably absent from Scholar A’s analysis.”
35. Importantly
Usage: Use “importantly” interchangeably with “significantly”. Example: “Importantly, Scholar A was being employed by X when he wrote this work, and was presumably therefore under pressure to portray the situation more favourably than he perhaps might otherwise have done.”
Summarising
You’ve almost made it to the end of the essay, but your work isn’t over yet. You need to end by wrapping up everything you’ve talked about, showing that you’ve considered the arguments on both sides and reached the most likely conclusion. Here are some words and phrases to help you.
36. In conclusion
Usage: Typically used to introduce the concluding paragraph or sentence of an essay, summarising what you’ve discussed in a broad overview. Example: “In conclusion, the evidence points almost exclusively to Argument A.”
37. Above all
Usage: Used to signify what you believe to be the most significant point, and the main takeaway from the essay. Example: “Above all, it seems pertinent to remember that…”
38. Persuasive
Usage: This is a useful word to use when summarising which argument you find most convincing. Example: “Scholar A’s point – that Constanze Mozart was motivated by financial gain – seems to me to be the most persuasive argument for her actions following Mozart’s death.”
39. Compelling
Usage: Use in the same way as “persuasive” above. Example: “The most compelling argument is presented by Scholar A.”
40. All things considered
Usage: This means “taking everything into account”. Example: “All things considered, it seems reasonable to assume that…”
How many of these words and phrases will you get into your next essay? And are any of your favourite essay terms missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below, or get in touch here to find out more about courses that can help you with your essays.
At Oxford Royale Academy, we offer a number of summer school courses for young people who are keen to improve their essay writing skills. Click here to apply for one of our courses today, including law , business , medicine and engineering .
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Synonyms of essay
- as in article
- as in attempt
- as in to attempt
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Thesaurus Definition of essay
(Entry 1 of 2)
Synonyms & Similar Words
- dissertation
- composition
- prolegomenon
- undertaking
- trial and error
- experimentation
Thesaurus Definition of essay (Entry 2 of 2)
- have a go at
- try one's hand (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Synonym Chooser
How does the verb essay differ from other similar words?
Some common synonyms of essay are attempt , endeavor , strive , and try . While all these words mean "to make an effort to accomplish an end," essay implies difficulty but also suggests tentative trying or experimenting.
When might attempt be a better fit than essay ?
While the synonyms attempt and essay are close in meaning, attempt stresses the initiation or beginning of an effort.
Where would endeavor be a reasonable alternative to essay ?
Although the words endeavor and essay have much in common, endeavor heightens the implications of exertion and difficulty.
When is strive a more appropriate choice than essay ?
While in some cases nearly identical to essay , strive implies great exertion against great difficulty and specifically suggests persistent effort.
How do try and attempt relate to one another, in the sense of essay ?
Try is often close to attempt but may stress effort or experiment made in the hope of testing or proving something.
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To 'Essay' or 'Assay'?
You'll know the difference if you give it the old college essay
Thesaurus Entries Near essay
Cite this entry.
“Essay.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/essay. Accessed 16 May. 2024.
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Nglish: Translation of essay for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of essay for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about essay
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15 Other Words for “This Shows” in an Essay
Are you worried about including “this shows” again and again in an essay?
After all, the last thing you want to do is sound repetitive and boring.
Fret not! You have found yourself in the right place.
This article will explore other ways to say “this shows” in an essay.
Other Ways to Say “This Shows”
- This demonstrates
- This indicates
- This implies
- This portrays
- This illustrates
- This establishes
- This proves
- This points to
- This highlights
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “This shows” is a common phrase used in essays to demonstrate how one thing leads to another.
- “This demonstrates” is a great formal synonym that’ll help to spice up your academic writing.
- Try “suggesting” as an alternative that shows how one thing could have created another.
Keep reading to learn different ways to say “this shows.” We’ve covered the two best phrases to help you understand more about how you can improve your essays.
