definition of indirect presentation

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Meaning of indirect speech in English

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• contextualize
• distributively
• inflected language
• paratactically
• pathetic fallacy
• philological
• philologically

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the soft part of your face that is below your eye and between your mouth and ear

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Indirect Speech Definition and Examples

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

Indirect speech is a report on what someone else said or wrote without using that person's exact words (which is called direct speech). It's also called indirect discourse or reported speech . 

Direct vs. Indirect Speech

In direct speech , a person's exact words are placed in quotation marks and set off with a comma and a reporting clause or signal phrase , such as "said" or "asked." In fiction writing, using direct speech can display the emotion of an important scene in vivid detail through the words themselves as well as the description of how something was said. In nonfiction writing or journalism, direct speech can emphasize a particular point, by using a source's exact words.

Indirect speech is paraphrasing what someone said or wrote. In writing, it functions to move a piece along by boiling down points that an interview source made. Unlike direct speech, indirect speech is  not  usually placed inside quote marks. However, both are attributed to the speaker because they come directly from a source.

How to Convert

In the first example below, the  verb  in the  present tense  in the line of direct speech ( is)  may change to the  past tense  ( was ) in indirect speech, though it doesn't necessarily have to with a present-tense verb. If it makes sense in context to keep it present tense, that's fine.

• Direct speech:   "Where is your textbook? " the teacher asked me.
• Indirect speech:  The teacher asked me  where my textbook was.
• Indirect speech: The teacher asked me where my textbook is.

Keeping the present tense in reported speech can give the impression of immediacy, that it's being reported soon after the direct quote,such as:

• Direct speech:  Bill said, "I can't come in today, because I'm sick."
• Indirect speech:  Bill said (that) he can't come in today because he's sick.

Future Tense

An action in the future (present continuous tense or future) doesn't have to change verb tense, either, as these examples demonstrate.

• Direct speech:  Jerry said, "I'm going to buy a new car."
• Indirect speech:  Jerry said (that) he's going to buy a new car.
• Direct speech:  Jerry said, "I will buy a new car."
• Indirect speech:  Jerry said (that) he will buy a new car.

Indirectly reporting an action in the future can change verb tenses when needed. In this next example, changing the  am going  to was going implies that she has already left for the mall. However, keeping the tense progressive or continuous implies that the action continues, that she's still at the mall and not back yet.

• Direct speech:  She said, "I'm going to the mall."
• Indirect speech:  She said (that) she was going to the mall.
• Indirect speech: She said (that) she is going to the mall.

Other Changes

With a past-tense verb in the direct quote, the verb changes to past perfect.

• Direct speech:  She said,  "I went to the mall."
• Indirect speech:  She said (that)  she had gone to the mall.

Note the change in first person (I) and second person (your)  pronouns  and  word order  in the indirect versions. The person has to change because the one reporting the action is not the one actually doing it. Third person (he or she) in direct speech remains in the third person.

Free Indirect Speech

In free indirect speech, which is commonly used in fiction, the reporting clause (or signal phrase) is omitted. Using the technique is a way to follow a character's point of view—in third-person limited omniscient—and show her thoughts intermingled with narration.

Typically in fiction italics show a character's exact thoughts, and quote marks show dialogue. Free indirect speech makes do without the italics and simply combines the internal thoughts of the character with the narration of the story. Writers who have used this technique include James Joyce, Jane Austen, Virginia Woolf, Henry James, Zora Neale Hurston, and D.H. Lawrence.  

• How to Use Indirect Quotations in Writing for Complete Clarity
• What Is Attribution in Writing?
• Conversational Implicature Definition and Examples
• Direct Speech Definition and Examples
• Indirect Question: Definition and Examples
• The Top 25 Grammatical Terms
• Verbal Irony - Definition and Examples
• The Power of Indirectness in Speaking and Writing
• Backshift (Sequence-of-Tense Rule in Grammar)
• What Is a Word Salad in Speech or Writing?
• Preterit(e) Verbs
• Definition and Examples of Allusion
• The Meaning of Innuendo
• Nominal: Definition and Examples in Grammar
• Quotation and Quote
• Performative Verbs

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14.1 Four Methods of Delivery

Learning objectives.

• Differentiate among the four methods of speech delivery.
• Understand when to use each of the four methods of speech delivery.

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The easiest approach to speech delivery is not always the best. Substantial work goes into the careful preparation of an interesting and ethical message, so it is understandable that students may have the impulse to avoid “messing it up” by simply reading it word for word. But students who do this miss out on one of the major reasons for studying public speaking: to learn ways to “connect” with one’s audience and to increase one’s confidence in doing so. You already know how to read, and you already know how to talk. But public speaking is neither reading nor talking.

Speaking in public has more formality than talking. During a speech, you should present yourself professionally. This doesn’t mean you must wear a suit or “dress up” (unless your instructor asks you to), but it does mean making yourself presentable by being well groomed and wearing clean, appropriate clothes. It also means being prepared to use language correctly and appropriately for the audience and the topic, to make eye contact with your audience, and to look like you know your topic very well.

While speaking has more formality than talking, it has less formality than reading. Speaking allows for meaningful pauses, eye contact, small changes in word order, and vocal emphasis. Reading is a more or less exact replication of words on paper without the use of any nonverbal interpretation. Speaking, as you will realize if you think about excellent speakers you have seen and heard, provides a more animated message.

The next sections introduce four methods of delivery that can help you balance between too much and too little formality when giving a public speech.

Impromptu Speaking

Impromptu speaking is the presentation of a short message without advance preparation. Impromptu speeches often occur when someone is asked to “say a few words” or give a toast on a special occasion. You have probably done impromptu speaking many times in informal, conversational settings. Self-introductions in group settings are examples of impromptu speaking: “Hi, my name is Steve, and I’m a volunteer with the Homes for the Brave program.” Another example of impromptu speaking occurs when you answer a question such as, “What did you think of the documentary?”

The advantage of this kind of speaking is that it’s spontaneous and responsive in an animated group context. The disadvantage is that the speaker is given little or no time to contemplate the central theme of his or her message. As a result, the message may be disorganized and difficult for listeners to follow.

