Quotation Question

[vcolts]

Ex1: They agreed that "crimes happen more in the slums."

Ex2: They agreed that, "Crimes happen more in the slums."
*A comma is added after that, and C is capitalized.

Ex3: They agreed that, "crimes happen more in the slums."
*Comma is added after "that."

Ex4: They agreed that "Crimes happen more in the slums"
*Notice the capitalization of C.

Usually: They agreed, "Crimes happen more in the slums."

I am aware that usually when a full sentence is being quoted, "that" is deleted and a comma takes place in its place (see "Usually"). But I wonder if any of the above examples (4) are acceptable.

Thanks in advance.

[5jj]

Ex1: They agreed that "crimes happen more in the slums."
Indirect speech - the inverted commas (quotation marks) are not required.

Ex2: They agreed that, "Crimes happen more in the slums." *A comma is added after that, and C is capitalized.
Presented as direct speech - possible, though better without 'that'

Ex3: They agreed that, "crimes happen more in the slums." *Comma is added after "that."
An odd mix - not recommended.

Ex4: They agreed that "Crimes happen more in the slums" *Notice the capitalization of C.
Another odd mix.

They agreed, "Crimes happen more in the slums."
Fine

You may well see different ways of punctuating sentences; English has very few absolute rules. Different publishers follow different conventions, and individuals tend to follow common sense rather than books of rules.

[TheParser]

[QUOTE=fivejedjon;815621]

individuals tend to follow common sense rather than books of rules.


NOT A TEACHER

Dear Member Vcolts:

(1) I just read an article in the London Review of Books, a very scholarly magazine.

(2) One very well-educated writer had this "quotation":

No, he told us, I don't carry manga or anime, we sell wrinkly old comics to wrinkly

old people.

(a) Note that the author used no quotation marks.

(b) Note, too, that he "incorrectly" used a comma after "anime" (instead of a semicolon).

(3) I think this example shows very clearly what Teacher Fivejedjon told us about "rules."