150 Other Words for Said To Supercharge Your Writing (Infographic)

150 Other Words for Said To Supercharge Your Writing (Infographic) 150+ Other Words for "Said" To Supercharge Your Writing â€Å"Dialogue tags† is one of those writerly terms that sounds more complicated than it actually is. You’ve almost certainly used tags (including "said" and all other words for said) in your writing at some point, even if you didn't realize it consciously!But how can you really use them when you’re not entirely sure how they work? If that sounds like you, don't worry; this article will sort you out. Read on for your ultimate guide to dialogue tags - with tips on how to use them in an effective manner and our curated list of 150+ other words for "said." We'll actually start with the latter, for those of you who already know how dialogue tags work and are looking for the perfect synonym.150+ other words for "said"â€Å"Said† is the most common dialogue tag in the English language, and for good reason: it gets the job done. But every so often, you want to kick your writing up a notch with a different tag - that's where this list comes in! Here are 150+ oth er words for said, divided by emotion and/or conversational context to help you find the right word.Or, if you want to take it with you, click on the "Infographic" section in the table of contents (to your left) and download a list of all these words for free! Without further ado, here is a veritable mountain of words to use instead of said.Neutral wordsEach of these words is basically a like-for-like replacement for "said. Infographic (to download)Simply enter your email below to get this infographic in your inbox within minutes.Luckily, figuring out your dialogue tags isn't  quite  this difficult. Image: Paramount Pictures4. Experiment with placementThis is something you can do to keep your dialogue tags fresh and interesting without resorting to overblown verbs. Though so far we’ve only used tags at the end of dialogue, you can also put them at the beginning or in the middle! It requires slightly different punctuation, but pretty much all you need to do is re-order your original phrase to accomplish this.Let’s return to our very first example: â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article,† Rita said. This could become:Rita said, â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article."Or, if you want it to sound more dramatic:â€Å"I can’t wait,† Rita said, â€Å"to read this article.†Again, it’s an easy fix for repetitive tags. Try to stay conscious of how you’re using them, and if you find that too many of your â€Å"he said, she said†s (so to speak) are landing at the end of your dialogue, feel free to mix it up!5. Use description as dialogue tagsThe final way to create dialogue tags in your writing is: don’t use them at all. Or rather, use something else to serve the same function - specifically, description.Using description to indicate who’s speaking is a subtle yet powerful means of tagging your dialogue. Experienced writers employ this technique frequently, and anyone can do so once they understand how! Here’s an example of how description might be used as a dialogue tag:Sara gazed around the room as she paced, trailing her fingers over the furniture. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Sam. â€Å"Are you sure this is a good idea?†We can clearly tell that Sara is the one talking based on the description: it’s all about her and what she’s doing. At the end, we also get a subject for her to address (Sam).You can also put the dialogue first, followed by the description to clarify:â€Å"We’ve got to catch him! Come on guys, hop in!† Jason hurriedly started the truck, which made a noise like a broken blender.Or you can even have the description in the middle of two pieces of dialogue:â€Å"Oh my God, what happened in here?† Alicia had just come through the doorway and stood frozen in her tracks. Her expression was a mask of horror. â€Å"It looks like a tornado hit!†Basically, you can put this descriptive â€Å"tag† anywhere you want in relation to the dialogue: before, after, or in the middle. As long as there’s something to demonstrate who’s speaking, as well as to what or whom they’re referring, that’s all you need.TakeawaysDialogue tags are a vital tool that every writer should know how to use correctly. Hopefully, this post has helped you understand how to use tags to clarify who’s speaking, as well as how to avoid distracting from what’s being said. Remember, the dialogue is the crown jewel here - but the tag is the solid pedestal that keeps it from falling. 💠ªWhat are your best tips for dialogue tags? Let us know in the comments! 150 Other Words for Said To Supercharge Your Writing (Infographic) 150+ Other Words for "Said" To Supercharge Your Writing â€Å"Dialogue tags† is one of those writerly terms that sounds more complicated than it actually is. You’ve almost certainly used tags (including "said" and all other words for said) in your writing at some point, even if you didn't realize it consciously!But how can you really use them when you’re not entirely sure how they work? If that sounds like you, don't worry; this article will sort you out. Read on for your ultimate guide to dialogue tags - with tips on how to use them in an effective manner and our curated list of 150+ other words for "said." We'll actually start with the latter, for those of you who already know how dialogue tags work and are looking for the perfect synonym.150+ other words for "said"â€Å"Said† is the most common dialogue tag in the English language, and for good reason: it gets the job done. But every so often, you want to kick your writing up a notch with a different tag - that's where this list comes in! Here are 150+ oth er words for said, divided by emotion and/or conversational context to help you find the right word.Or, if you want to take it with you, click on the "Infographic" section in the table of contents (to your left) and download a list of all these words for free! Without further ado, here is a veritable mountain of words to use instead of said.Neutral wordsEach of these words is basically a like-for-like replacement for "said. Simply enter your email below to get this infographic in your inbox within minutes.Luckily, figuring out your dialogue tags isn't  quite  this difficult. Image: Paramount Pictures4. Experiment with placementThis is something you can do to keep your dialogue tags fresh and interesting without resorting to overblown verbs. Though so far we’ve only used tags at the end of dialogue, you can also put them at the beginning or in the middle! It requires slightly different punctuation, but pretty much all you need to do is re-order your original phrase to accomplish this.Let’s return to our very first example: â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article,† Rita said. This could become:Rita said, â€Å"I can’t wait to read this article."Or, if you want it to sound more dramatic:â€Å"I can’t wait,† Rita said, â€Å"to read this article.†Again, it’s an easy fix for repetitive tags. Try to stay conscious of how you’re using t hem, and if you find that too many of your â€Å"he said, she said†s (so to speak) are landing at the end of your dialogue, feel free to mix it up!5. Use description as dialogue tagsThe final way to create dialogue tags in your writing is: don’t use them at all. Or rather, use something else to serve the same function - specifically, description.Using description to indicate who’s speaking is a subtle yet powerful means of tagging your dialogue. Experienced writers employ this technique frequently, and anyone can do so once they understand how! Here’s an example of how description might be used as a dialogue tag:Sara gazed around the room as she paced, trailing her fingers over the furniture. She stopped and looked over her shoulder at Sam. â€Å"Are you sure this is a good idea?†We can clearly tell that Sara is the one talking based on the description: it’s all about her and what she’s doing. At the end, we also get a subject for he r to address (Sam).You can also put the dialogue first, followed by the description to clarify:â€Å"We’ve got to catch him! Come on guys, hop in!† Jason hurriedly started the truck, which made a noise like a broken blender.Or you can even have the description in the middle of two pieces of dialogue:â€Å"Oh my God, what happened in here?† Alicia had just come through the doorway and stood frozen in her tracks. Her expression was a mask of horror. â€Å"It looks like a tornado hit!†Basically, you can put this descriptive â€Å"tag† anywhere you want in relation to the dialogue: before, after, or in the middle. As long as there’s something to demonstrate who’s speaking, as well as to what or whom they’re referring, that’s all you need.TakeawaysDialogue tags are a vital tool that every writer should know how to use correctly. Hopefully, this post has helped you understand how to use tags to clarify who’s speaking, a s well as how to avoid distracting from what’s being said. Remember, the dialogue is the crown jewel here - but the tag is the solid pedestal that keeps it from falling. 💠ªWhat are your best tips for dialogue tags? Let us know in the comments!