The Use of 'said' in Writing

(1) Myth and Truth

Myth: Never use a “said” dialogue tag. / The only dialogue tag you should ever use is “said.”

Truth: Like anything else in writing overuse of anything is lazy writing and can frustrate readers (and editors).

http://kayedacus.com/2011/03/15/debunking-writing-myths-alwaysnever-use-said-dialogue-tags/


(2) The Use and Abuse of Dialogue Tags

"In most cases, the word "said" would work just fine, and using said bookisms detracts from the dialogue. Avoid drowning your dialogue in phrases such as exclaimed, murmured, shouted, whimpered, asserted, inquired, demanded, queried, thundered, whispered, and muttered. These words make it sound as if you have fallen in love with your thesaurus. If the dialogue is strong enough, "she said" and "he said" will do. If the dialogue is not strong enough, rewrite the dialogue instead of using said bookisms to bolster it."

http://www.writing-world.com/fiction/said.shtml


(3) The effective use of 'said' (a)

"There are two ways in which the fiction writer can employ the effective use of, "Said," and other dialogue attributions. They can firstly consider the great many alternatives that are available to the word, "Said," and secondly, they can consider those occasions where a dialogue attribution is entirely unnecessary."

http://www.helium.com/items/1512758-the-effective-use-of-said-and-other-dialogue-attributions-in-fiction-writing


(4) The effective use of 'said' (b)

"Michael Levin, in Writer’s Digest (January 2006), sums it all up when he asks, “Did you ever read a story and think, This would have been better if the author had found more alternatives for the word 'said'?  I thought not.”"

http://www.helium.com/items/1750676-how-to-use-said-in-dialogue