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Using "Said" with Direct and Indirect Speech

Question
When converting indirect speech into direct speech, when should we use said and said to?  — Users Everywhere
Answer

When you are repeating the exact words someone spoke, that is direct speech. Use said with quotation marks, as in the examples below:

  • She said, "Go home!"
  • He said, "Stop working at 5:00."
  • Mark said, "Turn left on the next street."
  • I said, "I'll be home later."
  • My mother said, "You are going to be late."
  • The children all said, "I'm hungry."

When you are reporting what someone said, but may not be using their exact words, that is indirect speech. Use said to when reporting a command. Use said that or said when reporting information that was given. Do not use quotation marks for indirect speech, as in the examples below:

  • She said to go home. [said to because "go home" is a command]
  • He said to stop working at 5:00.
  • Mark said to turn left on Main Street, which is the next street.
  • I said (that) I'd be home later. [said (that) because "I'll be home later" is information]
  • My mother said (that) I was going to be late.
  • The children all said (that) they were hungry.

 

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