said is dead

use other words then said

Comments for said is dead

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Jun 18, 2012
 Said isn't really dead...
by: Anonymous

I know that in a general sense it is good to stay away from "said"; however, I have seen writers use it stylisticaly in small parts of their work to create a rythm that was highly effective. I don't think that any word "should never be used" but knowing WHEN to use these words and HOW is the mark of a really great writer.
Feb 11, 2011
 HAPPY FACE
by: Anonymous

I like these
Sep 24, 2010
 Don't... just don't...
by: Anonymous

Eliminate speech tags where possible but NEVER try to replace "said" with another verb. Writing something atrocious like "he blustered" or "she thundered" or "he hissed" reeks of amateurish overwriting.
Oct 12, 2009
 Good
by: Mrs. McLuongly

Good....say what?
Oct 12, 2009
 Very Inspiring
by:

This topic is Very Inspiring to all teachers.
I have been telling my students about words lik said, bad, good, like are all dead for us since the students are grown now. Very Inspiring Title!
Nov 17, 2008
 Said -- Or Not Said
by: Audrey

I wish you had written more to explain what you mean. Sometimes, a writer should use something other than said.

"Help, me!" she screamed as she fell over the cliff, carries a more likely picture than does, "Help me," she said as she fell over the cliff.

But in many cases, using nothing but quotation marks to show that you have changed speakers is the mark of the skillful writer. The point is to make your meaning as clear as possible while hiding your craft from the reader.

A reader should not be plowing through a text as if it were thesaurus for the word said. That takes the attention from the real meaning, which is how the dialogue reveals character and moves the story forward.

In my editing, I spend much more time removing words like said, answered, asked, stated, etc. than I do replacing said with anything at all.

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