5128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary Get Grammarly It's free Blog = Direct and Indirect (Reported) Speech: Rules and Examples © Lindsay Kramer Updated on May 13, 2025 GRAMMAR TIPS Direct and Reported Speech: A Guide Writing often includes references to spoken words. Examples of this are dialogue in novels, quotes in articles, and paraphrased discussions in blogs. Written bitpsahwww grammary.comPlogigrammariciectand-eported-speecty wnt5728725, 12:54AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free improves your writing and communication skills. This is particularly important in narratives, journalistic writing, academic texts, and professional correspondence. In this blog post, we'll explain direct and reported speech, explore their differences, review common mistakes, and demonstrate their correct usage through a variety of examples. Work smarter with Grammarly The AL writing assistant for anyone with work to Get Grammarly do Table of contents What is direct speech? What is reported (indirect) speech? Direct vs. indirect speech: What's the difference? When to use direct vs. indirect speech Rules for converting direct to indirect speech Special cases in indirect speech Common mistakes with direct and reported speech Direct and reported speech FAQs What is direct speech? !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! an75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free nonfiction, such as personal essays, it’s a character's dialogue. Direct speech is generally used in interviews, plays, narratives, and conversations. Itis also sometimes used in reported pieces. In most cases—but not plays and interview transcripts—it’s enclosed in quotation marks and paired with a reporting verb like said or asked. With direct speech, the tense and word order the speaker used originally are retained. This means direct speech isn’t always grammatically correct. A writer captures the speaker’s authentic voice by leaving the speaker's original words intact (or by writing dialogue that isn’t grammatically correct). Here are a few examples of direct speech Example “I love ice cream,” she said. Example He asked, “Do you want to come?” Example “I think,” they said, “that we should go now.” What is reported (indirect) speech? Reported, or indirect, speech is written speech that reports what a person said without quoting them verbatim. It may involve rephrasing, paraphrasing, and grammatical changes. With indirect speech, the verb tense and pronouns are adjusted to fit the narrator’s perspective. Take a look at these examples: Direct: “We waited all afternoon for you to arrive!” Kacie said. Indirect: Kacie told me they'd waited for me all afternoon. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! snr5128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary So Get Grammarly It's free told us,” and “she said.” Alternative reporting verbs and their impact on tone and meaning With indirect speech, you lose the original speaker’s tone and word choice to convey meaning. Usually, writers make up for this by describing indirect speech with words like: Insisted Suggested Shouted Recommended Implied Consider how these verbs communicate emotion and other aspects of the speaker's tone, like authority or urgency. Verb choice can also reflect the relationship between the speaker and the listener. Here are a few examples that illustrate this: Authoritative: Kyle told Javier that he should arrive early for the interview. Advisory: Kyle suggested that Javier arrive early for the interview. Subtle: When Yulia asked for my friend’s number, she implied she’d be calling him the next day. Assertive: When Yulia asked for my friend’s number, she said she'd be calling him the next day. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! an75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free prowuren criey cum wisi wy ouup: When determining whether direct or indirect speech is the better choice, think about the type of sentence you're writing. Generally, any emotionally charged sentence, like an imperative sentence or interrogative sentence, is best written as direct speech. Direct vs. indirect speech: What’s the difference? There are several differences between direct and indirect speech. They include: Structure Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, enclosed in quotation marks. “ve got the files ready,” Maha said. Indirect speech involves paraphrasing what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Maha told me the files were ready. Use of quotation marks Direct speech requires quotation marks around the spoken words. Indirect speech does not. “Hello!” he said. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! sar5128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free Tense usage Direct speech nearly always preserves the quote’s original tense. “Aren't we eating right now?” she asked. Indirect speech typically involves backshifting, which is where the tense shifts backward, depending on the reporting verb. Often, this means present tense shifts to past tense. She asked if we were eating at that moment. Pronouns Direct speech keeps the pronouns used by the original speaker. Indirect speech adjusts pronouns to match the reporter's perspective. “You both got accepted, right?” he asked. He asked if we'd both been accepted. Tone and emphasis Direct speech preserves its speaker's exact tone, emphasis, and style. Indirect speech may alter the tone, often due to paraphrasing and recontextualizing the speech. “Don't forget to bring your headphones!” James exclaimed. “You'll want them, trust me!” James insisted that I bring my headphones. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! en75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary So Get Grammarly It's free WHHSH OW Hung UnCut poser, muuuS @ LUE vere Ue yuutauurs anu capitalize the first word within them. Dahlia responded, “Dogs’ instincts are always right. Humans, not so much.” Sentences that include indirect speech follow the same punctuation rules and structure as every other sentence. Dahlia affirmed that dogs have superior instincts to humans. Here's a tip: Want to make sure your writing is grammatically correct and strikes the right tone? Grammarly can check your spelling and save you from grammar and punctuation mistakes. It even proofreads your text, so your work is polished wherever you write. When to use direct vs. indirect speech Use direct speech when the speaker’s exact wording is important, like a direct quote in a legal statement or a character’s dialogue in a story. Use indirect speech for summaries, paraphrasing, or maintaining flow in formal and academic writing. Generally, indirect speech is more succinct and easier to fit into the overall tone of your work. However, direct speech is a clear report of what a person said, so choose it when clarity is most important. Regional differences between direct and indirect speech !