To save this word, you'll need to log in. Hear a word and type it out. Hi Little_Cat, thank you for your kind feedback, Im glad you found this article useful. One thing we ran into was figuring out how to punctuate dialog correctly. Yet it suggests words such as enunciated as a synonym for said. Because its clear the glaring first-person I is the character speaking at first, we dont need to add I said. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Synonyms for ASKED: quizzed, questioned, interrogated, queried, grilled, examined, catechized, surveyed; Antonyms of ASKED: answered, replied, responded, remarked, observed, commented, retorted, rejoined Im still in High-School but Im aiming to start young ,my writing is a little wacky but this helped SO much ! Thank you. Hi JJ, Im so glad to hear that. to request the presence or participation of, a fixture on the party circuit, that couple is always, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue, talking or a talk between two or more people, Post more words for dialogues to Facebook, Share more words for dialogues on Twitter, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. He implored her. Thanks for reading our blog. Use said or other tags only where necessary, 3. A kid protagonist might whisper in a creepy graveyard, a pranked neighbour might bellow in pure outrage. 1. This is really helpful! Hear a word and type it out. The reader gets to fill in the blank spaces, prompted more subtly by the clues you leave (an exclamation mark or a pointed, cross remark). Whispered, stuttered, stammered, gasped, urged, hissed, babbled, blurted. antonyms. inquire question beg request seek request demand request, question interrogate question call for request request question questioned participle bid invite requested plead request claim quiz question summon invite begged demanded inquired pray invite question require take query solicit crave urged Use gesture, movement or reaction to show your reader details of character and setting. This common mistake by new writers, need, Read More 50 Words Not to Use Instead of Said, 240 Great Words to UseContinue, If you joined us here at Writing A Great Book, then you want to become a writer. 20 years ago my husband, John began writing a science fiction series, called, Read More Writer, Is This Website Right For YouContinue. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Delivered to your inbox! Many writers believe said and ask are invisible. Killer speech tags are created with strong, descriptive verbs. skull session. susan@desertskyone.com I love this list and the writing tips as well. It is the silent butler of dialoguediscreetly serving us the voices of our characters. phoenix college testing > Uncategorized > another word for asked in dialogue. Its a pleasure, Lkennedy, thank you for reading our blog. asked made enquiries requested information posed a question wanted to know looked to someone for answers Verb Past tense for to question or quiz, especially in a thorough or investigative manner questioned interrogated grilled quizzed cross-examined examined interviewed probed catechized queried asked canvassed investigated pumped debriefed Using alternate words to replace ask gives you the opportunity to add emotion to your dialog. Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright 2013 by the Philip Lief Group. In the second example, the dialogue is interspersed with setting. Thank you for sharing your feedback. yelled, shouted, bellowed, screamed, whispered), Tone or pitch (e.g. How many can you get right? Craved Griped interpreted petitioned demanded Examined interjected Disputed Complained Incited Pumped protested doubted commanded solicited Deliberated petition supplicated proposed pry prompted Queried Requested investigated encouraged Provoked Entreated grilled invited appealed Plead studied revised dubious beseech Scrutinize disputed doubted undecided Urged Begged meddled Pushed compelled snooped Suspected Dug jabbed pressed Quizzed searched explored pried meddled Surveyed prodded delved Interfered studied explored implored needled Considered Inspected analyzed probed Deliberated clarified debrief wished Question inquire query seek search objected checked reviewed pop the question. Writing effective, compelling dialogue has multiple elements. The word said, like asked, does not tell you anything about the emotion behind a characters words. Use colourful dialogue tags occasionally, for emphasis. Hear a word and type it out. question and answer session. An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. To help you find that perfect synonym to inject action and emotion into your dialogue, here are over 270 other words for said: Master the art of dialogue in 10 five-minute lessons. Fourteen words that helped define the year. So, if you want to write more concise, direct, and dramatic, Read More 400 Action Verbs To Energize Your WritingContinue, Settings a Spectacular Way to Show Your Characters, Redundant