reported speech

USAGE SUMMARY

"reported speech" is correct and usable in written English.
It refers to when you are quoting something that a person said in the past, either directly or indirectly. For example: "She reported that he had said he was leaving early".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Meanwhile, Asa writes long, detailed letters to Choko about the Caveman Group's theatrical productions (with suspiciously exact recall of dialogue), and pages of reported speech are nested inside more reported speech, so that crucial scenes come third- or fourth-hand.

The Guardian - Books

Think direct and indirect reported speech.

The Guardian

Also considered is how 'face' (positive personal/social regard) is managed in relation to reported speech.

Design Studies

It's just that we don't use the word in the Guardian unless it's in reported speech.

The Guardian - Opinion

This paper focuses on design and reported speech (talk where a speaker quotes another), to outline how a user of a building employs reported speech to represent the comments of other users to an architect.

Design Studies

FitzSimons deploys many of the techniques of fiction, reworking reported speech as dialogue and employing the present tense throughout.

The Guardian - Books

"I hate bainting," complained George II, "and boetry too", his German accent apparently conveyed in this gem of reported speech.

The Guardian - Arts

This article was amended on 28 March 2019 to correct an editing error that placed reported speech in direct quotes.

The Guardian

For centuries, artists struggled manfully with ways of codifying the idea of reported speech in graphic form.

Independent

Specifically, I examine a rant video, which has been widely circulated as "Asians in the library", and four parodic responses to it, by focusing on reported speech.

Language & Communication

Actually, it can be described in more Chaucerian manner, but we only use that word in reported speech in the Guardian, so twattish must do for now.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To maintain clarity, especially in complex narratives, clearly attribute the original statement when using "reported speech".

Common error

Avoid failing to shift the tense correctly when converting direct speech to "reported speech". For example, instead of "He said he will go", use "He said he would go".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "reported speech" is to convey information about what someone said without directly quoting them. It involves adapting the original statement's tense, pronouns, and other elements to fit the context of the reporting sentence. Ludwig AI confirms its correct use in numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

"Reported speech", also known as indirect speech, is a common grammatical structure used to convey what someone else has said without directly quoting them. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used across diverse contexts. The examples provided highlight its application in news, scientific, and academic writing. When employing "reported speech", it's crucial to adjust the tense, pronouns, and time expressions to maintain accuracy and clarity. Common errors include failing to shift the tense correctly, as in "He said he will go" instead of "He said he would go". Related phrases like "indirect discourse" and "indirect quotation" offer alternative ways to express similar concepts. By following best practices and avoiding common pitfalls, writers can effectively use "reported speech" to integrate others' words into their narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indirect discourse

Focuses on the grammatical transformation involved in conveying someone else's words.

indirect quotation

Highlights the act of quoting without using the original speaker's exact words.

indirect statement

Emphasizes the conveyance of information without direct quoting.

paraphrased speech

Focuses on rephrasing someone's words in your own terms.

recounted conversation

Highlights the act of narrating a past conversation.

narrated speech

Focuses on presenting speech within a narrative context.

secondhand account

Emphasizes that the information is not from a primary source.

hearsay

Implies that the information is unverified or unreliable.

attributed speech

Focuses on assigning the speech to a particular source.

reworded statement

Highlights the alteration of the original statement.

FAQs

How do I use "reported speech" in a sentence?

"Reported speech" is used to convey what someone else said, often involving changes in tense and pronouns. For example, instead of 'She said, "I am tired"', you would say, 'She said that she was tired'.

What's the difference between direct and "reported speech"?

Direct speech uses the exact words of the speaker within quotation marks, while "reported speech" conveys the message of the speaker in your own words, often with tense changes. For example, direct speech: 'He said, "I will be there"'; "reported speech": 'He said that he would be there'.

What verbs are commonly used with "reported speech"?

Common verbs used with "reported speech" include "say", "tell", and "ask". For instance, 'She said that she was happy', 'He told me that he would come', and 'They asked if I was going'.

When is it not necessary to change the tense in "reported speech"?

If the statement being reported is still true or a general truth, the tense may not need to change. For example, 'He said that the Earth is round' (the Earth is still round).