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! mmr5128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary So Get Grammarly It's free conversations and news reporting. In contrast, US English typically favors direct speech in these areas because it highlights the speaker’s tone and intent. Stay consistent, whether you opt for direct or indirect speech in your writing. Switching between them can confuse readers. In spoken English, however, it's much easier to switch between them, and switching often enables you to highlight tone and meaning shifts. Here's an example: So, we were driving to the mall, right, and she told me I needed to stop. She was like, “You need to stop now!” And I said, “We can't stop, we're going 80 on the highway, and there’s no safe place to do that.” But she was so insistent because, apparently, | ran over a traffic cone, and we were dragging it. Rules for converting direct to indirect speech Rule 1: When to change tense (backshifting) When the reporting verb is in the past, follow these guidelines to backshift effectively: Present simple — Past simple Present continuous — Past continuous Present perfect — Past perfect Will + Would Can — Could !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! an75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free RuuUgH VaunoHH ng 19 @ CUHHHUN raie, 19 NUL cues HoYu ou wan iany one speech’s tense in the following scenarios: When the reporting verb is in the present or future tense You don't need to backshift if the reporting verb is in the present tense (e.g., says, tells) or future tense (e.g., will say). Direct: He says, “I’m too busy to come to the party.” Indirect: / know he will say he’s too busy to come to the party. When the original statement expresses a universal truth, fact, or unchanging condition You don’t need to shift the tense, even if the reporting verb is in the past. Direct: Buddha said, “We make the world with our thoughts.” Indirect: As Buddha said, we make the world with our thoughts. Optional backshifting for stylistic reasons Even when backshifting is grammatically allowed, it’s sometimes omitted for stylistic clarity or to maintain relevance, especially if the original quote feels current or significant. Direct: “You must keep trying,” the professors said. Indirect: Both professors said we must keep trying. Rule 3: Pronoun adjustments !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! on75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary So Get Grammarly It's free fb erone wr uneys You — I/he/she/they We — they Rule 4: Time/place word changes now — then today —+ that day tomorrow — the next day yesterday —> the previous day here — there this > that Rule 5: Converting complex sentences Be sure to maintain a consistent tense and pronouns when you adjust multiple clauses ina sentence. “{ will go home and then call you,” she said. She said that she would go home and then call me. Rule 6: Omitting that in indirect statements You can often omit that in informal speech or writing. However, including that is often preferred for clarity in formal writing. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! s0n75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free Special cases in indirect speech Yes/no questions When writing a yes/no question in indirect speech, use if or whether. “Are you coming?” He asked if | was coming. WH questions With questions, keep the question word (who, what, when, where, why, how), but structure the sentence as a statement. “Where are you going?” He asked where | was going. Commands and requests (affirmative and negative) For commands and requests, use the reporting verb + to— Reporting verbs include told, asked, requested, ordered, and advised. For negatives, add “not to.” “Sit down,” she said She told me to sit down. “Don’t be late,” he said !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! nr5128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary So Get Grammarly It's free Common mistakes with direct and reported speech Mistake 1: Tense confusion If you forget to backshift when necessary, a sentence can become confusing. Tip: Always check the tense of the reporting verb and backshift accordingly. Mistake 2: Incorrect pronoun usage Retaining original pronouns in indirect speech can be confusing and obfuscate the speaker's identity. Tip: Always adjust pronouns to reflect the sentence speaker’s perspective. Mistake 3: Failing to change time/place references Indirect speech rarely occurs at the same time as the direct speech it’s reporting. Be sure to omit words like today and here. Tip: Always shift time and location references appropriately. Mistake 4: Mixing direct and indirect forms Do not mix direct and indirect speech in one phrase. Here is an example: She said “I love it and that she would buy it” Tip: Stick to one reporting style per statement. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! snr5128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free Can you use both direct and indirect speech in one sentence? Yes, but it should be stylistically intentional and grammatically sound. Is backshifting always required in indirect speech? No. If the reporting verb is in the present, or if the original statement is still true, backshifting may not be necessary. Can indirect speech be used in storytelling? Absolutely. Indirect speech can help maintain a formal or narrative tone and reduce repetition. Are quotation marks ever used in indirect speech? No. Quotation marks are only used in direct speech. Is indirect speech more formal? Typically, yes, indirect speech is considered to be more formal than direct speech. This is especially true in academic and professional writing. Your writing, at its best. !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrec-and-reported-speech! asn75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammar So Get Grammarly It's free Related Articles Grammar Tips What Is Semantics? Meaning, Types, and Examples Taxes LAC) Seer) Grammar Tips What Is an Interrogative Pronoun? Definition and Examples !ntps:hww grammarly.comibiog/grammarisrect-and-reported-speech! van75128/25, 12:54 AM Direct and Reported (Indirect) Speech | Grammary So Get Grammarly It's free ple tense Grammar Tips The Simple Verb Tense: A Complete Guide Opposite words Grammar Tips Opposite Words in English: Grow Your Vocabulary With Antonyms Grammar Tips What Is the Simple Future Tense? 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