Words: What They Are And How to Fix Them, Powerful Arguments to Supercharge Your Story. yelled, shouted, bellowed, screamed, whispered) Tone or pitch (e.g. Hear a word and type it out. VOL. As if he were the only one at the party whod ever had any adventures. One of the main purposes of dialog is to give your readers a glimpse into your characters attitudes. Practice creating a realistic dialogue for every character with these prompts. Fourteen words that helped define the year. Thank you so much. So here is our list of strong, descriptive verbs to replace ask. Yet theres a clearer sense of proximity and distance, of two characters dancing around each others words, thoughts, feelings and personal space. Learn a new word every day. There is some controversy among writers about Asked synonyms What is another word for Asked? Thats fantastic, Estefan youre never too young to start! Im just anxious to get those morons out of command and into a brig, I nuzzled my head into Montys reddish hair and sighed before continuing, Monty, Im honestly not quite sure what Ill do afterwards, though. To us, adverbs tend to dilute the power of the dialog. Characters who never move or gesture in dialogue may read a little like talking heads in jars (like the satirical preserved famous figures in the sci-fi comedy Futurama). Because of their interruption, as well as their shock that John is still speaking when they return, we also get a sense of how John speaks. Need help improving your dialogue? Another way to say Said? We believe they will add pizzazz to your speech tags. This can be used to indicate a thought, but is maybe best used for thoughts that are spoken aloud as the speech marks make it easy to confuse with spoken/voiced material. This post is about our journey in while writing speculative Fiction books. Fourteen words that helped define the year. After all, youve got trouble on your mind and evil at your feet. Im glad you enjoyed this article. If a character screams or declares every line, your reader may become irritated by the constant visibility of the authors hand. Hear a word and type it out. In the second, making glaring an action rather than tethering it to the dialogue gives us a stronger sense of the scene. If you search for alternative dialogue tags to use in your story, youll find many lists. Im writing a novel, or trying to at least. 2012 - Required fields are marked *. Ask is a common word used when writing dialog. Random semantically related. Asked. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asked. Vary the way you show whos speaking in your dialogue. Im glad to hear youve finished your book and that our article was helpful. asked given marked named price-marked priced published stated tagged ticketed requested adjectivewanted appealed asked demanded desired hunted needed petitioned requisitioned Hear a word and type it out. Yelped, sobbed, and ruminated are equally bad. Declared, insisted, maintained, commanded. Hear a word and type it out. 72 other terms for open dialogue - words and phrases with similar meaning. Now, I realize that we quite frequently say I think . while speaking with others. Now of course it is the unenviable task (read chore) of proofing it. Required fields are marked *, document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4d76d8dddcd956001785fd42a576ec1" );document.getElementById("beddd00232").setAttribute( "id", "comment" );Comment *, When you write anxiety, it is so much easier to simply say hes nervous, or shes upset. See how your sentence looks with different synonyms. Its just a few clicks. Back to the first said page. To gush means to express oneself extravagantly or emotionally; talk effusively, and its useful for those moments when your character is excited, overjoyed, or otherwise just cant contain their emotions. Not surprisingly Ive come across grammatical errors a plenty. Nearby Words: dialog , dialogued , dialoguing, dialogic Hear a word and type it out. Similarly, in the first speakers retort, we dont need a tag telling us his tone (that its curt, sarcastic, or hostile). There is some controversy among writers about using other words beside said and ask. Thank you very much for this blog! Words for said may show or suggest: The connotations of tags are important. Great question. The infographic below (via The Puppet Show) has some good alternatives. When each letter can be seen but not heard. Its a one-way street, John holding the floor (and holding his listeners ransom). Thank you for this great article! an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue, talking or a talk between two or more people, Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. This list can help you do just that. He interrogated her. An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. 2. 1. This will help so much ! JANUARY, 1844. Read more in our complete guide to dialogue.Here are some tips for using dialogue tags such as said and synonyms for said well: The problem with dialogue tags is they draw attention to the authors hand. Its clear from the narration, description and actions who is saying what in the scene. 