Quotquot

Quotquot is a fictional data notation and markup concept used to encapsulate quoted material within digital documents. It defines a standardized block for quotes that pairs the quoted text with structured metadata such as source, author, date, page or edition, and contextual notes. The concept is intended to improve archival, citation, and machine readability of quotations.

In its envisioned syntax, a quotquot block comprises a quote field and a metadata field. For example, a plain-text representation might appear as: quote_text="To be or not to be"; source="Hamlet"; author="William Shakespeare"; date="1603"; context="Act 3, Scene 1". The block is designed to be convertible into JSON, XML, or BibTeX and to map to existing citation standards, supporting non-destructive annotations and reproducible quoting.

Quotquot emerged in the early 2020s as an illustrative concept in discussions about quotation management in digital publishing. It has appeared in speculative articles and open-source proposal drafts as a demonstration of how quotes can carry rich metadata. It remains a hypothetical construct rather than a formal standard.

In educational and publishing contexts, quotquot is used to discuss best practices for attribution, provenance, and reuse. Advocates cite clearer attribution and interoperability; critics note potential redundancy with existing citation formats and the need for widely adopted schemas. See also: quotation mark, citation, blockquote.