This was the question:
Do you accept this? "I wish you wouldn't do that," she grated.
Yes 48 (50%)
No 47 (49%)
I'm surprised that this many people accepted "grated" as a synonym for "said." As far as I know from looking in the dictionary, "grate" means "shred" as in cheese, not speak in an annoyed manner.
I read this kind of sentence in a fairly bad mystery and its sequel. It certainly grated on my nerves. I won't be buying any more books by this author. I encourage you to avoid using this word for "said."
"I wish you wouldn't do that," she grated.
ReplyDeleteIt would be so easy to improve this sentence: "I wish you wouldn't do that," she said. Her shrill voice grated on my nerves, and I felt my jaw muscles clinch. Would 25 years of hearing that vocal-cords-on-blackboard voice make it self-defense?