Quote
A quote, short for quotation, is the exact reproduction of words or phrases from a source such as a book, speech, or document, typically enclosed in quotation marks to indicate direct attribution and preserve the original wording.[1] In writing and academic contexts, quotes serve to provide evidence, lend authority to arguments, or introduce perspectives from experts, with direct quotes capturing verbatim language while indirect quotes paraphrase the content.[2] Proper use of quotes requires citation to credit the source and avoid plagiarism, distinguishing them from paraphrases or summaries that rephrase ideas in the writer's own words.[3] Beyond language, a quote can refer to a stated price for goods, services, or securities in financial or commercial settings, such as a bid-offer spread for stocks.[4] Quotation marks, the punctuation symbols denoting quotes, have roots in ancient Greek punctuation such as the diplé and developed in medieval manuscripts to highlight referenced passages, evolving into modern conventions for dialogue and citations.[5] The term also has specialized uses in computing (e.g., quotation marks in programming strings), media (e.g., direct quotes in journalism and entertainment), and other contexts. In literature and rhetoric, effective quoting enhances narrative depth by integrating voices from diverse sources, though overuse can disrupt flow, prompting guidelines for integration via signal phrases.[6]Speech and Written Text
Direct Quotation
A direct quotation is the verbatim reproduction of spoken or written words from a source, typically introduced by reporting verbs such as "said," "asked," or "exclaimed."[7] This method preserves the exact phrasing, tone, and intent of the original speaker or author, distinguishing it from paraphrasing or summarization.[3] Quotation marks enclose the quoted material, with conventions varying between American and British English. In American English, double quotation marks (“ ”) are standard for primary quotations, and periods and commas are placed inside the closing mark unless the punctuation belongs to the surrounding sentence.[8] British English often prefers single quotation marks (‘ ’) for primary use, with double marks for nested quotes, and places commas and periods outside unless they are part of the quoted text.[9] For instance, in American style: She said, "I love reading." In British style: She said, 'I love reading'.[10] Examples abound in literature and everyday speech. William Shakespeare's Hamlet features the famous soliloquy line, "To be, or not to be—that is the question," delivered by Prince Hamlet in Act 3, Scene 1.[11] In casual conversation, one might report: He shouted, "Watch out for the car!" These instances highlight how direct quotes convey immediacy and authenticity. Nested quotes occur when a quotation includes another, using alternating marks: double for the outer and single for the inner in American English, or vice versa in British.[12] For example: The witness testified, "The suspect yelled, 'I didn't do it!'" Interruptions in dialogue, common in narrative writing, are marked by em dashes without additional punctuation, as in: "I can't believe—wait, is that true?"[13] The historical origins of direct quotation trace to ancient Greek and Roman rhetoric, where historians like Thucydides incorporated direct speeches in works such as The History of the Peloponnesian War to dramatize debates and preserve oratorical impact, though often composed rather than strictly verbatim.[14] Roman authors, including Livy in Ab Urbe Condita, similarly used reconstructed direct speeches to illustrate historical events and moral lessons.[15] This practice influenced later conventions for reporting exact words, contrasting with indirect quotation, which rephrases content without marks.[3]Indirect Quotation
Indirect quotation, also known as reported speech, involves paraphrasing or summarizing the original words of a speaker or writer without reproducing them verbatim, thereby adapting the content to fit the grammatical and contextual needs of the reporting sentence.[7] This process typically requires adjustments to pronouns, verb tenses, and sentence structure to reflect the reporter's perspective and the time elapsed since the original statement; for instance, the direct statement "I am tired" might be reported indirectly as "He said that he was tired."[16] In English, a key feature of this adaptation is tense backshifting, where present tenses in the original speech shift to past tenses in the report (e.g., "I go" becomes "she said she went"), unless the reported content remains generally true.[17] Unlike direct quotation, which preserves the exact wording and requires quotation marks, indirect quotation integrates seamlessly into the narrative using reporting verbs such as "said," "told," or "explained," without any punctuation to set it off.[18] This method enhances conciseness by condensing lengthy original statements into a more fluid form, improving the overall flow in narratives, reports, or academic writing while still conveying the essential meaning.