Here is a step-by-step guide that may be useful if you are called upon to give an impromptu speech in public.

• Take a moment to collect your thoughts and plan the main point you want to make.
• Thank the person for inviting you to speak.
• Deliver your message, making your main point as briefly as you can while still covering it adequately and at a pace your listeners can follow.
• Thank the person again for the opportunity to speak.
• Stop talking.

As you can see, impromptu speeches are generally most successful when they are brief and focus on a single point.

Extemporaneous Speaking

Extemporaneous speaking is the presentation of a carefully planned and rehearsed speech, spoken in a conversational manner using brief notes. By using notes rather than a full manuscript, the extemporaneous speaker can establish and maintain eye contact with the audience and assess how well they are understanding the speech as it progresses. The opportunity to assess is also an opportunity to restate more clearly any idea or concept that the audience seems to have trouble grasping.

For instance, suppose you are speaking about workplace safety and you use the term “sleep deprivation.” If you notice your audience’s eyes glazing over, this might not be a result of their own sleep deprivation, but rather an indication of their uncertainty about what you mean. If this happens, you can add a short explanation; for example, “sleep deprivation is sleep loss serious enough to threaten one’s cognition, hand-to-eye coordination, judgment, and emotional health.” You might also (or instead) provide a concrete example to illustrate the idea. Then you can resume your message, having clarified an important concept.

Speaking extemporaneously has some advantages. It promotes the likelihood that you, the speaker, will be perceived as knowledgeable and credible. In addition, your audience is likely to pay better attention to the message because it is engaging both verbally and nonverbally. The disadvantage of extemporaneous speaking is that it requires a great deal of preparation for both the verbal and the nonverbal components of the speech. Adequate preparation cannot be achieved the day before you’re scheduled to speak.

Because extemporaneous speaking is the style used in the great majority of public speaking situations, most of the information in this chapter is targeted to this kind of speaking.

Speaking from a Manuscript

Manuscript speaking is the word-for-word iteration of a written message. In a manuscript speech, the speaker maintains his or her attention on the printed page except when using visual aids.

The advantage to reading from a manuscript is the exact repetition of original words. As we mentioned at the beginning of this chapter, in some circumstances this can be extremely important. For example, reading a statement about your organization’s legal responsibilities to customers may require that the original words be exact. In reading one word at a time, in order, the only errors would typically be mispronunciation of a word or stumbling over complex sentence structure.

However, there are costs involved in manuscript speaking. First, it’s typically an uninteresting way to present. Unless the speaker has rehearsed the reading as a complete performance animated with vocal expression and gestures (as poets do in a poetry slam and actors do in a reader’s theater), the presentation tends to be dull. Keeping one’s eyes glued to the script precludes eye contact with the audience. For this kind of “straight” manuscript speech to hold audience attention, the audience must be already interested in the message before the delivery begins.

It is worth noting that professional speakers, actors, news reporters, and politicians often read from an autocue device, such as a TelePrompTer, especially when appearing on television, where eye contact with the camera is crucial. With practice, a speaker can achieve a conversational tone and give the impression of speaking extemporaneously while using an autocue device. However, success in this medium depends on two factors: (1) the speaker is already an accomplished public speaker who has learned to use a conversational tone while delivering a prepared script, and (2) the speech is written in a style that sounds conversational.

Speaking from Memory

Memorized speaking is the rote recitation of a written message that the speaker has committed to memory. Actors, of course, recite from memory whenever they perform from a script in a stage play, television program, or movie scene. When it comes to speeches, memorization can be useful when the message needs to be exact and the speaker doesn’t want to be confined by notes.

The advantage to memorization is that it enables the speaker to maintain eye contact with the audience throughout the speech. Being free of notes means that you can move freely around the stage and use your hands to make gestures. If your speech uses visual aids, this freedom is even more of an advantage. However, there are some real and potential costs. First, unless you also plan and memorize every vocal cue (the subtle but meaningful variations in speech delivery, which can include the use of pitch, tone, volume, and pace), gesture, and facial expression, your presentation will be flat and uninteresting, and even the most fascinating topic will suffer. You might end up speaking in a monotone or a sing-song repetitive delivery pattern. You might also present your speech in a rapid “machine-gun” style that fails to emphasize the most important points. Second, if you lose your place and start trying to ad lib, the contrast in your style of delivery will alert your audience that something is wrong. More frighteningly, if you go completely blank during the presentation, it will be extremely difficult to find your place and keep going.

Key Takeaways

• There are four main kinds of speech delivery: impromptu, extemporaneous, manuscript, and memorized.
• Impromptu speaking involves delivering a message on the spur of the moment, as when someone is asked to “say a few words.”
• Extemporaneous speaking consists of delivering a speech in a conversational fashion using notes. This is the style most speeches call for.
• Manuscript speaking consists of reading a fully scripted speech. It is useful when a message needs to be delivered in precise words.
• Memorized speaking consists of reciting a scripted speech from memory. Memorization allows the speaker to be free of notes.
• Find a short newspaper story. Read it out loud to a classroom partner. Then, using only one notecard, tell the classroom partner in your own words what the story said. Listen to your partner’s observations about the differences in your delivery.
• In a group of four or five students, ask each student to give a one-minute impromptu speech answering the question, “What is the most important personal quality for academic success?”
• Watch the evening news. Observe the differences between news anchors using a TelePrompTer and interviewees who are using no notes of any kind. What differences do you observe?

Stand up, Speak out Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Indirect Communication: What It Is (with Examples)

Last Updated: June 2, 2024 Fact Checked

What is indirect communication?

What is direct communication.

• Pros & Cons
• Interacting with Indirect Communicators

This article was reviewed by Seth Hall and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman . Seth T. Hall (ICF ACC, CLC, and MNLP) is a Certified Life Coach and Founder of Transformational Solutions, a Los Angeles-based life-coaching company that helps people achieve their toughest goals, find their own voice, and think outside the box. He has been a life coach for over 10 years, specializing in personal development, relationships, career and finance, and wellness. He has helped his clients break the negative cycles in their lives and replace them with a positive, proactive mindset. Seth believes that everyone has the potential to live a fulfilling and rewarding life, and works passionately to help them reach their full potential. With a deep understanding of how our minds work and the power of positive thinking, he encourages his clients to find their unique paths in life and find success on their own terms. He is a certified master practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a featured co-author for WikiHow, and co-author of "The Mountain Method”, “The Happy Tiger”, and “The V.I.S.I.O.N.S. Program”. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 17,471 times.

