A List of Words

by Helen Hollick

One of the things I notice when reading drafts (or even published novels!) is the repetition of words: 'He ran up the stairs, ran down the landing, and ran into the room.'
Does that not sound better as : 'He ran up the stairs, raced down the landing, and sprinted into the room.' ?

Think about your words - it is fine to say 'said' - but not again, and again - how about mumbled, shouted, cried, whispered? All words that also convey a character's emotion,
Can you hear the difference between : 'You are a fool!' he shouted, and 'You are a fool!' he laughed. ?
So different words can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

Several years ago I made myself a word list - please feel free to use it as and when you wish.

LOOK
Inspect	behold	check	examine	contemplate
Eye	feast	gaze	glance	observe
Consider	peep	recce	regard	scan
See	scrutinise	study	survey	dekko
View	watch	clock	gawk	gawp
Glower	goggle	ogle	gape	stare
Peer	butchers	gander	glimpse	review
Shufti	once-over	sight	squint
MOVE
Advance	budge	change	stir	go
Trot	March	proceed	progress	shift
Jog	storm	stamp	push	elbow
RUN
Canter	lope	scamper	take off	slope off
Career	bolt	dash	dart	gallop
Hare	hasten	high-tail	hot foot	hurry
Leg it	race	scramble	scud	scurry
Speed	sprint	abscond	rush	clear out
Beat	bolt	decamp	depart	escape
Flee	fly	scarper	skedaddle	trample
AMBLE
Dawdle	meander	stroll	walk	wander
Drift	saunter	ramble	mosey
PAIN
Alarm	apprehension	dread	horror	panic
Fear/fright	terror	nightmare	agitation	distress
Afraid	scared	shudder	tremble	intimidation
Harrowing	horrendous	ache	cramp	discomfort
Hurt	soreness	spasm	suffering	throb
Agony	anguish	torment	injure	wretchedness
SAID
Snapped	screeched	groaned	laughed	comforted
Rebuked	tormented	sneered	howled	opined
Coaxed	commanded	sniped	spluttered	grizzled
Quipped	vowed	bragged	jeered	grumbled
Begged	burbled	soothed	boasted	roared
Shouted	wept	began	chivvied	called
Exclaimed	demanded	babbled	chortled	persisted
Exhorted	growled	taunted	wheezed	carolled
Advised	stated	sniggered	hissed	wailed
Giggled	enquired	directed	bellowed	snarled
Stammered	joked	queried	announced	snorted
Screamed	sighed	teased	quoted	jibed
Pontificated	grunted	blurted	praised	continued
Expostulated	railed	stormed	mumbled	enthused
Appealed	interrupted	mocked	hollered	gasped
Expounded	rejoined	insisted	yelled	insinuated
Sobbed	added	offered	expanded	raged
Shrieked	prayed	remarked	answered	declared
Lied	exploded	cried	confided	suggested
Informed	inferred	flashed	prattled	hinted
Intoned	chided	retorted	asserted	moaned
Asked	whispered	explained	spat	countered
Stuttered	replied	breathed	gusted	maintained
Protested	sulked	complained