Alternatively, you can read the final section to learn whether it’s correct to write “this shows.” It’s appropriate to check this out before continuing to include it in your essay!
This Demonstrates
If you’re looking for words to use instead of “this shows” in an essay, try “this demonstrates.” It’s a great formal synonym that’ll help to spice things up.
It also comes with two options. You can use it at the start of a sentence as written:
This is option one. This demonstrates how to continue a thought from the previous sentence.
Or, you can include it as part of the same sentence. To do this, you should switch “this demonstrates” to “demonstrating.” For example:
This is option two, demonstrating that it’s part of the same sentence.
Either way, both are correct. The same applies to “this shows,” where you can use “showing” to include it in the same sentence.
It’s a great way to help the reader follow your process . This should make your essay much easier to read, even if the reader isn’t all that familiar with the topic.
You can also refer to these essay samples:
As you can see, we have also gathered all the necessary data. This demonstrates that we were correct about our original hypothesis.
They have created different rules for what we know. This demonstrates that they’re worried someone might try to interfere with them.
Also, you can write “suggesting” instead of “this shows.” It’s another great professional synonym that’ll help you to keep your writing interesting.
As we’ve already stated, you can use “suggesting” as part of the same sentence:
This is how it works, suggesting you can keep it to one sentence.
Or, you can switch it to “this suggests” to start a new sentence. For instance:
This is how it works. This suggests that you can create two sentences.
Both are correct. They also allow you to switch between them, giving you two options to help mix up your writing and keep the reader engaged .
Here are some essay examples if you still need help:
We have many new ideas ready to go, suggesting that we’re on the road to success. We just need more time.
This is the only way to complete the task, suggesting that things aren’t going to be as easy as we first thought.
Is It Correct to Say “This Shows”?
It is correct to say “this shows.” It’s a great word to use in an essay, and we highly recommend it when you’d like to show how one thing leads to another.
It’s a formal option, which is why it works so well in academic writing.
Also, it allows the reader to follow your thought process, which helps keep things streamlined and clear.
For instance:
Here is an example of how we can achieve this. This shows that we have considered every option so far.
“This shows” always starts a new sentence . You can use it whenever you’d like to connect back to the former sentence directly.
Also, makes sure you use “shows” as the verb form. It comes after “this,” so the only correct form is “shows.” To remind you, you can refer to these examples:
- Correct: This shows that things are supposed to work this way.
- Incorrect: This show that we know what we’re doing.
It’s worth using some extensions if you’re still looking to mix things up as well. Try any of the following:
- This evidence shows
- This picture shows
- This data shows
- This graph shows
- This study shows
Including something between “this” and “shows” allows you to be more specific . It helps direct the reader’s attention to something from the previous sentence.
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List of 50 "In Conclusion" Synonyms—Write Better with ProWritingAid
Alex Simmonds
Table of Contents
Why is it wrong to use "in conclusion" when writing a conclusion, what can i use instead of "in conclusion" for an essay, what are some synonyms for "in conclusion" in formal writing, what are some synonyms for "in conclusion" in informal writing, what is another word for "in conclusion", what should a conclusion do in an article or paper.
The final paragraphs of any paper can be extremely difficult to get right, and yet they are probably the most important. They offer you a chance to summarize the points you have made into a neat package and leave a good impression on the reader.
Many people choose to start the last paragraph with the phrase in conclusion , but this has its downsides.
Firstly, you should only use it once. Any more than that and your essay will sound horribly repetitive. Secondly, there is the question of whether you should even use the phrase at all?
Though it’s okay to use in conclusion in a speech or presentation, when writing an essay it comes across as stating the obvious. The phrase will come across as a bit unnecessary or "on the nose."
Its use in an essay is clichéd, and there are far cleaner and more elegant ways of indicating that you are going to be concluding the paper. Using in conclusion might even irritate and alienate your audience or readers.
