quotations

Quotations are the repetition of another person's words or text. They can be direct, in which the original wording is copied verbatim, or indirect (paraphrased), in which the ideas are restated in one’s own words. Direct quotations preserve exact wording, capitalization, and punctuation, while paraphrases render meaning without quoting the exact words.

Quotations are typically delimited by quotation marks or other devices. In English, double quotation marks are common for primary quotes; single marks may be used for a quote within a quote or according to certain style guides. Punctuation placement around quotation marks varies by style: American usage generally places periods and commas inside the closing quotation marks; British usage often places punctuation outside when it does not belong to the original text.

Attribution and citations are essential. A quotation should be attributed to its source and often accompanied by a citation. Short quotes may be integrated into a sentence with a parenthetical or footnote citation; longer passages may be presented as a block quote, typically indented and separated from the main text, with a citation.

Paraphrase requires careful handling. When ideas are restated, credit remains due to the original author, and the paraphrase should reflect the source’s meaning without merely substituting synonyms. Quotation ethics also demand preserving meaning and context and avoiding cherry-picking.

In publishing and academia, there are conventions for capitalization, punctuation, and style. Quoted material is used in journalism, scholarship, literature, and everyday speech to convey authority, evidence, or rhetoric. Title conventions vary by language: shorter works are placed in quotation marks in some styles, while long works are italicized or underlined; in several languages, guillemets are used for direct speech.