[19] For example, a verbose direct quote like "I believe that climate change is the most pressing issue facing our generation today" can be rendered indirectly as "She stated that climate change was the most pressing issue facing their generation," allowing for smoother integration without disrupting readability.[20] Common errors in indirect quotation include failing to backshift tenses appropriately, such as reporting "I am going" as "He said he is going" instead of "he was going," which can distort the temporal relationship.[21] Another frequent mistake is mixing elements of direct and indirect speech, like inserting exact phrases from the original without full adaptation (e.g., "He said that 'I am tired'"), leading to grammatical inconsistency and confusion for the reader.[22] Linguistic variations in indirect quotation are evident across languages, particularly in tense handling; while English and many European languages routinely apply backshifting to align tenses with the reporting context, some non-Indo-European languages like Lango in Africa do not shift tenses at all, relying instead on contextual cues for interpretation.[23] These differences highlight how indirect quotation adapts to each language's grammatical conventions, such as the use of special verb forms in German or Finnish to maintain continuity without strict backshifting.[23] In contrast to direct quotation, which prioritizes fidelity to the source's exact phrasing for emphasis or authenticity, indirect quotation favors summarization to support broader narrative goals.[19]Finance
Financial Quotes
Financial quotes refer to the real-time or delayed price data for securities such as stocks, bonds, and currencies in foreign exchange (forex) markets. These quotes typically include the bid price, representing the highest amount a buyer is willing to pay; the ask price, indicating the lowest amount a seller will accept; the last trade price; trading volume; and the percentage change from the previous close.[24] For stocks, quotes provide snapshots of current market prices during trading hours, enabling investors to assess liquidity and price movements.[24] Bond quotes are expressed as a percentage of the bond's face or par value, often with additional details like yield to maturity, allowing traders to evaluate fixed-income securities relative to their principal amount.[25] In forex markets, quotes denote the exchange rate between two currencies, with the quote currency expressing the value of the base currency, facilitating global currency trading.[26] Sources of financial quotes include major stock exchanges like the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and NASDAQ, which disseminate data directly from their trading platforms. The NYSE provides real-time streaming quotes via cloud-based services in formats like Kafka, covering equities, options, and bonds with bid/ask prices and volume across its five equities platforms.[27] NASDAQ offers similar exchange-generated data, including intraday trades and quotes for listed securities. Professional platforms such as Bloomberg Terminal aggregate and deliver these quotes, providing high-quality, real-time information across stocks, bonds, and forex from global exchanges and over-the-counter markets.[28] These sources ensure broad accessibility for institutional and retail users, often through direct feeds or consolidated networks. Financial quotes are categorized into types based on depth and purpose. Level 1 quotes offer basic information, displaying the national best bid and offer (NBBO), last sale price, and volume for quick market overviews. Level 2 quotes provide greater detail, revealing the full order book with multiple bid and ask levels from various market participants, aiding in liquidity assessment and order placement. Historical quotes, comprising past price, volume, and trade data, support technical analysis and backtesting strategies over periods ranging from intraday to decades.[29] In the United States, regulatory aspects mandate timely and accurate dissemination of financial quotes to promote market transparency and fairness. Under Regulation NMS, adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2005, exchanges and associations must collect, process, and make public the best bids, offers, and quotation sizes for National Market System (NMS) securities in real-time, reflecting current market conditions without undue delay. Rule 602 specifically requires responsible brokers and dealers to promptly communicate quotations to their exchange or association, ensuring consolidated displays of the NBBO via joint industry plans like the Consolidated Quote (CQ) plan. These rules prohibit discriminatory access and cap fees for protected quotations at $0.003 per share, fostering efficient markets while excluding manual or inaccessible quotes from protections.