Sensei gets it. Sometimes, you read storybooks and find a whole string of said’s when the characters interact with one another. Why then does your teacher insist that you enliven your writing by using synonyms associated with said?

To answer this burning question, we have to go back to the Purpose, Audience and Context of your composition.

Purpose: demonstrate your ability to use a picture to craft a story that addresses a given theme

Audience: two educators will give your composition a grade, which will go towards your overall grade in the Primary School Leaving Examination

Context: write in a formal register and best to weave in how your characters have grown through an experience

Since you have to write a full-fledged essay within 45 minutes, you have to seize every opportunity to showcase your writing skills. This is why using synonyms related to said is useful because you can reveal another aspect of your characters.

Don’t worry. Sensei has paved the way for them. To aid your memory retention, I burnt asked ChatGPT to categorise synonyms according to four common emotions: happy, sad, angry, and surprised.

As if this isn’t enough, I have designed a mnemonic for you.

P: proclaimed (happy) S: sobbed (sad) L: lashed out (angry) E: exclaimed (surprised)

Note that exclaimed serves dual duty here. You can use it to describe someone who is happy.

Yes, you spotted it! The mnemonic reads PSLE - the exam that is snapping at your heels.