Each person has their preferred way of sharing their wants and needs, and some can be more straightforward and direct while others are more strategic and indirect. Indirect communication is all about reading between the lines and looking at the bigger picture, and getting used to this communication style can take some time. Read on to learn all about what indirect communication is, how it's different from direct communication, and how to navigate interactions with people who prefer an indirect communication style.

Things You Should Know

• Indirect communication is a communication style that doesn’t obviously reveal a speaker’s intentions or desires.
• Indirect communication relies on things like a person’s body language, tone, and word choice to get the full message across.
• Unlike direct communication, indirect communication factors in social status and leads people to speak more formally depending on the listener.

• For example, instead of directly asking for more time on an assignment, an indirect communicator might say something like, “I have a lot of meetings scheduled before the deadline, so it might be difficult to complete everything.”
• Or, instead of voicing their frustrations toward someone, an indirect communicator might just give the other person the silent treatment or avoid interacting with them for a while.

• Direct: “I want to move closer to my office.”
• Indirect: “The commute to work is really long.”
• Direct: “I need your help.”
• Indirect: “You know more about this than I do, so can I ask you a question?”

• Direct: When someone’s frustrated or upset, they’ll likely tell the other person directly.
• Indirect: Rather than explicitly saying they’re frustrated, this person might roll their eyes, sigh, or avoid talking to the person they’re frustrated with.

• Direct: “There’s a major problem in our customer service department.”
• Indirect: “What do you think of our customer service department? Is there anything you’re not satisfied with?”
• Direct: “You’ve made several mistakes in this report.”
• Indirect: “I think your report could be even stronger with just a few edits.”

• Direct: A person might share personal details of their life with their close friends, colleagues, and superiors at work.
• Indirect: This person might speak very casually around their friends but then adopt a more serious and formal tone when talking to their boss.

• Direct: “No, you can’t take Friday off.”
• Indirect: “I think we’re going to be really busy on Friday and will need all the help we can get.”
• Direct: “I’m not interested in working on this new project.”
• Indirect: “I think I’d like to focus most of my energy on my current assignments. But I’d be happy to help if I happen to have some free time.”
• While direct communication is more straightforward, a person risks coming off as offensive or insensitive to the listener, while indirect communication is often used as a means to soften the blow.

Pros & Cons of Indirect Communication

• Positive indirect feedback: Rather than singling someone out and listing out the things they’re doing well, a person might use non-verbal communication to express their approval, such as smiling more, asking the other person about how they’re doing, or assigning them work that’s more in line with their strengths.
• Negative indirect feedback: Instead of calling someone out and pointing out what they need to work on, someone might give group feedback or use encouragement to get the other person to address their weaker areas.

• Direct: A boss explicitly tells their employee that they want a report done by Friday.
• Indirect: A boss tells their employee that it would be great if they could get their report done as soon as possible but doesn’t give them a specific deadline. The employee interprets this to mean that they have a bit of time to complete the assignment when, in reality, the deadline is at the end of the week.

• Direct: A person might begin with a brief introduction but then immediately jump into the good news. An example would be an email that says something like, “We’d like to congratulate you on your promotion” right from the very first line.
• Indirect: This type of writing will often start with a bit of a longer introduction as well as some background information about the situation. The actual bad news may not come until the second paragraph. For example, they might send something like, “Thank you for your interest in applying to our company. It was wonderful being able to speak with you during the interview and get to know you a bit better. Unfortunately, we aren’t able to offer you a position at this time.”

How to Interact with Indirect Communicators

• For example, even though you may prefer to give feedback directly, it’s important to be considerate of the other person’s feelings and tailor your feedback style so they don’t feel uncomfortable or put on the spot.
• Be patient when you run into difficulties. Avoid getting frustrated as soon as something goes wrong and instead make an effort to communicate any misunderstandings.

• Take the person’s personal and cultural background into consideration. Do they come from a high-context society where indirect communication is more standard than direct communication?
• Take some time to read the person’s body language and other non-verbal cues. Do these reveal any more information about the message they’re trying to convey?
• Pay close attention to someone’s word choice and the situation’s context. For example, if someone says they’re “eager” to get your report and the deadline is coming up soon, it might mean that they want you to turn in your work as soon as possible.

• On top of that, face-to-face communication can help you build strong relationships and develop your emotional intelligence toward others.

• Get rid of any distractions and focus on the speaker.
• Maintain eye contact and give other non-verbal cues to express your interest, such as nodding your head.
• Restate what the other person said to show that you were paying attention and understood their message.
• Ask open-ended or clarifying questions to continue the conversation and show that you’re engaged.

• For example, ask for clarification by asking something like, “So you want me to finish the report by Friday, right? Or did you have another day in mind?”

Expert Q&A

• Indirect communication is common in high-context societies, seen in countries like Japan and Nigeria. People in these societies tend to be very conscious of their relationships with others and often use indirect communication to save face and maintain peace. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• On the other hand, low-context societies, such as those in countries like the United States and New Zealand, often communicate straightforwardly and are more likely to be personal and informal even with superiors. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201104/are-we-talking-the-same-language-how-communication-styles-can-affect
• ↑ https://hbr.org/2015/05/learning-the-language-of-indirectness
• ↑ https://ubuntu-communication.ch/resources/pdf/2017-Comm_direct_indirect_e_final.pdf
• ↑ https://walton.uark.edu/business-communication-lab/Resources/downloads/business-forms/Direct_and_Indirect_Communication.pdf
• ↑ https://www.aib.edu.au/blog/communication/why-face-to-face-communication-is-still-important-in-the-digital-age/
• ↑ https://www.usip.org/public-education-new/what-active-listening

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What Is Indirect Presentation?

Indirect presentation is a writing technique related to characterization. Through indirect presentation, the reader learns about the character’s personality through his thoughts, words and actions, and through the way other characters react to him.

