Say and tell are the two verbs most commonly used to report statements in English. We can use either say or tell to do this. The main difference is that when we use told we normally say who is spoken to, so we have to use it with a direct personal object.

When should I use said and told?

Said is used to report what someone else has spoken. Told is used to report what someone else has spoken to a specific person or a group of persons. Said is used prominently in indirect speech. Told is used generously in direct speech.

When to use say and tell in reported speech?

We use say and tell in different ways in reported speech. Say focuses on the words someone said and tell focuses more on the content or message of what someone said: 'Hello,' she said. Not: 'Hello,' she told.