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Q&A Why do writers use "said" instead of "asked" when someone asks a question?

Because it's less intrusive. Anything you speak is something you say; "asking" is merely a more specific description of how the thing is being said. Some writing wisdom holds that using "said" is...

posted 11y ago by BESW‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T03:17:49Z (about 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/9932
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by user avatar BESW‭ · 2019-12-08T03:17:49Z (about 5 years ago)
## Because it's less intrusive.

Anything you speak is something you say; "asking" is merely a more specific description of how the thing is being said.

Some writing wisdom holds that using "said" is lazy/boring, but always using specific descriptors like "asked" when the questioning tone is obvious from context can be equally disruptive to the flow of reading. "Said" doesn't call attention to itself like "asked" does, and lets the reader continue the conversation with minimal interruption. Overuse of more descriptive verbs may lead to [Tom Swifties](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Swifty).

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2014-01-05T23:08:42Z (almost 11 years ago)
Original score: 10