WoW Petopia Community

Okay, so I thought this might be a bit helpful for some of you people on the RPing thread. If this is the wrong place, or something, feel free to move it or even delete it, I just thought this might help some of the RPers here by sparing them from having to spam the word "said".

(Stolen from NaNoWriMo website and edited to include any they missed)

Dialogue Tags Other then "Said"

*Acknowledged
*Admitted
*Agreed
*Answered
*Argued
*Asked
*Barked
*Begged
*Bellowed
*Blustered
*Bragged
*Complained
*Confessed
*Cried
*Called
*Croaked
*Demanded
*Denied
*Gasped
*Giggled
*Growled
*Groaned
*Hinted
*Hissed
*Howled
*Interrupted
*Inquired
*Joked
*Laughed
*Lied
*Mumbled
*Muttered
*Nagged
*Pleaded
*Promised
*Proposed
*Protested
*Pondered
*Questioned
*Queried
*Remembered
*Replied
*Requested
*Roared
*Sang
*Screamed
*Screeched
*Shrieked
*Shouted
*Sighed
*Spat
*Snarled
*Sobbed
*Threatened
*Told
*Teased
*Warned
*Whimpered
*Whined
*Whispered
*Wondered
*Yelled
*Yowled
*Yelped


P.S.
Feel free to shout if I missed anything. Hope this is helpful.

I prefer to use a thesaurus. :D Nice list, though.

I deem this post sticky as glue!

However, there is also the argument that writers should stop avoiding "said" like the plague. I just hope this link doesn't ruin your life.

Nooooooo not TV tropes D: *is sucked in*

There's nothing wrong with the word "said," I think. That being said (HAR HAR pun not intended), have you ever read, typed, or otherwise looked at a word enough times in succession that it completely loses its meaning and starts looking like it's spelled wrong? Some authors use it so often and in such quick succession that it ends up bordering on farcical. Jean Auel in her most recent two books especially falls prey to this, with exchanges like:

"What should I do?" Ayla said.
"I don't know," Jondalar said.
"Maybe we should call Zelandoni?" Folara said.
"That sounds like a good idea," Marthona said.
"I'll go get her," Willowmar said.
"Thank you," Ayla said.

Basically, if you can replace a "said" (or similar) with an action that enforces or expands on, but doesn't repeat your statement, you're probably in a good spot, or find a word that adds tone without being over-the-top ("ejaculated" is almost always too far, haha). All that being said, I'm not sure how important it is for RP purposes, and if you can't find a good word you're happy with, just stick with "said" or (if the speaker is clear from context) nothing at all, imo.

*scuttles back off the RP boards*

(also I totally just noticed that this thread got month-and-a-halfish necroed, whoops)

Here's what I'd do:

"What should I do?" Ayla asked.
"I don't know," Jondalar replied.
"Maybe we should call Zelandoni?"
"That sounds like a good idea"
"I'll go get her"
"Thank you"

It helps to give emotions, too.
"What should I do?" Ayla asked.
"I don't know," Jondalar replied helplessly.
"Maybe we should call Zelandoni?" Suggested Folara, tilting her head.
Marthona smiled with relief. "That sounds like a good idea."
"I'll go get her," Willowmar offered, raising a hand to prove his point.
"Thank you," Ayla said with a smile.