misquotation

Misquotation refers to quoting someone in a way that misrepresents the original words or intent. It can involve presenting words the person did not say, altering wording, or removing necessary context in a way that changes meaning. Misquotation covers both accidental errors and deliberate misrepresentation.

Common forms include incorrect wording, where punctuation, capitalization, or minor edits distort meaning; misattribution, where a statement is credited to the wrong person; context loss, where surrounding text is omitted and the quote no longer reflects the original argument; and selective quotation, where only flattering or supporting passages are quoted while contradictory material is ignored. Translation errors and faulty paraphrase can also produce misquotation, as can quote mining, which deliberately extracts snippets to mislead.

The effects of misquotation can be modest or significant. It can undermine the credibility of the quoted individual or the quoting source, propagate misinformation, distort public discourse, and shape opinions based on an inaccurate representation of what was said.

Prevention relies on careful verification. Best practices include consulting primary sources, reproducing exact wording, preserving context, noting the source and date, and clearly distinguishing direct quotes from paraphrase. When errors occur, issuing corrections or clarifications helps restore accuracy and trust. In scholarly and journalistic work, precise quotation is considered essential to fairness and intellectual integrity.