If you are reading this article, you are most definitely looking for words to use instead of said. As you probably know, a good writer has a very good grasp of the English language and knows all the intricacies of the English grammar. However, did you know that you also need to have a rich vocabulary to write well? Your professors will really appreciate your writing and give you bonus points if you manage to avoid overused words. And what better way to do this than by getting rid of all those “said” in your essays?
Table of Contents
- Interested in Learning Some Words to Use Instead of Said?
- Why Use Other Words for Said?
- What Are Dialogue Tags?
- The List of Words That Can Replace Said
- Words That Rhyme With Said
- Other Words for Said by Emotion
- Other Words for Said in an Essay
- Better Words Than Said
- More Words to Replace Said
Interested in Learning Some Words to Use Instead of Said?
You know there are lots of other words for said, right? However, there are times when you simply cannot decide which one to use. Students often don’t have much time to spend searching for words. And you definitely can’t spend an hour looking for other words to use instead of said when you need to finish 3 essays in 2 days. This is why you will love our list of words to use instead of said. We have asked out seasoned writers to put together a list of the best words that can replace it. But before we get to the list (which is 100% free, by the way), let’s explain why you need to learn some words that replace said.
Why Use Other Words for Said?
The main reason why you should find some replacement words for said is the fact that using “said” too many times in an essay can lead to a penalty. Let’s face it: it gets boring to see this word everywhere. In addition, the word “said” is often used to mark a dialogue, which is often quoted. Do you want all the dialogue in your writing to look the same? Probably not. Here are some other reasons why you need some excellent alternative words for said:
- Your professor wants to see that you have a rich vocabulary. Using “said” too many times just shows that you are unable to find any other fitting words.
- There are words that are much more powerful than “said.” These words will emphasize certain dialogues and will even allow you to describe specific emotions to your readers.
- Our other words for said list contains many items that can get you some bonus points. Remember that your essay should be 100% original and very interesting. Basically, it should stand out from all the others. These words will help you do just that.
What Are Dialogue Tags?
You need some other words than said, we know. However, just picking up a list of words for said and using them indiscriminately won’t help you become a better writer. Why? Because you need to be able to use words other than said as dialogue tags. And you need to know which words work best for certain dialogues. These magic different words for said are the dialogue tags.
A dialogue tag is used to identify dialogue, obviously. Said is a dialogue tag in most cases. For example: “I really like what you’ve done with your hair,” Josh said. Other words instead of said can indicate certain things, such as tone, volume or even emotion. Here is a great example, using the sentence above: “I really like what you’ve done with your hair,” complimented Josh. Yes, “complimented” can replace “said” and be used as an expression of admiration. The dialogue looks a lot better now, doesn’t it?
The List of Words That Can Replace Said
Without further ado, let’s introduce the definitive list of 100 words to use instead of said. And remember, you need to be careful where you use some of these words. While many of them work almost anywhere, some words work only in very specific circumstances.
Words That Rhyme With Said
If you are looking for some words to use instead of said, you may be interested in choosing some that rhyme with it. Or you may be writing a poem and need some ideas. Here are some of the best words that rhyme with said:
- ahead
- behead
- underbred
- stead
- embed
- bestead
- purebred
- bred
- unthread
- dread
- bled
- wed
- sled
- thoroughbred
- dead
- med
- widespread
- shred
- led
- fed
Other Words for Said by Emotion
So, what words can you say instead of said? You can play on emotions and use some words that relay a certain emotion to your readers. Here are some of the best such words you can use in your essays or any other writing projects:
Answering
- Added
- Concurred
- Remarked
- Replied
- Explained
Persuading
- Advised
- Encouraged
- Begged
- Stressed
- Assured
Expressing Happiness
- Beamed
- Exulted
- Giggled
- Complimented
- Cheered
Expressing Sadness
- Cried
- Wept
- Sobbed
- Lamented
- Bewailed
Other Words for Said in an Essay
Are you looking for words to say other than said and need some of the best ideas? No problem! We have a list of words that work almost anywhere. Just make sure you use them in the proper context:
- Reassured
- Retorted
- Explained
- Responded
- Attested
- Thought
- Stressed
- Divulged
- Dictated
- Sanctioned
- Agreed
- Lectured
- Replied
- Disrupted
- Foretold
- Announced
- Fumed
- Began
- Opined
- Stormed
- Acquiesced
- Argued
- Proclaimed
- Estimated
- Refuted
Better Words Than Said
OK, so what are better words for said? There are many words besides said that you can use in your writing. However, no all of them are pleasant or easy to use. Here are some words that are better than said and that work almost anywhere:
- Remarked
- Blurted
- Responded
- Leered
- Gasped
- Answered
- Divulged
- Defended
- Implored
- Let slip
- Certified
- Searched
- Wondered
- Emphasized
- Held
- Spilled
- Gawked
- Exclaimed
- Scrutinized
- Exhorted
More Words to Replace Said
If you need even more words for said, you’re at the right place. We have many more words that can replace said right here. Check out the list below and pick some of the best ideas to use in your essays or other projects:
- jibed
- comforted
- corrected
- announced
- puzzled
- chimed in
- sobbed
- spat
- replied
- retorted
- pronounced
- theorized
- quizzed
- whined
- sighed
- grumbled
- dared
- opined
- confirmed
- drawled
Do You Need Some Help?
