Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

sakabatou

(42,155 posts)
Mon Nov 27, 2023, 10:38 PM Nov 2023

I found this nifty table online, and it's been helping me with my writing

People commented elsewhere that they're "sick and tired" of stories and other works using the word 'said' regarding a person speaking, and here it is: https://www.spwickstrom.com/said/

Hopefully, it'll help you, too.

15 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
I found this nifty table online, and it's been helping me with my writing (Original Post) sakabatou Nov 2023 OP
Just please please please never substitute "goes" for "said" or "says". Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2023 #1
well, there goes my authoring career. ret5hd Nov 2023 #2
Yeah, see, Lady Macbeth goes, "There's a damned spot right here!" and and Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2023 #4
I don't think I've ever done that sakabatou Nov 2023 #3
I've only heard it, but it makes me want to break things. Hermit-The-Prog Nov 2023 #5
Oh, my God, no DavidDvorkin Nov 2023 #6
"I don't think I can do that, Dave," HAL answered. sakabatou Nov 2023 #8
That's a really helpful table. Thanks. sinkingfeeling Nov 2023 #7
You're welcome. sakabatou Nov 2023 #9
He lied, Old Crank Nov 2023 #10
Thank you! birdographer Nov 2023 #11
Is this a good time to bring up Tom Swifties? Marthe48 Nov 2023 #12
Agatha Christie JustAnotherGen Nov 2023 #13
I'm never using that verb as a replacement for said. sakabatou Nov 2023 #14
"I've ejaculated!" he gasped. DavidDvorkin Nov 2023 #15

Hermit-The-Prog

(33,349 posts)
5. I've only heard it, but it makes me want to break things.
Mon Nov 27, 2023, 11:07 PM
Nov 2023

It is likely that someone, somewhere has depicted a conversation as,
He goes, "Derp. Derp. Derp." and then she goes, "Yup. Yup. Yup." and then we go, "Hoooeeeey!"

Excuse me. I now have to go break my fingers for typing that.

sakabatou

(42,155 posts)
8. "I don't think I can do that, Dave," HAL answered.
Tue Nov 28, 2023, 01:33 AM
Nov 2023

However, I will use adverbs with 'said' when needed.

Marthe48

(16,975 posts)
12. Is this a good time to bring up Tom Swifties?
Wed Nov 29, 2023, 01:30 PM
Nov 2023

In case I'm discussing forgotten history, Tom Swift was a fictional boy inventor from my Dad's youth. I have a few of his books, and read them when I was young. The author wrote dialog and usually used adverbs to describe how the person was speaking. For almost every line of dialog. A year or so after I read them, someone came up with the idea of Tom Swifties. a gag where you made up a line of dialog and then used an adverb that made the whole thing funny.
For example:
"I dropped a desk on my foot," Tom said woodenly. (i just made that up)
Back then, I made up this one:
"I lost my toothpaste," Tom said crestfallenly.

Maybe between using alternate words for said, and the humorous context, we can make up a whole new use of humor (she expostulated wildly) lol

I bookmarked the link. Thank you.

JustAnotherGen

(31,828 posts)
13. Agatha Christie
Wed Nov 29, 2023, 11:03 PM
Nov 2023

Used the word - ejaculated - a lot. I'm rereading her body of work this year - and she used it a great deal through the mid 1950's

Latest Discussions»Culture Forums»Writing»I found this nifty table ...