Reported Speech Questions Medium
The rules for using quotation marks in reported speech are as follows:
1. When directly quoting someone's words, use double quotation marks (" ").
Example: She said, "I will be there at 5 o'clock."
2. When reporting someone's words without using their exact words, do not use quotation marks.
Example: She said she would be there at 5 o'clock.
3. If the reported speech contains a quote within it, use single quotation marks (' ') for the inner quote.
Example: He said, "She told me, 'I can't make it tonight.'"
4. If the reported speech is a question or exclamation, use the appropriate punctuation within the quotation marks.
Example: She asked, "Are you coming?"
5. If the reported speech is a statement, use a comma before the quotation marks.
Example: He said, "I am going to the store."
6. If the reported speech is divided into multiple paragraphs, start each paragraph with an opening quotation mark and end each paragraph with a closing quotation mark.
Example:
She said, "I had a great time at the party. The food was delicious and the music was fantastic. I can't wait for the next one!"
Remember to follow these rules to accurately convey reported speech using quotation marks.