Thankfully, there are hundreds of synonyms available in the English language which do a much better (and much more subtle) job of drawing a piece of writing to a close.
The key is to choose ones which suit the tone of the paper. Here we will look at both formal options for an essay or academic paper, and informal options for light-hearted, low key writing, or speeches.
If you are writing an academic essay, a white paper, a business paper, or any other formal text, you will want to use formal transitional expressions that successfully work as synonyms for in conclusion .
The following are some suggestions you could use:
As has been demonstrated
A simple way of concluding all your points and summarizing everything you have said is to confidently state that those points have convincingly proven your case:
As the research has demonstrated , kids really do love chocolate.
As all the above points have demonstrated , Dan Brown really was the most technically gifted writer of the 20th Century.
As has been demonstrated in this paper , the side-effects of the vaccine are mild in comparison to the consequences of the virus.
As has been shown
This is another way of saying as has been demonstrated , but perhaps less scientific and more literary. As has been shown would work well in literature, history, or philosophy essays.
For example:
As has been shown above , the First World War and industrialization were the drivers for a new way of seeing the world, reflected in Pound’s poetry.
In the final analysis
This is a great expression to use in your conclusion, since it’s almost as blunt as in conclusion , but is a more refined and far less clichéd way of starting the concluding paragraph.
Once you have finished your argument and started drawing things to a close, using in the final analysis allows you to tail nicely into your last summation.
In the final analysis , there can be little doubt that Transformers: Dark of the Moon represents a low point in the history of cinema.
Along with let’s review , this is short and blunt way of announcing that you intend to recap the points you have made so far, rather than actually drawing a conclusion.
It definitely works best when presenting or reading out a speech, but less well in an essay or paper.
However, it does work effectively in a scientific paper or if you wish to recap a long train of thought, argument, or sequence before getting to the final concluding lines.
To review , of the two groups of senior citizens, one was given a placebo and the other a large dose of amphetamines.
Another phrase you could consider is in closing . This is probably better when speaking or presenting because of how double-edged it is. It still has an in conclusion element to it, but arguably it could also work well when drawing an academic or scientific paper to a conclusion.
For example, it is particularly useful in scientific or business papers where you want to sum up your points, and then even have a call to action:
In closing then, it is clear that as a society, we all need to carefully monitor our consumption of gummy bears.
Or in an academic paper, it offers a slightly less blunt way to begin a paragraph:
In closing , how do we tie all these different elements of Ballard’s writing together?
Perhaps the most similar expression to in conclusion is in summary . In summary offers a clear indication to the reader that you are going to restate the main points of your paper and draw a conclusion from those points:
In summary , Existentialism is the only philosophy that has any real validity in the 21st century.
In summary , we believe that by switching to a subscription model...
On top of those previously mentioned, here are some other phrases that you can use as an alternative to in conclusion :
To summarize
Overall, it may be said
Taking everything into account
On the whole
In general, it can be said that
With this in mind
Considering all this
Everything considered
As a final observation
Considering all of the facts
For the most part
In light of these facts
When it comes to finishing up a speech, a light-hearted paper, blog post, or magazine article, there are a couple of informal phrases you can use rather than in conclusion :
In a nutshell
The phrase in a nutshell is extremely informal and can be used both in speech and in writing. However, it should never be used in academic or formal writing.
It could probably be used in informal business presentations, to let the audience know that you are summing up in a light-hearted manner:
In a nutshell , our new formula Pro Jazzinol shampoo does the same as our old shampoo, but we get to charge 20% more for it!
You can also use it if you want to get straight to the point at the end of a speech or article, without any fluff:
In a nutshell , our new SocialShocka app does what it says on the tin—gives you an electric shock every time you try to access your social media!
At the end of the day
This is a pretty useful expression if you want to informally conclude an argument, having made all your points. It basically means in the final reckoning or the main thing to consider is , but said in a more conversational manner:
At the end of the day , he will never make the national team, but will make a good living as a professional.