With indirect presentation, the writer builds the character through a series of events and interactions. This is commonly referred to as “show, don’t tell” writing. For example, rather than stating that a character is apprehensive about new things, the writer has another character invite him to a new restaurant and comment on his resistance to new things. In both instances the reader receives the same information.

Writers build their characters through indirect presentation by placing them in environments and situations that indicate something about them, such as their social status, moral composition or level of education. Through the environment and the character’s interaction with supporting characters, the reader learns about the character’s identity.

Indirect presentation is considered more interesting and more engaging for the reader than direct presentation, but it compromises brevity and can stall the plot. The writer must decide what is most important for her work. For example, during the climax of the story, it may be necessary to divulge an essential quality of a character. Direct presentation allows the action to continue without interruption.

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Definition of indirect speech noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

• indirect speech

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• About Language in Conflict
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• Presenting speech and thought

Speech and thought presentation looks at how a speaker or writer presents the speech or thought of other people. There is a range of ways in which writers and speakers can present others' words or thoughts, and the choices made are important in determining what sort of impression the reader or listener will get of the party who is being represented. For example, a politician might seek to affect voters' impressions of a rival politician by claiming to have access to their thoughts — 'Mr Osborne thinks he can get away with taking away people's livelihoods': this can portray the rival in an unfavourable light, even though the politician has no actual way of knowing what Mr Osborne thinks. Speech presentation

The main distinction made within speech presentation is between direct and indirect speech. Direct speech (DS) is seen as the norm, as it provides a verbatim account of what was said, while indirect speech (IS) expresses what was said in the words of the narrator. However, a number of methods of presenting speech are possible:

• Narrator's report of speech (NRS): She spoke.

• Narrator's report of speech act (NRSA): She disagreed.

• Indirect speech (IS): She said that she disagreed.

• Free indirect speech (FIS): She disagreed wholeheartedly.

• Direct speech (DS): She said "I disagree wholeheartedly".

Thought presentation differs from speech presentation in that it is the indirect form that is considered the norm, as it comes closest to acknowledging the fact that we do not actually have direct access to other people's thoughts and feelings by not claiming to correspond precisely to the thinker's precise thoughts:

• Narrator's report of thought (NRT): He thought about the economy.

• Narrator's report of thought act (NRTA): He considered the likelihood of a double-dip recession .

• Indirect thought (IT): He thought that he couldn't see past the gloom .

• Free indirect thought (FIT): He couldn't see past the gloom .

• Direct thought (DT): He thought "I can't see past this gloom" .

Recommended reading

'Presenting Others' Speech and Thoughts' explains and gives examples of the different speech and thought categories, as well as showing how the choices made in speech and thought presentation can have ideological effects:

Jeffries, Lesley. 2010. Critical Stylistics : The Power of English. Hampshire: Palgrave, 130-145.

' Speech and Thought Presentation ' in the following introduction to the application of stylistic analysis to fictional texts explains the various categories of speech and thought presentation , and their possible effects:

Leech, Geoffrey and Mick Short. 2007. Style in Fiction [second edition]. Harlow: Pearson Longman, 255-281.

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Direct and Indirect Speech: Useful Rules and Examples

Are you having trouble understanding the difference between direct and indirect speech? Direct speech is when you quote someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. This can be a tricky concept to grasp, but with a little practice, you’ll be able to use both forms of speech with ease.

Direct and Indirect Speech

When someone speaks, we can report what they said in two ways: direct speech and indirect speech. Direct speech is when we quote the exact words that were spoken, while indirect speech is when we report what was said without using the speaker’s exact words. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I love pizza,” said John. Indirect speech: John said that he loved pizza.

Using direct speech can make your writing more engaging and can help to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion. However, indirect speech can be useful when you want to summarize what someone said or when you don’t have the exact words that were spoken.

To change direct speech to indirect speech, you need to follow some rules. Firstly, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb. Secondly, you need to change the pronouns and adverbs in the reported speech to match the new speaker. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “I will go to the park,” said Sarah. Indirect speech: Sarah said that she would go to the park.

It’s important to note that when you use indirect speech, you need to use reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked” to indicate who is speaking. Here’s an example:

Direct speech: “What time is it?” asked Tom. Indirect speech: Tom asked what time it was.

In summary, understanding direct and indirect speech is crucial for effective communication and writing. Direct speech can be used to convey the speaker’s tone and emotion, while indirect speech can be useful when summarizing what someone said. By following the rules for changing direct speech to indirect speech, you can accurately report what was said while maintaining clarity and readability in your writing.

Differences between Direct and Indirect Speech

When it comes to reporting speech, there are two ways to go about it: direct and indirect speech. Direct speech is when you report someone’s exact words, while indirect speech is when you report what someone said without using their exact words. Here are some of the key differences between direct and indirect speech:

Change of Pronouns

In direct speech, the pronouns used are those of the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the pronouns have to be changed to reflect the perspective of the reporter. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am going to the store,” said John.
• Indirect speech: John said he was going to the store.

In the above example, the pronoun “I” changes to “he” in indirect speech.

Change of Tenses

Another major difference between direct and indirect speech is the change of tenses. In direct speech, the verb tense used is the same as that used by the original speaker. However, in indirect speech, the verb tense may change depending on the context. For example:

• Direct speech: “I am studying for my exams,” said Sarah.
• Indirect speech: Sarah said she was studying for her exams.

In the above example, the present continuous tense “am studying” changes to the past continuous tense “was studying” in indirect speech.

Change of Time and Place References

When reporting indirect speech, the time and place references may also change. For example:

• Direct speech: “I will meet you at the park tomorrow,” said Tom.
• Indirect speech: Tom said he would meet you at the park the next day.

In the above example, “tomorrow” changes to “the next day” in indirect speech.

Overall, it is important to understand the differences between direct and indirect speech to report speech accurately and effectively. By following the rules of direct and indirect speech, you can convey the intended message of the original speaker.

Converting Direct Speech Into Indirect Speech

When you need to report what someone said in your own words, you can use indirect speech. To convert direct speech into indirect speech, you need to follow a few rules.

