It’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. And if you’re tired of hearing people use the word “said” in every sentence, we’ve got some visual solutions for you. The word “said” is one of the most overused and abused words in the English language. In the world of writing there is an enemy and it has been hiding right under your nose. The word, said. It plagues writers more than we realize. It’s tiring to read and can bore your readers to death. The good news is it can be avoided by substituting more interesting, varied words instead.
There are many ways to avoid using the word ‘said’ in your writing, but they should be used sparingly to avoid sounding unnatural.
Don’t use the word “said.” It is reductive and does not lend itself to description. Instead, vary your sentence structure by using different verbs to avoid as many instances of saying the word said as possible. Saying the word ‘said’ over and over again is boring and repetitive. Avoid this by making your characters have different ways of communicating what they’re thinking. Instead of saying “John said,” try using synonyms like “asked,” “inquired” or “stated.” You can also use adverbs like “assertively,” “firmly” and even more action verbs such as “pointed out,” or raising an eyebrow to show what John said.
We have provided you with a list of ways to avoid using the word ‘said.’ You can use these techniques to make your writing more interesting and engaging for your readers, but it’s important not overdo it. If you use too many of these techniques in one piece of writing, it may sound unnatural or forced.
