banter: to engage in a playful argument.babble: to utter incoherent words, to talk a lot and fast.ask: to pose a question or request information.articulate: to speak very clearly, to explain a matter.argue: to provide arguments for one’s point, to disagree in a more or less agressive way.Lets have a look at several synonyms for “ talking“. When writing a story and describing a characters action, make sure to choose the word that describes it best instead of letting them talk to each other all the time. The all describe the same action, however can have a slightly different meaning or mood to them. Instead of using the same expression in each and every one of your sentence, mix it up with words that mean the same but in different nuances.īefore, we have already listed 61 expressions with which you can replace the generic notion of “walking”: Synonyms for “to walk” This is where a Thesaurus can come in handy. If you’ve exhausted the alternatives, or economy of words is crucial, the following list could save you multiple trips to your thesaurus(es).It would be boring for your readers if you use the same word over and over to describe something.
Verbs and Phrases to Replace Laughed or Smiled Too much fluff and you bore readers, or an editor might brand your writing with the dreaded purple prose label. You can’t wax poetic with every sentence you write. The noise Penny made came from deep within her throat, reminiscent of a snorting pig - apropos for her snout nose and pink complexion. He jumped out of his chair and met me halfway across the office, where we thumped each other on the back.
If your word count isn’t restricted, try making a person’s laugh a character trait in longer passages such as the following:Ī smirk replaced his frown of suspicion, and then the room resounded with his distinctive laugh akin to the heavy bellowing of a donkey before it reaches full bray. Who knows? Your turn of phrase could become as popular as He laughed all the way to the bank. Over time, it joined the ranks of clichés shunned by authors and poets. In each case, someone produced an imaginative phrase that appealed to the public. Idioms weren’t considered trite the first time they were written. Instead of repeating the familiar and often mundane, invent a phrase. The comedian’s barrel-of-laughs routine earned him a recurring gig at The Comedy Club.Īvoid acronyms such as LOL and ROFL unless you’re writing a piece that incorporates text messages or social media posts. Not all pieces lend themselves to this type of writing: “I tell ya, Harry, that there gal looks like she done swallowed the entire Cheshire Cat.”Ĭlichés have their place. The subtle upward quirk of his mouth told me he was smothering a laugh. Harry didn’t respond but held his sides as though he had a stomachache.
Hmm, he thought, I didn’t realize the joke was so funny. Wilma spewed coffee down the front of Fred’s shirt. His shoulders shook so hard he peed himself. He slapped the table and doubled over with mirth. She hummed softly, a sparkle in her eyes. The glowing appreciation on her face shone brighter than the noonday sun. Rather than rely on direct phrases such as she snickered, try body language, weather, and surroundings to show the happiness of your characters: Before studying them, though, consider the other possibilities available to you. This post provides ninety-nine alternatives. Do You Depend on Smiled or Laughed Too Often in Your Writing?