A NNANDALE WRITIN G CE N TER CG 409
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Nearly 200 Ways to Say “Says”
Why Say “Says” in 200 Different Ways?
When quoting an outside source, writers often state the source’s name and then use the verb “says.”
For example, Smith says, “Obesity rates are increasing.” If you do this for every quote in your paper, “Says”
can become very boring, very fast. Therefore, here are nearly 200 different ways to say “says.” The bolded
words are the more commonly used synonyms for “says.”
While “says” has little connotative meaning, almost all of these words have strong connotations. Thus,
you must be careful to choose the right word for the right context. For instance, you would not write, Johnson
gloats, “I really regret failing that test.” To “gloat” means to brag, and Johnson’s statement is not bragging. A
more appropriate sentence would be Johnson laments, “I really regret failing that test.”
Accuses
Acknowledges
Acquires
Adds
Admonishes
Affirms
Agrees
Alleges
Allows
Alludes
Announces
Answers
Apologizes
Appeases
Approves
Argues
Articulates
Asks
Assents
Asserts
Assures
Begins
Begs
Believes
Berates
Beseeches
Boasts
Brags
Cajoles
Calls (for)
Cautions
Challenges
Charges
Cites
Claims
Coaxes
Commands
Comments
Complains
Concedes
Concludes
Concurs
Confesses
Confirms
Consents
Contends
Contests
Continues
Contributes
Counters
Criticizes
Cross-examines
Debates
Decides
Declares
Defends
Demands
Denies
Describes
Determines
Dictates
Discusses
Echoes
Elaborates
Emphasizes
Entreats
Enumerates
Exaggerates
Explains
Exhorts
Expostulates
Extols
Fears
Fumes
Gloats
Goads
Guesses
Notes
Objects
Observes
Offers
Orders
Perceives
Persists
Pleads
Points out
Ponders
Praises
Preaches
Predicts
Proceeds
Prods
Professes
Promises
Prompts
Proposes
Protests
Pursues
Puts in
Queries
Questions
Quips
Quotes
Rates
Rails
Rants
Raves
Recalls
Recites
Recounts
Regrets
Reiterates
Rejoins
Remarks
Remembers
Reminds
Remonstrates
Renounces
Repeats
Replies
Reports
Reprimands
Requests
Resolves
Resumes
Retorts
Reveals
Runs on
Scoffs
Scorns
Specifies
Spells out
Speaks
Starts
States
Stresses
Submits
Suggests
Testifies
Thinks
Threatens
Tells
Urges
Vaunts
Ventures
Voices
Volunteers