Step 1: Remove the Quotation Marks

The first step is to remove the quotation marks that enclose the relayed text. This is because indirect speech does not use the exact words of the speaker.

Step 2: Use a Reporting Verb and a Linker

To indicate that you are reporting what someone said, you need to use a reporting verb such as “said,” “asked,” “told,” or “exclaimed.” You also need to use a linker such as “that” or “whether” to connect the reporting verb to the reported speech.

For example:

• Direct speech: “I love ice cream,” said Mary.
• Indirect speech: Mary said that she loved ice cream.

Step 3: Change the Tense of the Verb

When you use indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verb in the reported speech to match the tense of the reporting verb.

• Indirect speech: John said that he was going to the store.

Step 4: Change the Pronouns

You also need to change the pronouns in the reported speech to match the subject of the reporting verb.

• Direct speech: “Are you busy now?” Tina asked me.
• Indirect speech: Tina asked whether I was busy then.

By following these rules, you can convert direct speech into indirect speech and report what someone said in your own words.

Converting Indirect Speech Into Direct Speech

Converting indirect speech into direct speech involves changing the reported speech to its original form as spoken by the speaker. Here are the steps to follow when converting indirect speech into direct speech:

• Identify the reporting verb: The first step is to identify the reporting verb used in the indirect speech. This will help you determine the tense of the direct speech.
• Change the pronouns: The next step is to change the pronouns in the indirect speech to match the person speaking in the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “She said that she was going to the store,” the direct speech would be “I am going to the store,” if you are the person speaking.
• Change the tense: Change the tense of the verbs in the indirect speech to match the tense of the direct speech. For example, if the indirect speech is “He said that he would visit tomorrow,” the direct speech would be “He says he will visit tomorrow.”
• Remove the reporting verb and conjunction: In direct speech, there is no need for a reporting verb or conjunction. Simply remove them from the indirect speech to get the direct speech.

Here is an example to illustrate the process:

Indirect Speech: John said that he was tired and wanted to go home.

Direct Speech: “I am tired and want to go home,” John said.

By following these steps, you can easily convert indirect speech into direct speech.

Examples of Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct and indirect speech are two ways to report what someone has said. Direct speech reports the exact words spoken by a person, while indirect speech reports the meaning of what was said. Here are some examples of both types of speech:

Direct Speech Examples

Direct speech is used when you want to report the exact words spoken by someone. It is usually enclosed in quotation marks and is often used in dialogue.

• “I am going to the store,” said Sarah.
• “It’s a beautiful day,” exclaimed John.
• “Please turn off the lights,” Mom told me.
• “I will meet you at the library,” said Tom.
• “We are going to the beach tomorrow,” announced Mary.

Indirect Speech Examples

Indirect speech, also known as reported speech, is used to report what someone said without using their exact words. It is often used in news reports, academic writing, and in situations where you want to paraphrase what someone said.

Here are some examples of indirect speech:

• Sarah said that she was going to the store.
• John exclaimed that it was a beautiful day.
• Mom told me to turn off the lights.
• Tom said that he would meet me at the library.
• Mary announced that they were going to the beach tomorrow.

In indirect speech, the verb tense may change to reflect the time of the reported speech. For example, “I am going to the store” becomes “Sarah said that she was going to the store.” Additionally, the pronouns and possessive adjectives may also change to reflect the speaker and the person being spoken about.

Overall, both direct and indirect speech are important tools for reporting what someone has said. By using these techniques, you can accurately convey the meaning of what was said while also adding your own interpretation and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech refer to the ways in which we communicate what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, using quotation marks to indicate that you are quoting someone. Indirect speech, on the other hand, involves reporting what someone has said without using their exact words.

How do you convert direct speech to indirect speech?

To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb, such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.” For example, “I love ice cream,” said Mary (direct speech) can be converted to “Mary said that she loved ice cream” (indirect speech).

What is the difference between direct speech and indirect speech?

The main difference between direct speech and indirect speech is that direct speech uses the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. Direct speech is usually enclosed in quotation marks, while indirect speech is not.

What are some examples of direct and indirect speech?

Some examples of direct speech include “I am going to the store,” said John and “I love pizza,” exclaimed Sarah. Some examples of indirect speech include John said that he was going to the store and Sarah exclaimed that she loved pizza .

What are the rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech?

The rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech include changing the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions. You also need to introduce a reporting verb and use appropriate reporting verbs such as “said,” “told,” or “asked.”

What is a summary of direct and indirect speech?

Direct and indirect speech are two ways of reporting what someone has said. Direct speech involves repeating the exact words spoken, while indirect speech reports what someone has said without using their exact words. To convert direct speech to indirect speech, you need to change the tense of the verbs, pronouns, and time expressions and introduce a reporting verb.

You might also like:

• List of Adjectives
• Predicate Adjective
• Superlative Adjectives

This website is AMNAZING

MY NAAMEE IS KISHU AND I WANTED TO TELL THERE ARE NO EXERCISES AVAILLABLEE BY YOUR WEBSITE PLEASE ADD THEM SSOON FOR OUR STUDENTS CONVIENCE IM A EIGHT GRADER LOVED YOUR EXPLABATIO

sure cries l miss my friend

he saiad,” we are all sinners”. convert into indirect speech

He said that they were all sinners.

Direct Approach vs. Indirect Approach

[ Sample Intro in Direct Approach ]  [ Sample Intro in Indirect Approach ]

Direct Approach

When you use the direct approach, the main idea (such as a recommendation, conclusion, or request) comes in the "top" of the document, followed by the evidence. This is a deductive argument. This approach is used when your audience will be neutral or positive about your message. In the formal report, the direct approach usually mandates that you lead off with a summary of your key findings, conclusions, and recommendations. This "up-front" arrangement is by far the most popular and convenient for business reports. It saves time and makes the rest of the report easier to follow. For those who have questions or want more information, later parts of the report provide complete findings and supporting details. The direct approach also produces a more forceful report. You sound sure of yourself when you state your conclusions confidently at the outset.

Indirect Approach

In the indirect approach, the evidence is presented first, leading therefore to the main idea. This is an inductive argument. This approach is best if your audience may be displeased about or may resist what you have to say.

