In paragraphs of indirect quotations or of summaries, it is as necessary to use explanatory phrases as in those of direct quotations, and this explanatory matter should be put in unemphatic positions. The form of the phrases should be varied as much as possible so that the repetition will not be evident. Among the active verbs that may be used in explanatory matter are: "say," "point out," "show," "declare," "explain," "insist," "ask," "advocate," "demand," "continue," "conclude." Passive forms include: "considered," "discussed," "given," "described," "demonstrated." It must always be made plain by these and other means that all matter not quoted directly gives the substance of the speech or report.
When the body of the story consists of a series of direct quotations, these paragraphs are introduced by such phrases as: "He said in part," "He spoke in part as follows," "The report in brief follows," "His address in full is as follows," or "The complete report follows." Such introductory statements end with a colon, and usually stand alone as a separate paragraph. In a continuous quotation extending through several paragraphs, quotation marks are placed at the beginning of each paragraph but at the end of only the last paragraph of the quotation. Quotations within quotations are set off by single quotation marks, and quotations within quotations within quotations by double marks.
It is not always necessary to arrange the matter in the body of the story so that it will follow the exact order in which it was given in the original. When the lead presents the most important statement, the following paragraphs frequently explain or amplify this statement, and then other parts of the speech follow, although in the original they may have preceded. In
