Reporting verbs
The most important verbs for reporting speech are, obviously, said
and asked.
However there are many others, some of which add extra meaning. For example demand means ask in a forceful way.
Here are a few:
replied, told, complained, confessed, reported, demanded, suggested, claimed, answered, denied, confirmed, shouted, added, persuaded, yelled, announced, screamed, agreed, recommended, vowed, began, called, commented, explained, mentioned, ordered, requested, whispered, boasted, mumbled
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