[30] The evolution of financial quotes traces from mechanical systems in the 19th century to digital infrastructures today. In 1867, Edward Calahan invented the stock ticker, a telegraph-based machine that printed stock prices on paper tape, revolutionizing real-time information dissemination for traders. By the early 20th century, ticker tapes became widespread on exchange floors, but their mechanical limitations—printing at about one character per second—could not keep pace with growing trading volumes. In the 1960s and 1970s, electronic computers replaced ticker machines, shifting to digital networks for faster transmission. The 1980s introduction of electronic communication networks (ECNs) and the 1990s decimalization of prices further digitized quotes. Post-2000, the rise of application programming interfaces (APIs) enabled seamless integration of real-time and historical data into trading platforms and apps, with cloud-based streaming from exchanges like NYSE facilitating global access via standardized feeds.[31]Sales Quotes
A sales quote is a formal document prepared by a seller to present a potential buyer with the proposed costs, terms, validity period, and conditions for delivering products or services in a business transaction.[32][33] It serves as an offer that details the scope of the sale, helping both parties evaluate feasibility before proceeding to a contract.[34] Key components of a sales quote include the seller's and buyer's contact information, a unique quote number and date, detailed descriptions of items or services, quantities required, unit prices, subtotals, applicable taxes, discounts, grand total, payment terms, and expiration date for the offer.[35][36] These elements ensure transparency and allow for customization based on the buyer's needs, such as bundling services or applying volume-based pricing.[37] Sales teams typically generate quotes through customer relationship management (CRM) software, which streamlines the process by integrating customer data, product catalogs, and pricing rules to produce accurate documents quickly.[38] Tools like Salesforce CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) automate configuration and quoting, enabling reps to create tailored proposals and convert accepted quotes directly into purchase orders or contracts within the system.[39] This integration reduces manual errors and accelerates the sales cycle from initial inquiry to fulfillment.[40] Legally, a sales quote constitutes a binding offer that, upon acceptance by the buyer—often through signature or explicit agreement—forms an enforceable contract obligating the seller to deliver at the specified terms.[33][41] In contrast, estimates provide non-binding approximations of costs and remain flexible for negotiation or adjustment, lacking the formal commitment of a quote.[42][43] Failure to honor an accepted quote can lead to breach of contract claims, underscoring the importance of clear terms to mitigate disputes.[44] The practice of issuing sales quotes traces its roots to 18th-century mercantile commerce, where European traders in ports like Hamburg exchanged detailed letters outlining prices, quantities, and delivery conditions for goods in long-distance trade. These early correspondences functioned as preliminary offers, evolving through 19th-century standardization in transoceanic commerce—such as the adoption of "c.i.f." (cost, insurance, freight) pricing terms—into formalized documents.[45] By the late 20th century, digital quoting tools like Salesforce, introduced in the 1990s, transformed the process with automation, replacing manual ledgers and enabling real-time collaboration in global sales.Computing
Quoting in Programming
In programming languages, quoting mechanisms employ delimiters such as quotation marks to define string literals, enabling the inclusion of text or data sequences as non-executable data within source code rather than as instructions to be interpreted by the compiler or interpreter.[46] For instance, in languages like Python and JavaScript, double quotes enclose strings, as in"hello", treating the enclosed content literally without triggering code execution.[47] This approach ensures that embedded material, such as user input or configuration data, remains inert until explicitly processed, a critical feature for constructing outputs like file contents or database queries.[48]
Escape sequences extend quoting capabilities by allowing special characters—those with syntactic significance, like quotes or newlines—within literals through a backslash prefix, preventing premature termination or misinterpretation. In C and derived languages, \" embeds a double quote inside a double-quoted string, while \n represents a newline without inserting an actual line break in the code.[49] Such sequences originated in early systems to handle non-printable or reserved characters, maintaining the integrity of the literal boundary.[48]
Language-specific variations enhance flexibility: many support both single (') and double (") quotes for strings, with single quotes often reserved for single characters in C-like syntax to distinguish scalar values from multi-character sequences. Python introduces raw strings prefixed with r, as in r"raw\text", which treat backslashes literally without processing escapes, simplifying paths or regular expressions. For multi-line literals, heredocs provide a delimiter-based block structure, common in Unix shells like Bash, where content follows an introducer like << EOF and ends with EOF, preserving formatting without repeated escapes. These features collectively serve to embed complex, uninterpreted content, such as SQL query strings ("SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = 'user'"), avoiding unintended code execution during construction.[47][50]