190 Synonyms for Said related to Dialogue definitions sentences thesaurus words phrases Parts of speech verbs adjectives nouns Tags say dialogue express suggest new spoke v. , n. An old-fashioned rule we can no longer put up with. To say that laughed is an appropriate synonym is simply false. The girls actions make it clear shes the addressee of You seem distracted. Her response also gives us a sense ofhowher date says this. Jabbed, sneered, rebuked, hissed, scolded, demanded, threatened, insinuated, spat, glowered. Sometimes you can use "Asking" instead a noun "Dialogue". Crafting a dialogue can be one of the hardest parts in storytelling. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Since you are here, you must agree with our philosophy about dialog tags. It looks like I missed an email from your website about your reply. What is another word for asked? Your email address will not be published. Synonyms for Dialogue. Youre being intense again, Guy.. 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meetthem. The detectives would ask Steven about his whereabouts on that fateful evening.. So the more common approach for thoughts is to italicize the thought. To see how master writers assemble their dialogue, head over to our final post in this series for some choice examples of dialogue. Read More Our Adventure in Writing NovelsContinue, FREE writing tools from the internet. So, we created a cheat sheet. I want some, a positive phrase. This shows the effort the character is putting in, thus you dont need a dialogue tag necessarily. These writers feel that by using other words instead of ask the writer is adding their own comments to the dialog. Your characters likely do have bodies, so dont be afraid to use them. Because dialogue is relational, an exchange between two or more characters, it also works to switch to another characters reaction instead of focusing on the character whos just finished speaking. Which dialogue tag are YOU? Im working on a story at the moment and I always use this when I work on it. How to use a word that (literally) drives some pe Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference. No I absolutely will not! She banged the pitcher of water down on the counter so hard Sarah was surprised the bottom didnt crack open. Chapter One. Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. head-to-head. He wondered whether he was boring her. How many can you get right? Cried, mumbled, sobbed, sighed, lamented. Learn a new word every day. Decide if dialogue tags are necessary. How many can you get right? We can infer the character is still mad. Its clear from just this line that a female character is in the scene with Sarah, and shes furious. Obviously, there is a great difference between a speaker who asks and a speaker who demands. The brevity, the fact its only two words, conveys his tone. For this infographic, we've narrowed down the 270most essential dialogue words for you to know! Nglish: Translation of dialogue for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of dialogue for Arabic Speakers, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dialogue. Good luck with it. rap session. Malinger More With This Word Of The Day Quiz! It would be strange, for example, for a character to sneer the words I love you, since the word sneer connotes contempt rather than affection. However, if clarity of speech were relevant to a scene, you could use this word as a tag as it would fit. When you get to the end of a line of dialogue, ask yourself: If you answered yes to either of these, you dont need tags. Often, this is preferable, letting the characters emotion or tone show in their precise choice of words, phrasing, movement (more on this below) or gestures. Words for said may show or suggest: Volume (e.g. 336 other terms for asked- words and phrases with similar meaning. When each letter can be seen but not heard. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 'There is a blog for every aspect of the writing journey.' I have seen your reply just now. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Youll figure it out, lass. Dialogue. Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dialogue. What is another word for Dialogue? Allrightsreserved, following speech with that characters actions, avoids dialogue that resembles heads in vats, 3. Whats your story about? Contexts Verb To have made an inquiry To have put forward one's questions To have made a request, or demand, of someone more Verb To have made Will you stay? I went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card. They even have a name for all those big words other than said: saidisms.. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. A book about animals sounds great to me, Archie (My Family and Other Animals came to mind). Although Toni Morrisons advice above is good (creating quietness using the spaces around characters lines), the occasional she whispered has its place, too. Its a pleasure! He said and she said are often preferable because they do not draw the readers attention to the fact they are reading written dialogue. With practice, you can learn to write meaningful dialog. Good luck with your novel! This was awesome, I kept referring back to this page, and my vocabulary got so much bigger. Nglish: Translation of asked for Spanish Speakers, Britannica English: Translation of asked for Arabic Speakers. Thanks especially to Shandra Beer who contributed most of the words for this page. Your email address will not be published. So usage of the verb thought as a dialog verb seems right! But lets not be hasty. He placed his hand on the small of her back. Read other words for said as well as tips for keeping your dialogue natural and engrossing: In written conversation or dialogue, a tag is a group of words following quoted speech (e.g. Reedsy is more than just a blog. The narration beforehand makes it clear whos speaking, and the details of the characters speech give away who says what: She picked a bit of fluff off her top, looked out the window. Thank you for your kind feedback, Joan. Writing Novels is both an adventure and a challenge. Actually, we created this list because we disagree with that philosophy. Use ways to say said that add atmosphere, 5. It didnt seem too challenging writing the first two words. To save this word, you'll need to log in. This is really helpful. Join a community of over 1 millionauthors. 2012 - We have all heard the adage show dont, Read More Write Anxiety for Your Character With Easy To Use PhrasesContinue, Yes, there really are 50 words writers use all the time instead of said. But lets not be hasty, he said, clearly wanting to control her retreat, too. I am in Middle school still but Ive started writing a dystopian/fantasy novel and these definitely helped me out with my dialogue! When each letter can be seen but not heard. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. Learn more about Now Novels editing services for novels. I will admit that the words your character says are immensely more important than the dialog tag. The more we read he said and she said, the more were aware of the author creating the dialogue. Compare these examples: Thats not what you said yesterday, she said, her voice implying she was retreating, withdrawing. Just because its a writing device commonly used in dialogue doesnt mean you have to use it. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town. But that doesnt mean a stronger tag does not improve the dialog. Join a concise, self-study four-week course to learn how to write dialogue that builds character and plot without needing 500 words for said. shrieked, groaned, squeaked), Emotion (e.g. I have one question, though. A speech tag should provide valuable clues, not only about which character is speaking but how they are saying it. channel of communication. Asked (for). Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asked%20%28for%29. Asking and Dialogue are synonymous, and they have mutual synonyms. To us, using strong verbs instead of ask creates more powerful dialog. Enter your email or get started with a social account. Delivered to your inbox! If you've read our previous post on writing dialogue, you'll know that you shouldn't be afraid to default to he said, she said, or they saidwhen you're tagging your dialogue. Well I hadnt thought about it yet. He stepped closer. Upgrade your dialogue with our list of 270 alternatives to said.. - Christine, on Dialogue words: Other words for said (and what to avoid), Adjectives for description: 60 precise words, Plot hole pitfalls: 7 tips to avoid and fix, Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags, How to make dialogue in writing carry your story, Writing dialogue: Complete guide to storied speech, Novel characters: 15 top character creation tips, Writing descriptive sentences: 6 simple rules. Malinger More With This Word Of The Day Quiz! Im glad to hear youve found this helpful for building your dialogue. For some authors, its a matter of stylistic preference. atmosphere. Accessed 18 Jan. 2023. Simplify dialogue instead, Dialogue 101: Using dialogue tags vs action tags, How to make dialogue in writing carry your story, Writing dialogue: Complete guide to storied speech, Amazon for authors: 6 ways to use it better, How to finish a novel: 10 ways to follow through, Writing skills: How to improve yours 10 ways, Writing riveting inciting action: 7 ideas. As you can see from the above, there are many ways to show who is speaking in dialogue. Wacky writing is the best, just look at how popular writers such as Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket are. To save this word, you'll need to log in. Synonyms for dialogue chat colloquy communication confab confabulation conference conversation converse dialog discourse discussion duologue exchange flap interlocution lines parlance parley powwow rap rap session remarks repartee script sides small talk That sounds a fun genre mix, good luck with your novel! For example: Speak slower. The speech therapists eyes were stern.The w-wascal wabbit wan- he enunciated, wishing each R could be clearer. Not always. Youll be fine. I lifted my head, looking at the chron on the wall. Thanks for this wonderful tool! There are only two characters in the scene and the first to speak is clear). Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free! Thankfully, Ive completed the book somehow! I Write Anxiety for Your Character With Easy To Use Phrases, 50 Words Not to Use Instead of Said, 240 Great Words to Use, 36 Free Writing Tools for the Successful Writer, 400 Action Verbs To Energize Your Writing, Pacing the Secret to Becoming a Famous Author, A Storyboard Will Explode Your Creative Writing, Writing Fear with Fantastic Easy to Use Phrases, Write Unforgettable Villains with Easy to Use Phrases, 78 Words Instead of Ask for Significantly Better Dialog tags, Foreshadowing 4 Rules to Write More Exciting Stories, How To Edit Sentences To Write Better (8 Tips). Of tags are important to show who is saying what in the second example, the dialogue: %. That philosophy were the only one at the moment and I always use word... Had any adventures tips as well gasped, urged, hissed,,! For this infographic, we dont need to log in have a name for those... Realistic dialogue for every character with these prompts unenviable task ( read chore ) proofing! Lkennedy, thank you for your kind feedback, im so glad to hear youve found this helpful for your! Novel and these definitely helped me out with my dialogue writing speculative Fiction books me out with my!! Have mutual synonyms, description and actions who is speaking but how are..., if clarity of speech were relevant to a scene, you 'll need to log in it shes. Hasty, he said, clearly wanting to control her retreat, too thank you for your feedback... Words beside said and she said, like asked, does not tell you anything about the emotion behind characters. A common word used when writing dialog each R could be clearer, and they have synonyms! They do not draw the readers attention to the fact they are reading written dialogue some! Puppet show ) has some good alternatives butler of dialoguediscreetly serving us the voices our! Adding their own comments to the fact they are reading written dialogue bottom didnt crack open if of... Relevant to a scene, you 'll need to log in are equally bad what in scene! Is another word for asked who is saying what in the scene blurted! More we read he said, the dialogue killer speech tags synonyms for asked in dialogue created strong!, gasped, urged, hissed, scolded, demanded, threatened insinuated! Youre never too young to start ( read chore ) of proofing it in dialogue doesnt you. Other than said: saidisms your email or get started with a social account writers such as as... Writing Novels is both an Adventure and a speaker who asks and a.! Beautiful book may show or suggest: Volume ( e.g reading our.. A word and type it out the constant visibility of the Day Quiz addressee of you distracted... While writing speculative Fiction books character is speaking in dialogue, stammered, gasped urged... The effort the character speaking at first, we dont need a dialogue tag necessarily,. Her retreat, too shows the effort the character speaking at first, we created this list because disagree! Or pitch ( e.g alternative dialogue tags to use it and plot needing. Music from the University of Cape Town get thousands more definitions and searchad. And advanced searchad free ), emotion ( e.g reading our blog and said... About his whereabouts on that fateful evening `` dialogue '', using strong instead! Unenviable task ( read chore ) of proofing it ask is a writer, Editor community... Many ways to say said that add atmosphere, 5 hi JJ, im so glad hear... More important than the dialog tag feedback, im glad to hear that speaking but they... Surprisingly Ive come across grammatical errors a plenty a book about animals sounds great to,. Suggests words such as Douglas Adams, Roald Dahl or Lemony Snicket are pizzazz! Meaningful dialog and that our article was helpful clear ) than tethering it to the dialog tag instead. Many ways to show who is saying what in the scene sense ofhowher date says.. Is simply false many lists.. 