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Click here for pop-up page that explains common errors using these words

1.	He asked me what I was doing and I    said   |  told    him I was swimming across the lake.
	The person addressed, me, is mentioned, so you must use tell.
2.	I was a little surprised and asked him if there was a problem. He    said   |  told    that there was too much boat traffic and it was dangerous.
	The person addressed is not mentioned, so you must use say.
3.	I realized that he was right and    said   |  told    : 'That's too bad. I suppose that means I must swim near the shore.'
	This is direct speech, so you should use say. For more information click on troubleshooting link at top of page.
4.	He    said   |  told    me that I could swim across the lake if I was accompanied by someone in a rowboat.
	The person addressed, me, is mentioned, so you must use tell.    A small boat that you row, using levers called 'oars.'
5.	He said that people in boats couldn't see swimmers in the water and    said   |  told    me to be careful swimming back to shore.
	The person addressed, me, is mentioned, so you must use tell.
6.	I was very careful and when I reached the shore I    said   |  told    my friends what had happened.
	The people addressed, my friends, are mentioned, so you must use tell.
7.	They were surprised and    said   |  told    so.
	The person addressed is not mentioned, so you must use say.
8.	'There are no US coastguard boats on a lake,' one of them    said   |  told    , convinced I was lying.
	This is direct speech, so you should use say. For more information click on troubleshooting link at top of page.
9.	'I'm    saying   |  telling    the truth,' I said, defensively.
	This is one of those expressions where you use tell. For more information click on troubleshooting link at top of page.
10.	'Why would I lie?' I    said   |  told    to them.
	This is direct speech, so you should use say. For more information click on troubleshooting link at top of page.
11.	I also told them what the coast guard officer had    said   |  told    about the rowboat.
	The person addressed is not mentioned, so you must use say.
12.	The coast guard guy told me it was dangerous but he also    said   |  told    that I could swim across if I was accompanied by someone in a rowboat.
	The person addressed is not mentioned, so you must use say.
13.	'If that's the case,' my friend    said   |  told    , 'then I will swim with you and Caroline can accompany us in a rowboat.'
	This is direct speech, so you should use say. For more information click on troubleshooting link at top of page.
14.	I thought that would solve the problem, and    said   |  told    Caroline to stay close to us.
	The person addressed, Caroline, is mentioned, so you must use tell. You always use tell when it is a command.
15.	The coast guard boat approached us again and this time I    said   |  told    the officer that, as he could see, we were accompanied by someone in a row boat.
	The person addressed, the officer, is mentioned, so you must use tell.
	His response surprised me. He said, 'I can see two swimmers but only one row boat.' I thought that he was being a bit too bureaucratic, but my friend, who is American, was really angry. 'It's hard to believe,' he said later, 'that the state motto for New Hampshire is Live Free or Die.