Asked by Blessed

What can I do to fix this sentence?

Fred said the distributor cap on my car is cracked
Answered by Ms. Sue
Nothing, other than a period at the end. You've used an indirect quotation, and quotation marks are not needed.

Answered by Writeacher
Ms. Sue is correct.

Someone posted this very sentence the other day -- http://www.jiskha.com/display.cgi?id=1363261452 -- and it was answered differently AND INCORRECTLY!! If you use quotation marks there also needs to be a comma and an additional word needs to be capitalized ... AND you change the meaning of the sentence!!

Best keep it as it is!
Answered by Blessed
Thank you both!
Answered by Writeacher
You're welcome!
Answered by Ken
That was my mistake, I read it as a direct quote of Fred, speaking about his own car, rather than an indirect quote. Thank you.
Answered by Anonymous ...
1.Fred said, that the distributor cap on my car is cracked.
2.Fred said, the distributor cap on his car is cracked