{"id":620,"date":"2017-03-11T16:43:09","date_gmt":"2017-03-11T16:43:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/patrickcarpen.com\/english\/?page_id=620"},"modified":"2023-10-13T23:32:38","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T23:32:38","slug":"quoted-or-direct-speech","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patrickcarpen.com\/english\/written-expression\/quoted-or-direct-speech\/","title":{"rendered":"Quoted or Direct Speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

First Published: 11th of March, 2017<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last updated: October 13, 2023 at 23:32 pm<\/p>\n\n\n

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Learn the rules for using direct speech, which is also called quoted speech.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Quoted speech<\/em> is also called direct speech<\/em>. We may call it direct speech<\/em> because it represents speech exactly as it came out of the mouth of the speaker: not put in the writer’s own words. We may call it quoted speech<\/em> because we are “quoting” what the speaker said exactly as he or she said it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quoted<\/em> or direct<\/em> speech is marked off by “quotation marks”. Quoted speech<\/em> or direct<\/em> speech<\/em> enlivens writing. Quoted speech<\/em> also makes writing more entertaining and enjoyable. This is especially true when the characters are speaking a dialect. A dialect is an informal version of an official language familiar to a particular region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quoted speech<\/em> helps with characterization. It helps defines the character of the person who is speaking. Quoted speech<\/em> help give a greater insight into a character’s personality character traits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Quoted speech<\/em> is much more powerful than reported speech<\/em> or indirect speech<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make your writing come alive. Use quoted speech<\/em>, also called direct speech<\/em>. Below is an excerpt containing quoted<\/em> or direct<\/em> speech, taken from the classic novel “Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Seas.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We accept,” I replied.  “Only, I’ll ask your permission, sir, to address a question to you, just one.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Go ahead, sir.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“You said we’d be free aboard your vessel?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Completely.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Then I would ask what you mean by this freedom.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Why, the freedom to come, go, see, and even closely observe everything happening here–except under certain rare circumstances–in short, the freedom we ourselves enjoy, my companions and I.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was obvious that we did not understand each other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Pardon me, sir,” I went on, “but that’s merely the freedom that every prisoner has, the freedom to pace his cell! That’s not enough for us.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Nevertheless, it will have to do!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“What!  We must give up seeing our homeland, friends, and relatives ever again?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Yes, sir.  But giving up that intolerable earthly yoke that some men call freedom is perhaps less painful than you think!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“By thunder!”  Ned Land shouted.  “I’ll never promise I won’t try getting out of here!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I didn’t ask for such a promise, Mr. Land,” the commander replied coldly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Sir,” I replied, flaring up in spite of myself, “you’re taking unfair advantage of us!  This is sheer cruelty!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“No, sir, it’s an act of mercy!  You’re my prisoners of war! I’ve cared for you when, with a single word, I could plunge you back into the ocean depths!  You attacked me!  You’ve just stumbled on a secret no living man must probe, the secret of my entire existence! Do you think I’ll send you back to a world that must know nothing more of me?  Never!  By keeping you on board, it isn’t you whom I care for, it’s me!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These words indicated that the commander pursued a policy impervious to arguments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Then, sir,” I went on, “you give us, quite simply, a choice between life and death?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Quite simply.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“My friends,” I said, “to a question couched in these terms, our answer can be taken for granted.  But no solemn promises bind us to the commander of this vessel.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“None, sir,” the stranger replied.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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