Fehlquote

Fehlquote is a German term used to describe an incorrect quotation attributed to a person or source. It refers to a quotation that is misstated, misattributed, or presented without proper context. The term appears in discussions of journalism, media studies, and linguistics when examining errors in reporting and quotation practices.

Causes of Fehlquoten include transcription mistakes, mishearing, faulty memory, imperfect translation, editorial shortcuts, and in some cases deliberate manipulation. Types range from misattributions (attributing a statement to someone who did not say it) to inaccuracies in wording (quoting with altered meaning) and context removal (quoting out of context or stripping signals that change interpretation).

The impact of a Fehlquote can be reputational damage for the quoted individual or institution, and it often prompts corrections, editor’s notes, or formal apologies. In the digital era, Fehlquoten can spread quickly and be difficult to retract, though online platforms also enable rapid corrections and updates through amendments, fact-checking, and clarifications.

Prevention focuses on rigorous source verification, including consulting original audio or video records, official transcripts, or primary documents, and preserving exact wording and attribution. When errors occur, transparent corrections and explanations are standard ethical responses. In practice, Zitierfehler (citation errors) is a more common term in German discourse, but Fehlquote is used in some contexts to discuss misquotations more broadly.

Related topics include media ethics, fact-checking, and quotation practices.