Which sentence correctly punctuates the quotation?

• A. Mark said I hate trees.
• B. Mark said I hate trees.
• C. Mark said, "I hate trees."
• D. "Mark said I hate trees."

Answer: (C)

When you present direct speech with a reporting verb, separate the spoken words from the reporting clause with a comma and use quotation marks around what was said. The comma goes after the reporting verb and before the opening quotation mark, and the spoken words are enclosed in quotation marks with the final period inside them.

So the right form is: Mark said, "I hate trees." This makes it clear who spoke and exactly what was said, and the punctuation correctly marks the boundary between the reporting clause and the quoted speech.

Options without quotation marks or with the entire sentence in quotes don’t clearly indicate the spoken words or misplace the reporting clause, which is why they’re not correct.