At the end of the day , the former President was never destined to unite the country…
Long story short
Another informal option when replacing in conclusion is to opt for to make a long story short —sometimes shortened to long story short .
Again, this is not one you would use when writing an academic or formal paper, as it is much too conversational. It’s a phrase that is far better suited to telling a joke or story to your friends:
Long story short , Billy has only gone and started his own religion!
Would you ever use it in writing? Probably not, except for at the end of friendly, low-key presentations:
Long story short , our conclusion is that you are spending far too much money on after work company bowling trips.
And possibly at the end of an offbeat magazine article or blog post:
Long story short , Henry VIII was a great king—not so great a husband though!
Other "In Conclusion" Synonyms for Informal Writing
You can use any of the synonyms in this article when writing informally, but these are particularly useful when you want your writing to sound conversational:
By and large
On a final note
Last but not least
For all intents and purposes
The bottom line is
To put it bluntly
To wrap things up
To come to the point
To wind things up
Instead of opting for one of the above expressions or idioms, there are several different singular transition words you can use instead. Here are a couple of examples:
The perfect word to tell the reader you are reaching the end of your argument. Lastly is an adverb that means "at the end" or "in summary." It is best used when you are beginning your conclusion:
Lastly , with all the previous points in mind, there is the question of why Philip K Dick was so fascinated with alternate history?
But can also be used at the very end of your conclusion too:
Lastly then, we are left with Eliot’s own words on his inspiration for "The Waste Land."
Finally does exactly the same job as lastly . It lets the reader know that you are at the final point of your argument or are about to draw your conclusion:
Finally , we can see from all the previous points that...
Another word that can be used at beginning of the conclusion is the adverb ultimately . Meaning "in the end" or "at the end of the day," it can be used as a conclusion to both informal and formal papers or articles:
Ultimately , it comes down to whether one takes an Old Testament view of capital punishment or...
It can also be used in more survey, scientific, or charity appeal style articles as a call to action of some sort:
Ultimately , we will all need to put some thought into our own carbon footprints over the next couple of years.
A good word to conclude a scientific, or survey style paper is overall . It can be used when discussing the points, arguments or results that have been outlined in the paper up until that point.
Thus, you can say:
Overall , our survey showed that most people believe you should spread the cream before you add the jam, when eating scones.
Other Transition Words to Replace "In Conclusion"
Here are a few transition word alternatives to add to your arsenal:
Considering
Essentially
Principally
Summarizing
Pro tip: You should use transition words throughout your essay, paper, or article to guide your reader through your ideas towards your conclusion. ProWritingAid’s Transitions Report tells you how many transition words you’ve used throughout your document so you can make sure you’re supporting your readers’ understanding.
It’ll also tell you what type of transitions you’ve used. If there are no conclusion words in your writing, consider using one of the synonyms from this article.
Sign up for a free ProWritingAid account to try the Transitions Report.
One of the most effective ways of finishing up a piece of writing is to ask a question, or return to the question that was asked at the beginning of the paper using. This can be achieved using how , what , why , or who .
This is sometimes referred to as the "so what?" question. This takes all your points and moves your writing (and your reader) back to the broader context, and gets the reader to ask, why are these points important? Your conclusion should answer the question "so what?" .
To answer that, you circle back to the main concept or driving force of the essay / paper (usually found in the title) and tie it together with the points you have made, in a final, elegant few sentences:
How, then, is Kafka’s writing modernist in outlook?
Why should we consider Dickens’ work from a feminist perspective?
What, then , was Blake referring to, when he spoke of mind forged manacles?
In Conclusion
There are plenty of alternatives for drawing an effective and elegant close to your arguments, rather than simply stating in conclusion .
Whether you ask a question or opt for a transition expression or a single transition word, just taking the time to choose the right synonyms will make all the difference to what is, essentially, the most important part of your paper.
Want to improve your essay writing skills?