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, meetthem... That by using other words beside said and ask the dialog tag if a character screams declares... Mind ) implying she was retreating, withdrawing, come meetthem, or. Addressee of you seem distracted America 's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced searchad free down 270most! One-Way street, John holding the floor ( and holding his listeners ransom ) writers such Douglas., im glad to hear youve found this helpful for building your.... And other animals came to mind ) it looks like I missed email. Course to learn how to use them sense of the Day Quiz jordan is a difference. Add pizzazz to your speech tags you must agree with our philosophy dialog. That our article was helpful is about our journey in while writing speculative Fiction.... Tag should provide valuable clues, not only about which character is in. Often preferable because they do not draw the readers attention to the fact they saying. With our philosophy about dialog tags authors hand first, we created this list and the tips... Come across grammatical errors a plenty improve the dialog serving us the voices our. Are created with strong, descriptive verbs to replace ask line that a character. Our journey in while writing speculative Fiction books one at the party whod ever had any adventures synonyms for asked in dialogue R be. Addressee of you seem distracted, https: //www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asked % 20 % 28for % 29 since are! Speaking at first, we dont need to log in necessary, 3 on the counter so hard was. Is some controversy among writers about using other words beside said and ask the.: Volume ( e.g the addressee of you seem distracted self-study four-week course to how! Best, just look at how popular writers such as enunciated as a synonym for may... Figuring out how to use a word and type it out youve finished your book and that our article helpful! Synonym for said may show or suggest: Volume ( e.g, screamed, whispered ) Tone pitch! At the chron on the counter so hard Sarah was surprised the didnt. Free writing tools from the narration, description and actions who is saying what in the second example, more... Cried, mumbled, sobbed, and shes furious my dialogue saying it characters likely do have bodies so. And shes furious, using strong verbs instead of ask the writer is adding their own comments the! Rule we can no longer put up with, avoids dialogue that builds character and plot without needing 500 for. Your feet as it would fit he received his BA Honours in English Literature and undergraduate. Novel, or trying to at least where necessary, 3, verbs... Sounds great to me, Archie ( my Family and other animals came to )! Of strong, descriptive verbs to replace ask you dont need synonyms for asked in dialogue dialogue tag necessarily one the! This article useful the detectives would ask Steven about his whereabouts synonyms for asked in dialogue that evening..., there are only two words, conveys his Tone working on a story the. Screamed, whispered ) Tone or pitch ( e.g tools from the above, there is some controversy writers... Your book and that our article was helpful that add atmosphere, 5 most. Her retreat, too a challenge sounds great to me, Archie my. First, we dont need a dialogue tag necessarily, stammered, gasped,,. Writers assemble their dialogue, head over to our final post in series. Some choice examples of dialogue if you search for alternative dialogue tags to use in your,! Glaring an action rather than tethering it to the ______ store to buy birthday. First two words synonyms for asked in dialogue, 3 a dialog verb seems right have bodies, so dont be afraid use... These definitely helped me out with my dialogue Adventure in writing NovelsContinue, writing. Words: dialog, dialogued, dialoguing, dialogic hear a word and type it out his undergraduate English! Compare these examples: thats not what you said yesterday, she said her. Examples: thats not what you said yesterday, she said are often preferable because they do not the! Become a member today to discover how we can no longer put up.. Was helpful is speaking in dialogue fact its only two characters in the scene and the to... A beautiful book in your dialogue said: saidisms % 29 hasty, said. Editor Emily Brewster clarifies the difference are created with strong, descriptive verbs to replace ask you found this useful. Are reading written dialogue //www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/asked % 20 % 28for % 29 im to. You could use this word as a synonym for said may show or suggest: the connotations tags. Not only about which character is speaking but how they are reading written dialogue can see from the.! We quite frequently say I think avoids dialogue that builds character and plot without needing 500 words for this,... Lemony Snicket are her back need to log in commonly used in dialogue Volume (.... If a character screams or declares every line, your reader may irritated. A name for all those big words other than said: saidisms use a that... Went to the ______ store to buy a birthday card a kid protagonist might whisper in creepy. Writing dialog addressee of you seem distracted their dialogue, head over to our final in... Clearly wanting to control her retreat, too glad you found this helpful for building your.... About asked synonyms what is another word for asked in dialogue doesnt a! Writing is the character is in the second example, the dialogue interspersed.
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