Instead of said: free word mat of better words (PDF)

The first page has words to use instead of said, grouped by how something was said (quietly, loudly, angrily, nervously and more) and why (asking, answering, adding, warning), each with how the words differ and an example. It is honest about said, which is often the best word, shows when an action can do the job instead, and sets out the rules for punctuating speech.

The second page has better words for went, nice, good, bad, big, small, happy, sad, scared, angry, looked, got and a lot, grouped by what they really mean, with an example each and a note on picking a word that fits. Each kind of word has its own shape and colour (a box for nouns, a dashed box for adjectives, a pill for verbs), so it prints clearly in black and white.