Alternatives

She threw the first stone into the pond, threw the second stone, and then threw the third stone.

She threw the first stone into the pond, hurled the second stone, and then tossed the third stone.

In the first sentence I've used threw three times. In the second sentence I've used alternative words which have a similar meaning.

You can often make your stories much more interesting if you use similar alternative words. For example, instead of hitting a ball, someone might strike it. Instead of digging a hole they might excavate it.

Have a look at the words in the boxes below and try to think of some alternatives. Open the lists to see the ones that I have thought of.

If you need an alternative to said, you may find what you need in the following list.

**Alternatives to** **said**
quiet muttered mumbled murmured whispered hissed breathed purred soothed order commanded ordered demanded instructed unclear rasped gasped blurted spluttered choked puffed panted wheezed	disagreement disagreed countered argued remonstrated contested debated retaliated angry reprimanded retorted censured rebuked chided scolded scowled growled snapped snarled complain bickered protested complained moaned	cruel ridiculed hooted taunted mocked scoffed sneered jeered teased scorned derided tormented loud shouted exclaimed screamed roared bellowed cried bawled yelled screeched shrieked bawled hollered whooped	unhappy wailed sobbed snivelled howled whined whinged whimpered wept blubbered bewailed lamented squealed gulped yelped sniffled happy laughed sniggered chuckled tittered giggled smirked guffawed chortled jested quipped enthused	others chorused acknowledged agreed chimed in insisted repeated offered enticed advised surmised called reported reminded pointed out remarked suggested admitted announced proclaimed declared demanded recalled piped up

Don't overdo it. If you use too many alternatives to said you may end up with something like this:

It's not my fault,

Laurie wailed.

It's no-one else's,

Jilly retorted.

I couldn't help dropping it,

Laurie sniffled.

You should have been more careful,

Jilly declared.