For narrative writing, sometimes you want to use a verb other than “he says” or “she said.” This is a cheatsheet to help you break out of that rut.
| Variation | Possibilities |
|---|---|
| Explanatory | answered, acknowledged, explained, proposed, replied, responded, retorted |
| Tone: Anger | fumed, raged, scolded, shrieked, shouted |
| Tone: Argumentative/Oppositional | argued, contended, countered, cried out, demanded, dictated, emphasized, insisted, maintained, ordered, preached, proclaimed |
| Tone: Happy | giggled, joked, laughed |
| Tone: Sad | agonized, cried, mourned, screamed, sobbed, wept |
| Tone: Suggestive | hinted, implied, insinuated, intimated, suggested |
| Tone: Tired/Pleading | begged, implored, mumbled, murmured, muttered, pleaded, whispered |
| Tone: Understanding | accepted, agreed, empathized, sympathized |
| Tone: Miscellaneous | cackled, drawled, exclaimed |
thank yah
Dan, thanks for alerting me to the Spam!
Thanks a lot for these ! :] Rachelle is just stupid and ignorant. She won’t get far in life with her attitude.