100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead Of “Said”

100 Dialogue Tags You Can Use Instead of “Said”

For the writers struggling to rid themselves of the classic ‘said’. Some are repeated in different categories since they fit multiple ones (but those are counted once so it adds up to 100 new words). 

1. Neutral Tags 

Straightforward and unobtrusive dialogue tags: 

Added, Replied, Stated, Remarked, Responded, Observed, Acknowledged, Commented, Noted, Voiced, Expressed, Shared, Answered, Mentioned, Declared.

2. Questioning Tags 

Curious, interrogative dialogue tags:

Asked, Queried, Wondered, Probed, Inquired, Requested, Pondered, Demanded, Challenged, Interjected, Investigated, Countered, Snapped, Pleaded, Insisted.

3. Emotive Tags 

Emotional dialogue tags:

Exclaimed, Shouted, Sobbed, Whispered, Cried, Hissed, Gasped, Laughed, Screamed, Stammered, Wailed, Murmured, Snarled, Choked, Barked.

4. Descriptive Tags 

Insightful, tonal dialogue tags: 

Muttered, Mumbled, Yelled, Uttered, Roared, Bellowed, Drawled, Spoke, Shrieked, Boomed, Snapped, Groaned, Rasped, Purred, Croaked.

5. Action-Oriented Tags 

Movement-based dialogue tags: 

Announced, Admitted, Interrupted, Joked, Suggested, Offered, Explained, Repeated, Advised, Warned, Agreed, Confirmed, Ordered, Reassured, Stated.

6. Conflict Tags 

Argumentative, defiant dialogue tags:

Argued, Snapped, Retorted, Rebuked, Disputed, Objected, Contested, Barked, Protested, Countered, Growled, Scoffed, Sneered, Challenged, Huffed.

7. Agreement Tags 

Understanding, compliant dialogue tags: 

Agreed, Assented, Nodded, Confirmed, Replied, Conceded, Acknowledged, Accepted, Affirmed, Yielded, Supported, Echoed, Consented, Promised, Concurred.

8. Disagreement Tags 

Resistant, defiant dialogue tags: 

Denied, Disagreed, Refused, Argued, Contradicted, Insisted, Protested, Objected, Rejected, Declined, Countered, Challenged, Snubbed, Dismissed, Rebuked.

9. Confused Tags 

Hesitant, uncertain dialogue tags:

Stammered, Hesitated, Fumbled, Babbled, Mumbled, Faltered, Stumbled, Wondered, Pondered, Stuttered, Blurted, Doubted, Confessed, Vacillated.

10. Surprise Tags

Shock-inducing dialogue tags:

Gasped, Stunned, Exclaimed, Blurted, Wondered, Staggered, Marvelled, Breathed, Recoiled, Jumped, Yelped, Shrieked, Stammered.

Note: everyone is entitled to their own opinion. No I am NOT telling people to abandon said and use these. Yes I understand that said is often good enough, but sometimes you WANT to draw attention to how the character is speaking. If you think adding an action/movement to your dialogue is 'good enough' hate to break it to you but that ruins immersion much more than a casual 'mumbled'. And for the last time: this is just a resource list, CALM DOWN. Hope that covers all the annoyingly redundant replies :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

Instagram Tiktok

More Posts from Fuck-julian and Others

1 year ago

I fucking hate game apps. I wanted to play tetris the otherday so I figured there must be a simple tetris app out there its the most basic game. But every app is like heres your daily log in bonus of 10 gold! You get 5 free plays a day. Here's an ad. To replay a level costs 1 diamond. You can eart gold by earning points in levels. 1000 points = 1 gold. You can exchange 550 gold for one diamond but we have a sale right now that they only cost 500 gold. Heres an ad. You can buy a loot crate of diamonds for 5.99$! You leveled up! Heres 1 free diamond. Youve run out of free replays for today, would you like to buy some more diamonds? Heres your daily tasks, make sure to log in every day this month for a free reward chest. its free! Heres an ad. Would you like to sign up for this credit card to recieve 10 free diamonds? Invite a friend and you can earn points! Ding! Youve leveled up. Heres an ad. This is our special bonus play weekend, you get one free replay and a pack of diamonds only costs 4.99$. You can use your gold to purchase new skins for the tetris blocks. This ones shaped like cats! It costs 100 diamonds. You need to collect them all. Free to play, may be some in-app purchases.

1 month ago

some fucking resources for all ur writing fuckin needs

* body language masterlist

* a translator that doesn’t eat ass like google translate does

* a reverse dictionary for when ur brain freezes

* 550 words to say instead of fuckin said

* 638 character traits for when ur brain freezes again

* some more body language help

(hope this helps some ppl)

2 months ago
Do You Get It Now? Without Due Process, Everyone Is At Risk. How Are You Going To Prove Your Citizenship

Do you get it now? Without due process, everyone is at risk. How are you going to prove your citizenship otherwise?