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Alex Simmonds is a freelance copywriter based in the UK and has been using words to help people sell things for over 20 years. He has an MA in English Lit and has been struggling to write a novel for most of the last decade. He can be found at alexsimmonds.co.uk.
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- Writing Tips
Other Ways of Saying ‘Because’
2-minute read
- 16th December 2015
If English is not your first language , you may not know that there are lots of words that you can use instead of ‘because’. This is important, since using ‘because’ too often in your written work can make it seem stilted or repetitive.
By comparison, varying word choice can make your work easier to read and more engaging. Today, we’re going to share several synonyms for ‘because’ that will make your work look more academic .
Synonyms for ‘Because’
Let’s start with an example sentence:
Marjorie was angry because the moles kept digging up her garden.
Here , we could use several words and phrases instead of ‘ because ‘:
Marjorie was angry due to the moles that kept digging up her garden.
Marjorie was angry on account of the moles that were digging up her garden.
Notice that you need to adjust the sentence slightly to suit the alternative words used.
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Other Options
Another way to get round the use of ‘because’ is to rearrange the sentence:
The way the moles kept digging up Marjorie’s garden made her very angry.
Here, we have reversed the elements of the sentence and used the word ‘made’ to indicate the relationship between Marjorie’s anger and the moles in her garden. This can be a good way of varying your sentence structure.
You could also try the following variations:
The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden, making her very angry.
The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden and made her very angry.
The moles dug up Marjorie’s garden, which made her very angry.
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Social Life
Who decides what words mean, the public decides the meaning of words, not the dictionary or lawmakers..
Updated May 15, 2024 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
- Words can lose their usefulness when people no longer agree about what they mean.
- Disagreements can lead to words becoming "skunked."
- Even scientific terms can be skunked if people refuse to accept them.
- Disagreements about the meaning of words have become common in our current political climate.
Does “biweekly” mean twice a week, or once every two weeks? If you’re uncertain, a trip to an online dictionary like Merriam-Webster’s won’t help. Both meanings are provided, along with a note explaining that “This ambiguity has been in existence for nearly a century and a half and cannot be eliminated by the dictionary.”
What happened to biweekly—and, for that matter, bimonthly? The simple answer is that disagreement over their referents became so widespread as to render them meaningless. The lexicographer Brian Garner describes such words as having been “ skunked .” As I explain in my book on miscommunication , this has happened to many English terms.
“Inflammable,” for example, means “combustible,” but people mistake the first syllable of the word for the prefix in , which means “not” in many other words, such as “invisible.” The potential danger caused by confusion over whether something is or isn’t flammable is so great that the word has largely dropped out of common usage: it has become skunked.
Cosmic Disagreement
How about the meaning of “planet”? This one should be easy; it’s an object orbiting a star. However, the number of planets in the solar system has fluctuated as exploration of our cosmic neighborhood has progressed. The number was fixed at six after the Copernican Revolution and then expanded to seven with the discovery of Uranus in 1781. But twenty years after that, astronomers began to detect additional bodies between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. The number of planets soon swelled to eleven as Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta were added, in turn, to the celestial pantheon.
Astronomers went on to discover many more objects in the so-called asteroid belt, and Ceres and its brethren were eventually demoted to the status of “minor planets.” The discovery of Neptune in 1846 and Pluto in 1930 brought the number to nine, and for seventy-five years, everyone knew what a planet was and how many our solar system contained.
However, the 2005 discovery of Eris, an object beyond the orbit of Pluto, caused astronomers to reconsider the latter's status. The outer solar system, it seems, contains many small bodies, and Pluto may be more accurately considered one of these Kuiper belt objects than a planet in its own right. A ruling in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) demoted Pluto to the status of a “dwarf planet,” along with Eris and several other tiny worlds—those discovered in the far reaches of the solar system.