Historically, quoting evolved from 1960s languages like FORTRAN, which used apostrophes for character-string constants (e.g., 'HELLO'), primarily for fixed-length data in scientific computing without advanced escapes. By the 1970s, C standardized backslash escapes in its string literals, influencing modern syntax in languages from Java to Python, prioritizing portability and handling of diverse character sets.[46][49]
Quoting in Digital Communication
Quoting in digital communication refers to the practice of reproducing portions of prior messages within replies to provide context for ongoing discussions, typically achieved by prefixing or indenting the original text. In plain text formats, such as email and Usenet posts, this is conventionally done using greater-than signs (">") at the start of each quoted line, with nested levels indicated by additional signs (e.g., ">>" for second-level quotes) to denote reply depth. This method originated as a de facto standard in early networked systems, emulating inclusion styles from tools like BSD Mail and early Usenet software to maintain conversational flow without requiring full message retransmission.[51][52] Key standards govern these practices to ensure compatibility and readability. RFC 3676 specifies the "format=flowed" parameter for plain text emails, which formalizes the use of ">" as the quote indicator while enabling reflowable text that wraps lines without breaking quoting structure. For emails containing non-ASCII characters in quoted sections, RFC 2045 defines quoted-printable encoding, which represents binary data using printable ASCII characters (e.g., encoding bytes as "=XX" hex pairs) to facilitate transmission over 7-bit networks like SMTP. In HTML-based emails, theelement provides semantic indentation for quotes, rendering them visually distinct while preserving structure for various clients.[51][53][54] Platform-specific implementations have refined these conventions for user-friendliness. Gmail organizes replies into threaded views that nest messages chronologically, often collapsing older quotes behind expandable sections to focus on new content. Outlook similarly supports inline quoting with vertical bars or indentation in replies, configurable via options to prefix original lines for clarity. Usenet, influential in early online forums, adheres to the > prefixing tradition in its text-only articles, where excessive quoting is discouraged to avoid rejection by servers enforcing content ratios. Modern tools like Slack extend this by allowing selective quoting—users prefix specific excerpts with ">" or link to messages—reducing the need to reproduce entire threads and aligning with threaded discussion models.[55][56][57][58] Challenges arise with prolonged use, particularly in quote depth overload, where deeply nested threads (e.g., multiple >> levels) accumulate irrelevant history, exacerbating email overload and hindering quick comprehension in conversations spanning dozens of exchanges. Accessibility issues further complicate this for screen reader users, as linear navigation reads quoted material sequentially without inherent differentiation from new content, potentially overwhelming users with outdated context unless clients provide skip-to-new options. These practices trace back to ARPANET's 1970s email experiments, where basic message inclusion in replies laid the groundwork, evolving through Usenet's conventions in the late 1970s to today's selective tools that prioritize brevity and inclusivity.[59][60][61]Media
Quotes in Journalism
In journalism, quotes serve as attributed statements from sources such as interviewees, officials, or experts, providing direct voice to those involved and enhancing the credibility of the reporting by allowing readers to assess the original words and intent.[62] These elements introduce human perspective, authority, and precision to news narratives, distinguishing factual accounts from mere summarization and building public trust in the journalist's work.[63] Ethical guidelines for handling quotes prioritize accuracy in transcription, preservation of original context to avoid misleading interpretations, and strict avoidance of manipulation, such as altering words to fit a narrative or removing qualifiers that change meaning. The Associated Press Stylebook, a standard reference for U.S. journalists, mandates that quotes must not be taken out of context and prohibits alterations even for grammatical corrections unless explicitly approved by the source, emphasizing verbatim reproduction to maintain integrity.[64] Similarly, the Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics requires seeking truth through precise sourcing and minimizing harm by ensuring quotes reflect the speaker's intent without distortion.