Punctuating Quoted and Reported Speech
The below extract is taken from PETAA bestseller, A New Grammar Companion, 2nd Edition, written by Beverly Derewianka.
Quoting and reporting is one way in which we can combine messages in our writing. When we use saying verbs and sensing verbs, we often include a clause (or clauses) indicating what was said or sensed.
Quoting
In some cases, we quote the actual words said or thought.
| "What's the matter?" |
quoted clause (actual words) |
| asked Andrew. |
quoting clause |
| |
|
| The girl cried: |
quoting clause |
| "Apple tree, please hide us!" |
quoted clause (actual words) |
| |
|
| "Eat one of my crab-apples," |
quoted clause (actual words) |
| the tree answered, |
quoting clause |
| "and I will tell you." |
quoted clause (actual words) |
| |
|
| "There is nothing to worry about," |
quoted clause (actual words) |
| Maria thought to herself. |
quoting clause |
This is often referred to as 'direct speech.'
Reporting
Rather than quoting the exact words, we sometimes report what was said or thought.
| I told him |
reporting clause |
| that I was sorry. |
reported clause |
| |
|
| She said |
reporting clause |
| she never wanted to see him again. |
reported clause |
| |
|
| They thought |
reporting clause |
| it was rather odd. |
reported clause |
This is called 'indirect speech'.
Troubleshooting
In terms of accuracy, students need to know how to punctuate quoted speech and reported speech. Quoted speech in particular can cause difficulty for some students. In stories, for example, they need to know about using a comma (or question mark or exclamation mark) before the speech mark, about where to place the quoting clause, about when to use single speech marks and double speech marks. In expository writing, students need to know how to quote authorities they were referring to (e.g. within the body of the text for a short quote; as a separate indented paragraph for a longer quote) and how to reference these quotes.