'What's your point?' he asked/wondered.

[99bottles]

'What's your point?' he asked/wondered.

I want to replace the word 'asked' with the word 'wondered' sometimes after a question in quotes, so that I'm not repetitive. Is 'wondered' a good alternative? Or is it confusing because it doesn't make clear whether the speaker wonders something in their head or they actually speak? Should I write 'wondered out loud' just to be safe? Or is this redundant?

 

[tedmc]

I think wondering is speaking to oneself, in which case, it would have been What's his point?.
I would stick to asked, or, if you like a synonym, use questioned/enquired/queried.

 

[Tarheel]

'What's your point?' he asked/wondered.

I want to replace the word 'asked' with the word 'wondered'. sometimes after a question in quotes, so that I'm not repetitive. Is 'wondered' a good alternative? Or is it confusing because it doesn't make clear whether the speaker wonders something in their head or they actually speak? Should I write 'wondered out loud' just to be safe? Or is this redundant?

If you wonder about something you don't necessarily say it out loud. Also, using "wondered" doesn't mean you're asking all question.

Had you used "asked" several times already which is why you didn't want to use it again?

I suppose you could use "said" or "queried".

Added: Yes, "wondered out loud" might work.

(Sadly, you used too many words.)

 

[Tdol]

Even so, wondering out loud is not exactly the same as asking directly.

 

[99bottles]

Even so, wondering out loud is not exactly the same as asking directly.

So does it sound confusing if I use it to ask directly? What do the other members think?

 

[emsr2d2]

I wouldn't use "wondered out loud". If he said it out loud, he "asked" or "enquired".