At times, especially if you are a junior member of an organization or if you are an outsider, writing with an extremely confident stance may be regarded as arrogant. In such cases, or if your audience will be skeptical or hostile, you may want to use the indirect approach: Introduce your complete findings and discuss all supporting details before presenting your conclusions and recommendations. The indirect approach gives you a chance to prove your points and gradually overcome your audience�s reservations. By deferring the conclusions and recommendations, you imply that you�ve weighed the evidence objectively without prejudging the facts. You also imply that you�re subordinating your judgment to the audience, whose members are capable of drawing their own conclusions when they have access to all the facts.

Although the indirect approach has its advantages, some readers will always be in a hurry to get to "the answer" and will flip to the recommendations immediately, thus defeating your purpose. Therefore, consider length before choosing the direct or indirect approach. In general, the longer the message, the less effective an indirect approach is likely to be. Furthermore, an indirect argument is harder to follow than a direct one.

Because both direct and indirect approaches have merit, businesspeople often combine them. They reveal their conclusions and recommendations as they go along, rather than putting them first or last. As a result, the approach strategy of business reports can sometimes be hard to classify.

Two Sample Introductions for Formal Reports

Direct Approach (assumes audience will favor or be neutral to your recommendations)

Since the company�s founding 25 years ago, we have provided regular repair service for all our electric appliances. This service has been an important selling point as well as a source of pride for our employees. However, we are paying a high price for our image. Last year, we lost $500,000 on our repair business.

Because of your concern over these losses, you asked me to study the pros and cons of discontinuing our repair service. With the help of John Hudson and Susan Lefkowitz, I have studied the issue for the last two weeks and have come to the conclusion that we have been embracing an expensive, impractical tradition.

By withdrawing from the electric appliance repair business, we can substantially improve our financial performance without damaging our reputation with customers. This conclusion is based on three main points that are covered in the following pages:

� It is highly unlikely that we will ever be able to make a profit in the repair business. � Service is no longer an important selling point with customers. � Closing down the service operation will create few internal problems.    

Indirect Approach  (assumes audience will be hostile to or resistant to your recommendations, or that you are much lower in the organizational power structure than the primary reader)

Since the company�s founding 25 years ago, we have provided regular repair service for all our electric appliances. This service has been an important selling point as well as a source of pride for our employees. However, the repair business itself has consistently lost money.

Because of your concern over these losses, you asked me to study the pros and cons of discontinuing our repair service. With the help of John Hudson and Susan Lefkowitz, I have studied the issue for the last two weeks. The following pages present my findings for your review. Three basic questions are addressed:

� What is the extent of our losses, and what can we do to turn the business around? � Would withdrawal of this service hurt our sales of electric appliances? � What would be the internal repercussions of closing down the repair business?

Source: Bov�e, Thill, and Schatzman, Business Communication Today 7 th ed., pp. 115-16 and 408-09.

Definition of 'indirect speech'

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indirect speech in British English

Examples of 'indirect speech' in a sentence indirect speech, trends of indirect speech.

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indirect discourse

[ in -di- rekt dis -kawrs ]

• the reporting of what a speaker said consisting not of the speaker's exact words but of a version transformed for grammatical inclusion in a larger sentence, as in She said she was not at all hungry.

Word History and Origins

Origin of indirect discourse 1

Example Sentences

The subjunctive is due to the implied indirect discourse, and expresses the thought, not of the writer, but of Mettius subjects.

Indirect discourse means reported speech,—the thoughts of a writer or speaker put in the words of the one reporting them.

From these illustrations will be readily seen the grammatical changes made in transferring from direct to indirect discourse.

I extract a few passages, the conversations being given in indirect discourse.

Those who have studied Latin will find the “indirect discourse” of Cicero a useful model.

Direct vs indirect characterization: How to show and tell

There are two main ways to reveal characters: direct characterization, and indirect characterization. What defines these two characterization types, and what are the strengths and weaknesses of each?

• Post author By Jordan
• 26 Comments on Direct vs indirect characterization: How to show and tell

Characterization describes the way a writer or actor creates or implies a character’s personality, their inner life and psyche. Two main ways to reveal your characters are direct characterization and indirect characterization. What are these character creation techniques? Read on for examples of characterization that illustrate both:

Guide to direct and indirect characterization: Contents

What is direct characterization, direct characterization example, what is indirect characterization, indirect characterization example.

• Eight tips for using direct vs indirect characterization

Let’s delve into using both characterization devices:

To begin with a definition of direct characterization, this means the author explicitly tells the reader a character’s personality .

For example, explicitly telling the reader a character is kind, funny, eccentric, and so forth.

Here’s an example of direct characterization from Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse (1925).

Woolf explicitly shows what characters think of one another . In the example, an artist staying with the Ramsay family, Lily Briscoe, thinks about Mr Ramsay whom a man Mr Bankes has just called a hypocrite:

Looking up, there he was – Mr. Ramsay – advancing towards them, swinging, careless, oblivious, remote. A bit of a hypocrite? she repeated. Oh no – the most sincere of men, the truest (here he was), the best; but, looking down, she thought, he is absorbed in himself, he is tyrannical, he is unjust… Virginia Woolf, To The Lighthouse (1927), p. 52.

This is direct characterization – through Lily, Woolf describes Mr. Ramsay’s traits directly.

It’s telling (direct characterization typically is), but because we read it as one character’s opinion of another, it also shows us how Lily feels, whether or not she agrees with the statement that Mr. Ramsay is a hypocrite.

Through Lily, we learn Ramsay is ‘absorbed in himself’ or self-absorbed, tyrannical – we read direct statements about Ramsay’s personality that help us picture him and how he comes across to others.

‘Indirect characterization’ shows readers your characters’ traits without explicitly describing them.

To give simpler examples of direct vs indirect characterization, for direct you might write, ‘Jessica was a goofy, eccentric teacher’.

For indirect revelation of Jessica’s character, you might write instead, ‘Jessica had named the stick with a hook on the end she used to open the classroom’s high windows Belinda and would regale her children with stories of Belinda’s adventures (even though they were fourteen, not four)’.

