You want to sound as engaging and interesting as possible when writing an essay, and using words like “said” might prevent that.
So, if you’re about to use “said” for the umpteenth time, you’re in luck!
We have gathered some alternatives to show you other ways to say “said” in an essay that are bound to keep the reader entertained.
Other Ways to Say “Said”
- Stated
- Declared
- Mentioned
- Asserted
- Contended
- Exclaimed
- Announced
- Conveyed
- Expressed
- Disclosed
- Professed
- Suggested
- Reported
- Affirmed
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- “Stated” is a great essay word that shows you are quoting a specific statement from a trustworthy source.
- “Declared” is a great way to describe an announcement or official quote.
- “Mentioned” is a bit simpler and allows you to highlight a quote that’s relevant to your essay.
Keep reading to find out how to quote what someone said in an essay. We’ll go over the three most effective terms to help spice up your academic writing.
Stated
One of the most common ways to replace “said” in an essay is “stated.” It’s a great formal synonym that helps to keep things direct and clear for the reader.
It works well before a quote. You should write “stated” to clarify that you’re about to run a quote by the reader.
Of course, you can’t claim that someone “stated” something without backing it up with evidence.
The last thing you’ll want is for the reader to look into the quote and find out it was never actually said.
But, as long as you’ve done your research, this works well. Good academic phrases that start with “stated” help you to establish a clear quote relating to the bulk of your essay.
These essay samples will also help you understand it:
It’s clear that he stated “time is the killer of all things.” However, nobody really understood the prophetic meaning behind it.
She stated that “it’s time to make the changes you want to see in the world.” That’s what led most people to join the revolution.
Declared
For a more impactful alternative, you can use “declared.”
You won’t find “declared” quite as often as “said,” but it’s still an incredibly good term to include.
It’s a formal synonym. It also shows that someone announced something important.
Generally, “declared” comes before compelling quotes. It might be more suitable to use it when quoting a famous politician or monarch of some kind.
It’s a surefire way to engage the reader and spark their imagination.
We highly recommend it when you’re certain that it belongs before a quote and will allow you to establish a more powerful meaning behind it.
Perhaps these essay samples will also help you with it:
The king declared “good things will come to those who ask me for them.” He was a very proud man.
She declared that “this was going to be the only time she offered her services to those in need.”
Mentioned
Feel free to use “mentioned,” too. It’s another word you can use instead of “said” in an essay that’ll keep things engaging for the reader.
It’s much subtler than the other phrases. It suggests that someone has made a brief comment about something, and you’d like to quote it for the reader.
Don’t worry; it’s still a good formal synonym. However, you should use it when the quote isn’t the most important part of your essay.
Quotes are there to add a bit of context for the reader. So, they’re not always needed to improve an essay.
“Mentioned” is a simple word that allows you to include a short but interesting quote. However, it usually isn’t as impactful as saying something like “declared” or “exclaimed.”
You can also refer to these essay examples:
The politician mentioned that “we cannot know what we haven’t already experienced.” That resonated with me.
It was clear that he mentioned “things were bound to change soon,” so they had to figure out what he meant.