Sonia Jaffe Robbins, Editing Workshop, G54.1123, WEEK IV

"Said" and its variants

There is nothing wrong with "said" (or "say"; see the bottom of this page). When used with an attribution or a paraphrase, you can use the word as often as necessary.

If the person quoted speaks in a particular manner, you have a choice of verbs to replace "said," but use them appropriately.

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
added
continued
stated	to say, usually confined to quotes or paraphrases from documents, or to official statements
announced	to declare publicly or formally
asserted	to state positively, with great confidence but no objective proof
commented	to make a remark to explain, interpret, or criticize
declared	to make known clearly and openly
observed	to mention casually
remarked	to make a brief, casual statement of opinion
reported	to give an account of; to carry message; to give a formal statement

Any of the following verbs can be used for replies to a question

answered

replied

responded

returned

The following verbs should be limited to the specific circumstances described by the definitions:

ACKNOWLEDGING OR REVEALING

SYNONYM FOR "SAID" MEANING

acknowledged implies reluctant disclosure of something that might have been a secret

admitted implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede, and usually refers to facts rather than their implication

affirmed imples deep conviction and unlikelihood of contradiction

alleged to assert or declare, especially without proof

avowed implies boldy declaring, often in the face of hostility

conceded similar to acknowledge and admit

confessed may apply to an addmission of a weakness, falure, omission, or guilt

disclosed to reveal something previously concealed

divulged to reveal something that should have remained secret or private, which may imply a breach of confidence

revealed to make something known that had been secret or hidden

ASKING

SYNONYM FOR "SAID" MEANING

begged to ask in a humble or earnest manner

demanded to ask for boldly or urgently

implored to ask with great fervor, implying desperation or great distress

insisted to demand strongly, to declare firmly

pleaded to answer a legal charge, to offer as an excuse or defense, to implore or beg

ANSWERING

SYNONYM FOR "SAID" MEANING

explained to make an explanation

rejoined to answer an objection

retorted to reply to a charge or criticism in a sharp, witty way

ARGUING

SYNONYM FOR "SAID" MEANING

contended to argue or dispute

emphasized to stress

exclaimed to speak suddenly or vehemently

maintained to assert, to support by argument, to affirm

proclaimed to announce officially

proposed to set forth a design or plan

SUGGESTING

SYNONYM FOR "SAID" MEANING

hinted implies slight or remote suggestion

implied similar to suggest, but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed

insinuated refers to conveying a usually unpleasant idea in a sly, underhanded manner

intimated stresses delicacy of suggestion

suggested to propose as a possibility, to convey indirectly by putting an idea into the mind by association

TONE OF VOICE

The following words all describe manners of speaking or tones of voice, and should be used when necessary and appropriate.

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
barked	to speak or shout sharply
bellowed	to roar, to cry out loudly in anger or fear
cried	to call for help, to shout, to sob, to weep
croaked	to make a sound like a frog or raven, to talk dismally
declaimed	to speak in a pompous way or deliver a tirade
drawled	to speak in a way that prolongs the vowels
joked	to make a joke
mumbled	to utter inarticulate or almost inaudible sounds
murmured	to speak in a low, indistinct voice
muttered	to speak angry or discontented words in a low, indistinct voice
roared	to utter a loud, deep sound
scolded	to find fault with angrily
shouted	to make a loud cry or call
shrieked	to make a loud, piercing cry or sound
wailed	to express grief or pain through long, loud cries
whispered	to speak softly, especially to avoid being overheard

"Said" or "say"? Past or present tense?

So long as you are consistent within an article, it doesn't matter whether your attribution verbs are past or present tense. Newspapers tend to use past tense, since historically they are dailies reporting on news events that happened yesterday. Magazines tend to use present tense to create a sense of immediacy or to overcome any datedness in stories reported a week, a month, or longer in the past.

Last revision: January 16, 2005

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
acknowledged	implies reluctant disclosure of something that might have been a secret
admitted	implies reluctance to disclose, grant, or concede, and usually refers to facts rather than their implication
affirmed	imples deep conviction and unlikelihood of contradiction
alleged	to assert or declare, especially without proof
avowed	implies boldy declaring, often in the face of hostility
conceded	similar to acknowledge and admit
confessed	may apply to an addmission of a weakness, falure, omission, or guilt
disclosed	to reveal something previously concealed
divulged	to reveal something that should have remained secret or private, which may imply a breach of confidence
revealed	to make something known that had been secret or hidden

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
begged	to ask in a humble or earnest manner
demanded	to ask for boldly or urgently
implored	to ask with great fervor, implying desperation or great distress
insisted	to demand strongly, to declare firmly
pleaded	to answer a legal charge, to offer as an excuse or defense, to implore or beg

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
explained	to make an explanation
rejoined	to answer an objection
retorted	to reply to a charge or criticism in a sharp, witty way

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
contended	to argue or dispute
emphasized	to stress
exclaimed	to speak suddenly or vehemently
maintained	to assert, to support by argument, to affirm
proclaimed	to announce officially
proposed	to set forth a design or plan

SYNONYM FOR "SAID"	MEANING
hinted	implies slight or remote suggestion
implied	similar to suggest, but may indicate a more definite or logical relation of the unexpressed idea to the expressed
insinuated	refers to conveying a usually unpleasant idea in a sly, underhanded manner
intimated	stresses delicacy of suggestion
suggested	to propose as a possibility, to convey indirectly by putting an idea into the mind by association