We realize that our list of words for said is limited to just 100 examples. As you probably realize, there are hundreds of other words that can be used. The truth is that you won’t find a list that has all the words that can replace “said” in writing or in speech. However, if you are struggling with your essay and need some quick help finding words to replace said, you can get some assistance from our professional ENL writers. They’ve written and edited hundreds of essays and research papers, and they are all expert English writers. They’ll help you with some words to say instead of said in no time and can even take a look at your paper and suggest some edits that will greatly improve your chances of getting an A+.
Finally, you realize that there are thousands of words like said that can be used to replace this word. What you need to keep in mind is that each word has a specific meaning. Some words can express emotions, which are extremely powerful when used correctly. Our 100 words for said are some of the best you can use in almost any circumstance. But if you need more words to use instead of said, or if you just need some help with that difficult essay, an experienced English writer is definitely your best choice.
Our research shows that ‘said’ and ‘because’ are two of the most overused words in academic writing. This is understandable, as both are useful for explaining research and the results of studies.
However, excessive repetition of common words can detract from the flow of your written work, so it helps to know a few alternatives.
Alternatives to ‘Said’
The word ‘said’ is mostly used when reporting speech. This includes quoting research (e.g. in you literature review) or reporting what participants have said in an interview or survey. For example:
One respondent said that the process was ‘too complicated’.
There are lots of alternatives to ‘said’, all of which attribute the thought being reported to the person named. These include ‘claimed’, ‘suggested’ and ‘remarked’:
One respondent claimed that the process was ‘too complicated’.
One respondent suggested that the process was ‘too complicated’.
One respondent remarked that the process was ‘too complicated’.
There are also words you can use in place of ‘said’ when the person you’re quoting is doing something specific, such as arguing or clarifying a point:
Jones (1994, p.16) argues that ‘previous policies are now outdated’.
The CEO clarified that ‘company policy has changed since the incident’.
With these, make sure the word you use fits the context: it would not make sense, for instance, to say that ‘the CEO argued that company policy has changed’ as this is a factual claim (i.e. either policy has changed or it hasn’t), not an argument.
Alternatives to ‘Because’
The word ‘because’ means ‘due to the fact that’. As such, it’s handy for explaining your reasoning and commonly used when describing the consequences of something.
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There are two main ways to use ‘because’. One is as a conjunction, where ‘because’ is followed by a subject and a verb:
A qualitative approach was chosen because it enables collection of in-depth data.
In these cases, alternatives include ‘since’ and ‘as’, both of which are also conjunctions:
A qualitative approach was chosen since it enables collection of in-depth data.
A qualitative approach was chosen as it enables collection of in-depth data.
The phrase ‘because of’, meanwhile, is a preposition, so needs to be followed by a noun phrase or an ‘-ing’ verb:
The results are unreliable because of the limited sample size.
The business failed because of falling prices.
In this case, your alternatives include phrases like ‘due to’ and ‘as a result of’:
The results are unreliable due to the limited sample size.
The business failed as a result of falling prices.
Remember to check whether you’re using ‘because’ or ‘because of’ before selecting an alternative word.
@RedGrittyBrick has the correct answer, but has somewhat hidden it in an over-explanation. So I will spell it out clearly.
Never substitute I said you for I told you, if what you mean is that you told somebody something earlier and you are reminding them of that fact now.
Said requires the preposition to to get close to the same thing: I said to you. Even then, however, said never takes a direct object that is not some kind of a reference to words. I said do it. I said nothing.
Tell can take a person as a direct object. I told Bob. I’m telling you now. You would not use it to mean said because it does not take someone’s utterance as a direct object. You would never say I told go, because that would mean you are telling the word «go» something. You would say, I said go.
More examples:
I said I was going.
John said he would be here tonight.
We said nothing about your indiscretions.
I told him to clear out his locker.
Mary told her friends all about the incident.
We told you then and we are telling you now: don’t come around here anymore.