Nearly twenty years later, however, the IAU’s ruling remains controversial. The public at large has never really accepted it; several “ Save Pluto ” movements were launched, and even many planetary scientists disagree with the IAU. For decades, any schoolchild could, if asked, confidently answer “Nine!” in response to how many planets orbit the sun. Now, the best answer they can provide is “It’s complicated.” The word “planet” appears to have been skunked.
The Problem with -Gate
Back on Earth, debate continues about the meaning of a variety of terms, several of which have appeared prominently in recent news cycles. For example, South Dakota governor Kristi Noem recently admitted that she shot her young dog Cricket because it was “untrainable.” Almost reflexively, the media dubbed this “ puppygate ,” even though the same term had been employed in connection with a 2019 controversy on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills , as well as the 2015 Hugo Awards .
The lazy journalistic tendency to label incidents as some form of “gate” has largely skunked the suffix’s original meaning, when “Watergate” served as the umbrella term for crimes committed by the Nixon administration. Wikipedia includes several hundred “gates” in its list of scandals and controversies; the syllable is applied equally to consequential events, such as Ukrainegate (leading to the 2019 impeachment of President Trump ) and to the trivial, as with envelopegate (an error made during the 2017 Academy Awards). “Gate” is well on its way to being skunked.
Legislating Meaning
But even a word that has a well-understood meaning runs the risk of becoming skunked if people can’t agree on whether it applies to a particular instance. Consider “genocide,” a term that was carefully defined in the United Nation’s Genocide Convention of 1948. That precision hasn’t stopped people from arguing about whether specific instances of “ethnic cleansing” rise to the level of the destruction of a nation or ethnic group. It's worth noting that both sides in the Israel-Hamas conflict have employed this term.
Or consider “antisemitism,” a term coined in 1860 by Moritz Steinschneider, and one that has been defined in various ways over time. On May 1, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Antisemitism Awareness Act of 2023 (H.R. 6090). It requires the Department of Education to use the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of the term. The vote was 320 to 91, with 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans voting against it. Although larger political issues were involved, the bill highlights whether semantic issues are best addressed through legislation.
At the end of the day, it’s not dictionary editors, scientific organizations, the media, or governments who decide what words mean. The meaning of a term cannot be promoted by fiat or through a governmental decree. People employ words that make useful distinctions and are liable to abandon them when they no longer do so. The disputes raging at present serve as a stark reminder of this fact.
Kreuz, R. (2023). Failure to communicate: Why we misunderstand what we hear, read, and see . Prometheus Books.
Roger Kreuz, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at The University of Memphis, where he also serves as an associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences.
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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."
Stated. One of the most common ways to replace "said" in an essay is "stated.". It's a great formal synonym that helps to keep things direct and clear for the reader. It works well before a quote. You should write "stated" to clarify that you're about to run a quote by the reader. Of course, you can't claim that someone ...
Synonyms for SAYS: tells, utters, speaks, talks, discusses, states, shares, announces; Antonyms of SAYS: suppresses, stifles, reads, denies, wonders (about), doubts ...
If you're writing dialogue or a personal narrative, it helps to know these synonyms for "said." Your writing can only be enhanced with any of these options.
He Said. She Said. They Said. Said is a convenient word when you need it, and some pundits claim you should never use anything else, ever, to attribute dialogue.. I disagree. Please don't get huffy until you read this entire post, especially if you're a writer who swears on a bushel of Dothraki bells that said is the best way — nay, the only way — to tag conversation.
68 Creative Ways to Say 'Said' in Writing. When you write a lot of dialogue, it's easy to find yourself repeating certain verbs to describe the act of speaking. The most common of these verbs, or dialogue tags, is "said," and many authors would like nothing more than a reliable way to avoid repeating it over and over again.
2. Mentioned. Another way to say "said" is "mentioned.". It's a formal synonym that keeps things fresh when quoting information. Generally, "mentioned" refers to less important information. If you "mention" something, it's likely that it's not the most important thing for a reader to pay attention to.
