Here is a comprehensive list of dialogue tags for your convenience. Here’s the thing about dialogue tags. They are nice to use when applicable, but overuse is a sign of weak writing. Said is a perfectly decent word to us. If dialogue is well written, most people’s eyes will pass right over the word said. As a result, it’s not that repetitive, since it’s basically ignored. So don’t neglect the use of said. I’m not saying use it every chance you get. I am saying your dialogue does not need to be a smorgasbord of unique tags. However, if you need one and can’t think of the word, it’s probably here.
Acknowledged, Added, Admitted, Advised, Affirmed, Agreed, Announced, Answered, Argued, Asserted, Assured, Asked, Babbled, Barked, Bargained, Bawled, Begged, Bellowed, Blurted, Blustered, Boasted, Bragged, Called, Chimed, Chirped, Choked out, Claimed, Commanded, Commented, Complained, Concurred, Confessed, Continued, Contributed, Cried, Croaked, Crooned, Crowed, Cursed, Declared, Demanded, Denied, Described, Dictated, Drawled, Emphasized, Exclaimed, Explained, Expressed, Groaned, Growled, Grumbled, Grunted, Hinted, Hissed, Howled, Implied, Implored, Inquired, Insisted, Instructed, Interjected, Interrupted, Jabbered, Joshed, Justified, Lectured, Lied, Lilted, Mentioned, Mimicked, Moaned, Mocked, Mumbled, Murmured, Mused, Nagged, Noted, Objected, Offered, Ordered, Pleaded, Prayed, Preached, Proclaimed, Promised, Pronounced, Proposed, Protested, Queried, Questioned, Quipped, Ranted, Reassured, Reiterated, Remarked, Repeated, Replied, Requested, Responded, Restated, Retorted, Roared, Said, Sang, Screamed, Shouted, Shrieked, Snaped, Sniveled, Sobbed, Sputtered, Stammered, Stated, Stuttered, Suggested, Swore, Taunted, Teased, Thought, Threatened, Told, Urged, Uttered, Vented, Verified, Vocalized, Voiced, Vowed, Wailed, Warned, Whimpered, Whined, Whispered, Wondered, Yawped, Yelled, Yelped
This next is a list of descriptive beats that are often mistaken for dialogue tags. What is the difference? They are describing what the person is doing, not what they are saying. As a result, you’d use a period instead of a comma. This is very commonly overlooked (myself included), but you should be aware of this. They are in no means bad to use. People have many different trains of thought on this and the use of descriptive beats is NOT a bad thing. However, like above, it’s when it’s overused and the dialogue itself is poor that this becomes an issue.
Also, this is not a complete list of descriptive beats, which is about as large as the number of actions someone can take. These are just a list of the more commonly misused ones.
Beamed, Beckoned, Blinked, Breathed, Chortled, Chuckled, Deemed, Frowned, Fumed, Gasped, Grinned, Giggled, Glowered, Hesitated, Hoped, Improvised, Jeered, Laughed, Leered, Nodded, Nudged, Paused, Quivered, Scoffed, Scowled, Shook, Shrugged, Shuddered, Sighed, Squinted, Smiled, Smirked, Snarled, Sneered, Turned
***Also, there are words that might be descriptive beats or dialogue tags, and it can be up to debate until the cows come up. For example, how do you bawl a word? Did you moan a word, or did you just moan? In these cases it can be one of the other.
“I don’t like this,” she moaned.
“I don’t like this.” She moaned.
SO there is always going to be subject for debate on this matter.
*Also, I compiled this list from like four different sources, but one of those sources (the most complete one) happened to be a wattpad author. Thus I am dedicating this chapter to them and offering full credit for their thorough compilation of this list.