Elmore Leonard - Verb Quotes

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Never use an adverb to modify the verb "said"... he admonished gravely.

Elmore Leonard

Never use a verb other than "said" to carry dialogue. The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in. I once noticed Mary McCarthy ending a line of dialogue with 'she asseverated,' and I had to stop reading to get the dictionary.

Elmore Leonard