Alternatives to "Said". There are plenty of synonyms for "said" that can be used in academic writing. For instance, if we imagine quoting an author called Johnson, instead of "Johnson says that," we could write: States ("Johnson states that the results are consistent with past studies…") Asserts ("Johnson asserts that the ...
27 replies on "Synonyms For "Say" or "Said"" Noor says: 13 February 2022 at 9:35 pm. These comments are so old, I was 1 when the first comment was written, but anyways, this was a lifesaver, THX ... But I will definetly use these tips in my essay. thanks! Reply. Michael Alonso says: 7 November 2014 at 9:59 am. If you plan to have ...
Find 78 different ways to say SAYS, along with antonyms, related words, and example sentences at Thesaurus.com.
Five Other Ways To Say "Said" in Creative Writing. These other words for said are perfect within dialogue, to advance a storyline, or for many other creative uses.. 1. Whispered/Exclaimed. Whispered and exclaimed are ideal synonyms when you want your readers to visualize the volume of what the speaker is saying. "I hope he doesn't find us," said Frank.
Here are 270 other words for said that you might not know! Plus key tips on how to use these words to create masterful dialogue. Our next novel writing master class starts in 05d 12h 50m 26s! Claim your spot! reedsy blog. Connect. reedsy marketplace. Assemble a team of pros. Editing ...
Synonyms for says include speaks, declares, pronounces, states, utters, voices, exclaims, remarks, announces and mentions. Find more similar words at wordhippo.com!
Stormed. Rebuked. Reproached. These are just some of the words to say other than said when you want to show that the speaker was angry. The list of words for said in this category is long and can even go to hundreds. Nevertheless, the words listed here are the most commonly used to express the anger of the speaker.
Adverbs to Use with "Said" Words. Adverbs describe or explain the type of action of verbs, adjectives or other adverbs. Additionally, you can use more than one adverb for emphasis: "Mrs. Ramsey calmly and patiently explained, "Remember adverbs usually, but not always, end in 'ly'." neutral adverbs. negative adverbs.
For more information on MLA Style, APA style, Chicago Style, ASA Style, CSE Style, and I-Search Format, refer to our Gallaudet TIP Citations and References link. Words that introduce Quotes or Paraphrases are basically three keys verbs: Neutral Verbs: When used to introduce a quote, the following verbs basically mean "says".
4. That is to say. Usage: "That is" and "that is to say" can be used to add further detail to your explanation, or to be more precise. Example: "Whales are mammals. That is to say, they must breathe air.". 5. To that end. Usage: Use "to that end" or "to this end" in a similar way to "in order to" or "so".
In other words. To put it another way. That is to say. To put it more simply. Example: "The research showed that 53% of students surveyed expressed a mild or strong preference for more on-campus housing. In other words, over half the students wanted more dormitory options."
Synonyms for ESSAY: article, paper, dissertation, theme, thesis, composition, treatise, editorial; Antonyms of ESSAY: quit, drop, give up
KEY TAKEAWAYS. "This shows" is a common phrase used in essays to demonstrate how one thing leads to another. "This demonstrates" is a great formal synonym that'll help to spice up your academic writing. Try "suggesting" as an alternative that shows how one thing could have created another. Keep reading to learn different ways to ...
In closing. Another phrase you could consider is in closing.This is probably better when speaking or presenting because of how double-edged it is. It still has an in conclusion element to it, but arguably it could also work well when drawing an academic or scientific paper to a conclusion.. For example, it is particularly useful in scientific or business papers where you want to sum up your ...
Other Options. Another way to get round the use of 'because' is to rearrange the sentence: The way the moles kept digging up Marjorie's garden made her very angry. Here, we have reversed the elements of the sentence and used the word 'made' to indicate the relationship between Marjorie's anger and the moles in her garden.
The simple answer is that disagreement over their referents became so widespread as to render them meaningless. The lexicographer Brian Garner describes such words as having been " skunked ...