7.28 position of reported clauses

You usually put the reporting clause before the 'that'-clause, in order to make it clear that you are reporting rather than speaking directly yourself.

• I said that I would rather work in the forest.
• Georgina said she was going to bed.

However, if you want to emphasize the statement contained in the reported clause, you can alter the order and put the reported clause first, with a comma after it. You do not use 'that' to introduce the clause.

• All these things were trivial, he said.
• She was worried, he thought.

If the reported clause is long, you can put the reporting clause in the middle.

• Ten years ago, Moumoni explained, some government people had come to inspect the village.