In the second example of characterization above (the indirect kind), it is inferred that Jessica is goofy and eccentric. She names inanimate objects and tells teenagers stories of make-believe that would probably be better-suited to younger children.

Indirect characterization invites your reader to deduce things about your characters, without explicitly telling them who they are.

Here, John Steinbeck in  The Grapes of Wrath (1939) shows a character’s personality indirectly.

Steinbeck doesn’t say that hitchhiker Joad is a down-and-out, blue-collar worker. Instead, the author creates indirect characterization through the items a worker in this context would perhaps have: whiskey, cigarettes, calloused hands:

Joad took a quick drink from the flask. He dragged the last smoke from his raveling cigarette and then, with callused thumb and forefinger, crushed out the glowing end. He rubbed the butt to a pulp and put it out the window, letting the breeze suck it from his fingers. John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath (1939), p. 9.

Types of indirect characterization

What types of indirect characterization are there?

Any writing that helps us infer or deduce things about a person’s psyche, emotions, values or mannerisms. For example:

• Dialogue-based inference: From the way your character speaks to others in the story, your reader may deduce that they are kind, cruel, gentle, etc.
• Implying through action: What your character does (for example jumping on a beetle to squash it) implies their character (in this case, it may imply that a character is cruel).
• Fly-on-wall description: Although what visual description implies may differ from country to country, culture to culture, neutrally-worded description may cause your reader to make specific assumptions based on what you’ve shown. We might assume, for example, an extremely pale-skinned character is reclusive or agoraphobic, like the reclusive Boo Radley in Harper Lee’s  To Kill a Mockingbird .

So how do you use direct and indirect characterization well? Read tips for each (and our complete guide to description for more examples):

8 tips for using direct and indirect characterization

Avoid overusing direct characterization, be direct with key details, support direct character statements with scenes, imply character through action and reaction, tell direct details that serve concision, use dialogue to characterize indirectly, let narrative voice give character, read examples of direct and indirect characterization.

Direct characterization is useful shorthand. Instead of pages showing how a character is mean, you could start with ‘He was mean.’ Balance is key, though. Overusing direct characterizing may skew the balance towards telling, not showing. Tweet This

If, for example, you wrote, ‘He was mean. He was petty and generally unkind, so that neighbors crossed the street when he passed,’ that mixes some indirect characterization with the direct type. Neighbors crossing the street is a visual that indirectly implies avoidance and discomfort or possible dislike.

If you were to only tell readers about your characters’ traits without weaving in illustrative showing (which give indirect inference about who your characters are), the effect would be:

• Hazy visuals : Crossing the street in the example above gives a more specific visual than simply saying ‘he was disliked by the community’.
• Lack of depth and color: If you tell your reader who your characters are exclusively with minimal showing or inferring, it may read as though you have a private understanding of your characters you are summarizing for the reader, rather than showing them a fuller, more detailed picture.

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Example of blending direct and indirect character detail

The opening of Toni Morrison’s powerful novel Beloved characterizes a house that is haunted by the ghost of an infant.

Note how Morrison moves from the direct characterization of the first sentence to specific, visual details:

124 was spiteful. Full of a baby’s venom. The women in the house knew it and so did the children. For years each put up with the spite in his own way, but by 1873 Sethe and her daughter Denver were its only victims. The grandmother, Baby Suggs, was dead, and the sons, Howard and Buglar, had run away by the time they were thirteen years old – as soon as merely looking in a mirror shattered it (that was the signal for Buglar); as soon as two tiny hand prints appeared in the cake (that was it for Howard). Toni Morrison, Beloved (1987), p. 17.

The trick to effective direct characterization is to reserve it for key details you want to establish upfront.

In the example of blending indirect and direct character description above, Morrison starts with direct, broad detail. A sense of spite that drives boys in the family from a home filled with the ghosts of a corrosive, violent history.

If you were to write a retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol you might start with ‘Scrooge was stingy’ and then similar flesh this key detail out with the illustrative, supporting detail.

The indirect characterization you then add on to key details gives further texture, color, specificity to your characters. It helps, of course, to know your characters inside out:

The example above from Beloved shows how indirect characterization supports direct descriptive statements .

The boys Howard and Buglar fleeing from mirrors that seem to shatter by themselves or tiny hand prints appearing in a cake, for example. These specific images and incidents support the suggestion that the home at 124 is haunted by a ‘spiteful’ (or rather, determined-to-be-known) presence.

If you tell your reader a character is kind, think of dedicated scenes as well as passing moments that support the direct revelation.

Maybe your character gives up a seat on public transport for an elderly person. Maybe they help a neighbor get a pet that has run out of an open gate into a busy road to safety.

Indirect characterization is useful because it shows your reader the type of actions your character is likely to take .

This in turn enables your reader to make educated, qualified guesses about how your characters’ might react in situations whose outcome is not yet known. Through this, one ‘gets to know’ characters as though they were real people.

Action and reaction provide useful ways to tell your reader who your characters are indirectly.

For example, Sarah has a vase that belonged to her grandmother that she cherishes, and her hyperactive son knocks it over and breaks it. Does she scold him to be careful? Lash out? Show a mix of anger and understanding?

Think about what you want your reader to infer about a character from the way they react, even in incidents or situations that are trivial or secondary to your story’s main plotline . In this way every scene, every incident, will contribute toward building your characters’ personae.

One of the benefits of direct characterization is that it allows you to be concise.

Direct characterization is useful, for example, when a narrator is recapping prior events that are useful to the present story but not its main focus. For example, in the first page of Nick Hornby’s Slam , a novel about a sixteen-year-old skater named Sam:

So things were ticking along quite nicely. In fact, I’d say that good stuff had been happening pretty solidly for about six months. – For example: Mum got rid of Steve, her rubbish boyfriend. – For example: Mrs Gillet, my art and design teacher, took me to one side after a lesson and asked whether I’d thought of doing art at college. Nick Hornby, Slam (2007), p. 1

At this point in the story, the reader doesn’t need lengthy exposition about why Steve was a rubbish boyfriend. So the direct, telling characterization suits the purpose of this part of the story – catching the reader up on what has been happening in the teenaged protagonist’s life.