1 year ago

me but it's cause I'm allergic to bananas

fuck-julian - "I can't sleep id rather die"
1 month ago

"everyday is

Blending together and im

Losing sense of time"

sorry i never replied. everyday is blending together and im losing sense of time

1 year ago

candlelight vigils to me are cool but they dont really feel like a protest, just a way to honor those who did protest or those weve lost. Protests are easy if they are nonviolent, just disrupt the flow of your governments or bosses day to day and you ddid it

fuck-julian - "I can't sleep id rather die"
1 year ago

Annette Drevon: cantinière, soldier

Annette Drevon: Cantinière, Soldier

"In 1880, visitors to the markets of Les Halles in Paris might have noticed an especially striking woman sitting at her vegetable stall. In her mid-fifties, with black hair and unwrinkled skin, she had an expression of ‘courage and energy’, which was perhaps unsurprising, given her past. Annette Drevon was a cantinière in the French army, a woman officially deputised to sell food and drink to the soldiers. At the Battle of Magenta in 1859, Annette was attached to the second regiment of Zouaves. During the battle two Austrian soldiers seized the regimental flag. Annette got it back: she killed the first soldier with a sabre and the second with two shots from her revolver. The regiment’s colonel pinned his own Cross of the Legion of Honour to her chest in honour of her actions.

Annette was still serving during the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, where she shot another soldier, this time a German who either insulted her or attempted to steal her Cross; she was sentenced to death but pardoned by Prince Frederick Charles of Hesse, and returned to France. She later received a small pension from Marshal MacMahon, who had commanded the who had commanded the French troops at Magenta, which she used to set up her vegetable stall.

Annette Drevon’s story is a useful reminder that for well over 400 years the normal battlefield was full of ordinary women, who were not only essential to the conduct of war but also demonstrated bravery, physical strength and the ability to stand up to tough conditions – all the things military leaders of the late twentieth century fretted that women could not do."

Forgotten warriors: The long history of women in combat, Sarah Percy

2 years ago

stardust

reach for the stars

even when they burn

for even if you burn

the stars will take your soul

bright and shining

bleeding eyes

your tears fall to stardust


Tags
  • slini-of-zamonien
    slini-of-zamonien liked this · 1 month ago
  • nautilusdrake
    nautilusdrake liked this · 1 month ago
  • softlyfoggyyeti
    softlyfoggyyeti liked this · 1 month ago
  • cazzriee
    cazzriee liked this · 1 month ago
  • freckled-words
    freckled-words liked this · 1 month ago
  • 1989-aboutyou
    1989-aboutyou liked this · 1 month ago
  • cuti3-p13
    cuti3-p13 liked this · 1 month ago
  • fortunatelyfantasticdonut
    fortunatelyfantasticdonut reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • fortunatelyfantasticdonut
    fortunatelyfantasticdonut liked this · 1 month ago
  • burningheartsandbrokenpromises
    burningheartsandbrokenpromises reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • lanamoonsblog
    lanamoonsblog liked this · 1 month ago
  • king-of-docks
    king-of-docks liked this · 1 month ago
  • sizzlingyourfakeids
    sizzlingyourfakeids liked this · 1 month ago
  • viridaee
    viridaee liked this · 1 month ago
  • rchmnlee
    rchmnlee liked this · 1 month ago
  • orangez3st
    orangez3st reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • babyblender2002
    babyblender2002 liked this · 1 month ago
  • shazam93
    shazam93 liked this · 1 month ago
  • shazam93
    shazam93 reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • weepingcowboywolfbat
    weepingcowboywolfbat liked this · 1 month ago
  • limpdizkit
    limpdizkit liked this · 1 month ago
  • qualityruinscreationlol
    qualityruinscreationlol reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • qualityruinscreationlol
    qualityruinscreationlol liked this · 1 month ago
  • xenaizogie
    xenaizogie liked this · 1 month ago
  • kingggoat
    kingggoat liked this · 1 month ago
  • badartandbadfaith
    badartandbadfaith liked this · 1 month ago
  • imtheonlyonewhocanfreckle
    imtheonlyonewhocanfreckle liked this · 1 month ago
  • bubblelockerwhitter
    bubblelockerwhitter liked this · 1 month ago
  • univ3rsally-unknown
    univ3rsally-unknown liked this · 1 month ago
  • littleduckling-3
    littleduckling-3 liked this · 1 month ago
  • zevuffie
    zevuffie reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • zevuffie
    zevuffie liked this · 1 month ago
  • honeybeetlejuice
    honeybeetlejuice liked this · 1 month ago
  • dreampopfaerie
    dreampopfaerie liked this · 1 month ago
  • sapphire-wine
    sapphire-wine liked this · 1 month ago
  • invisiboom12
    invisiboom12 liked this · 1 month ago
  • olgagrosheva
    olgagrosheva liked this · 1 month ago
  • ocktobotking
    ocktobotking liked this · 1 month ago
  • elluia
    elluia liked this · 1 month ago
  • edgytraveler
    edgytraveler liked this · 1 month ago
  • behindthetreesiwaitforyou
    behindthetreesiwaitforyou liked this · 1 month ago
  • beebooboo6
    beebooboo6 liked this · 1 month ago
  • drengrkami
    drengrkami reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • drengrkami
    drengrkami liked this · 1 month ago
  • loamken
    loamken reblogged this · 1 month ago
  • tj-waverly
    tj-waverly liked this · 1 month ago
fuck-julian - "I can't sleep id rather die"
"I can't sleep id rather die"

at what point does a man become a man a person a person. i am floating on this rock as any other alien might

150 posts

Explore Tumblr Blog
Search Through Tumblr Tags