There is still balance between indirect and direct characterization in this example. The second example Sam gives tells us (through Mrs Gillet’s action) that the teacher is caring and sees artistic potential in Sam, without saying so explicitly. The part or unique incident suggests the whole of the teacher-student relationship.

Dialogue is a fantastic device for characterization because it may move the story forward while also telling your reader who characters are.

If, for example, there is banter and characters tease each other, it may imply an ease and familiarity (compared to stiff formality between strangers). Note, for example, how Hornby creates a sense of how awkward Rabbit is (an 18-year-old skater at Grind City, a skate park Sam frequents) in the dialogue below:

‘Yo, Sam,’ he said. Did I tell you that my name is sam? Well, now you know. ‘All right?’ ‘How’s it going, man?’ ‘OK.’ ‘Right. Hey, Sam. I know what I was gonna ask you. You know your mum?’ See what I mean about Rabbit being thick? Yes, I told him. I knew my mum. Hornby, pp. 11-12.

In this brief exchange, we see through the awkward, stop-start flow of conversation how Rabbit lacks social graces and awareness and (in the ensuing dialogue) reveals he has a crush on Sam’s mother.

Another useful way to use indirect characterization is to give an involved narrator (a narrator who is also a character in the story) a personality-filled voice .

In the above example of characterization via dialogue, for example, Sam’s asides to the reader (‘Well, now you know’ and ‘See what I mean about Rabbit being thick?’) create the sense of a streetwise, slightly jaded teenaged voice.

Think of ways to inject characters’ personalities into their narration. What subjects do they obsess over (it’s clear Sam loves skating from the first few pages of Slam )? How do they see others (Sam appears fairly dismissive and a little cocky, from referring to his mom’s ‘rubbish’ boyfriend to his blunt description of Rabbit as ‘thick’).

Use language in narration your character would use based on demographic details such as age, cultural background or class identity.

The casual, clipped language Sam uses in the example above suggests the awkward and ‘too cool’ qualities of a teenaged boy.

To really understand the uses of direct and indirect characterization (and how to blend to two to show and tell, describe and imply), look for examples in books.

You could even write out the descriptions you love, to create your own guide to dip into whenever you’re creating characters.

Create believable, developed characters. Finishing a book is easier with structured tools and encouraging support.

Related Posts:

• Indirect characterization: Revealing characters subtly
• Direct characterization: 6 tips for precise description
• Writing advice: Show, don't tell: or should you?
• Tags character description , characterization

Jordan is a writer, editor, community manager and product developer. He received his BA Honours in English Literature and his undergraduate in English Literature and Music from the University of Cape Town.

26 replies on “Direct vs indirect characterization: How to show and tell”

Well explained and helpful

Thank you, Lexi. Thanks for reading!

Thanks for this, I’ve been back a few times now but failed to post a comment. ? This is going to help a lot during this revision!

It’s a pleasure, Robin. Glad you managed in the end. We’ve been migrating our blog to https (more secure) which may have been the cause. Good luck with your revision!

Ah! Okay. Thank you! First books are hard so much to learn. I feel like I could have written two other books while fixings this one. xD (I want to, I enjoy shaping the old chapters to how I write now. ^;^) I also found a program to help speed this up; bibisco. I like it way more than the complicated expensive writing programs out there. IMO.

Where to sign up to get updates for this blog? I don’t want to forget about your blog. (I need reminders for everything. lol. A newsletter is a good way to do that.)

If you sign up for a Now Novel member account, you get subscribed to our blog newsletter too. Alternatively, drop us a line at help at now novel dot com with the email address you’d like to use to get updates and I’ll have our email guy add you to our mailing list. Thanks!

Can you please ,include a section about dynamic and static characters? Thanks for your precious help

Hi Abdou, thank you for the suggestion! I’ll add it to the list for revision ideas, thank you.

You are welcome.

This is such a great website offering very useful tools for writers. I’ve been Googling for days now about everything I wanted to learn in novel writing and I can’t believe I just found this site.

Thanks, Alexa. I’m glad you’ve found our website helpful 🙂

You shared some excellent tips on characterization. I think all writers can benefit from this blog.

Thank you so much, Derrick. I’m glad you’re finding our blog helpful! Thanks for reading.

This is very helpful and I Aced my quiz on something i’m not that good at cool when you lookat the paper it looks long but when you start reading you get lost

Glad you aced your quiz, Kimberly.

Thank You great job!

Thanks, Anna. Thank you for reading our blog!

Very useful.

Thank you so much,

Thank you for your feedback, Aleix. It’s a pleasure, thank you for reading our articles.

Thank you for a clear explanation. It is most useful.

It’s a pleasure, Vivienne. Thank you for reading our blog.

An author employs indirect characterization to avoid explicitly announcing a character’s attributes by revealing those aspects to the reader through the character’s actions, thoughts, and words. Using the phrase “John had a short fuse” as an example would be direct characterisation, but the phrase “John hissed at the man without any prior warning” would be indirect portrayal.

Thank you for sharing your example of indirect and direct characterization and for reading our blog.

[…] is direct characterization is so […]

Thank you for providing this complete reference on direct and indirect characterization. It is often difficult to strike a balance between showing and explaining in writing, and your examples and advice are quite helpful. I really like the focus on utilizing both strategies sparingly, as well as the reminder that indirect characterization may frequently result in a more detailed and compelling picture of characters. I’ll keep these tips in mind as I strive to hone my own writing style.

Thanks so very for your comment. We’re so pleased that you found it helpful. All the best with your writing!

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Direct Characterization: Definition, Examples, and Direct vs. Indirect Characterization

Written by MasterClass

Last updated: Sep 7, 2021 • 5 min read

The great works of literature derive their greatness from three components: language, story, and character. Language refers to the mastery and manipulation of a particular lexicon. Think of Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness or James Joyce’s Ulysses . Story, meanwhile, refers to the plot that seizes the reader’s interest and keeps them engaged. Think of William Styron’s Sophie’s Choice or Stephen King’s It .

Finally, character refers to an author’s ability to create deep, dynamic figures who resonate with readers in both familiar and unfamiliar ways. Character is revealed via story and language, but characterization itself is a key skill mastered by the most accomplished of authors.