[65] The Online News Association reinforces this by stressing that quotations must be accurate and fair to prevent misleading the public about quoted views.[66] Journalists employ various formats for quotes depending on length and purpose: inline quotes, integrated into the sentence with double quotation marks for short phrases or single sentences (e.g., "The policy will change everything," the official said); block quotes, indented and set off in a separate paragraph without quotation marks for longer excerpts, typically those exceeding three lines or a few sentences, preserving full context; and pull quotes, visually highlighted excerpts pulled from the text and displayed prominently for emphasis, often in larger font or sidebars to draw reader attention to key statements.[62][67] Attribution typically follows immediately, identifying the speaker by name, title, and credentials on first reference to establish reliability.[62] Legally, misquoting a source carries significant risks, including potential libel suits if the alteration falsely portrays the individual in a damaging light, leading to reputational harm and actionable defamation claims under negligence or actual malice standards depending on the subject's public status.[68][69] Conversely, the fair use doctrine under U.S. copyright law permits journalists to quote copyrighted material in news reporting, criticism, or commentary without permission, provided the use is transformative, limited in scope, and serves public interest rather than commercial exploitation.[70][71] Historically, quoting practices in journalism shifted from prevalent verbatim reporting in the 19th century—driven by partisan newspapers that used direct speech for dramatic effect and advocacy—to greater reliance on paraphrasing in the 20th century as objectivity became a professional norm, allowing reporters to synthesize information neutrally while reserving direct quotes for exceptional impact.[72] This evolution aligned with the rise of fact-based reporting around the 1920s, when magazines like TIME pioneered dedicated fact-checking to verify all elements, including quotes.[73] In the digital era, tools for audio recording and online verification have intensified scrutiny, enabling rapid fact-checking of quotes to combat misinformation while reinforcing ethical standards of transparency.[74]Quotes in Entertainment
In entertainment, quotes encompass memorable dialogues, lyrics, or excerpts from films, television, music, and literature that resonate culturally and are frequently repeated for their dramatic or emotional impact. These lines often encapsulate a work's themes or character essence, becoming shorthand for broader ideas; for instance, "May the Force be with you" from the 1977 film Star Wars has permeated popular culture as a blessing or farewell, symbolizing hope and resilience in the franchise's narrative.[75] Similarly, in literature and film, such quotes foster communal recognition, enhancing a piece's legacy beyond its original context. Techniques for incorporating quotes vary by medium to heighten dramatic effect. In literature, epigraphs—short quotations placed at a book's start—set thematic tone, as seen in T.S. Eliot's The Waste Land (1922), where lines from other poets foreshadow fragmentation and renewal.[76] Films frequently employ voiceovers to deliver introspective or iconic lines, providing narrative insight without visual action, as in Sunset Boulevard (1950), where the deceased narrator's opening monologue establishes a noir atmosphere.[77] In music, sampling integrates quoted dialogue or lyrics from films into new tracks, creating layered references; Public Enemy's Fight the Power (1989) samples Harry Belafonte and others to underscore social protest, amplifying the song's activist message through borrowed cultural weight.[78] Quotes play a pivotal cultural role through memes, parodies, and misquotes that extend their lifespan. The line "Play it again, Sam" from Casablanca (1942) is a famous misquote—Ingrid Bergman's character actually says "Play it, Sam"—yet its popularized version has inspired countless parodies and references, illustrating how audience memory shapes enduring appeal.[79] In the 2010s, quotes from streaming series like "I am inevitable" from Avengers: Endgame (2019) spawned viral memes on social platforms, blending humor with philosophical discourse on fate.[80] Industry practices emphasize crafting quotes for memorability while navigating legalities. Screenwriters employ subtext and brevity to forge iconic lines, avoiding direct exposition in favor of implied meaning, as advised in dialogue techniques that prioritize character voice over verbosity.[81] For real quotes, such as historical figures' words in biopics, productions require rights clearance to secure permissions from estates or copyright holders, preventing infringement claims.[82] This process, often handled by legal teams early in scripting, ensures ethical use and may briefly draw from journalistic sourcing for accuracy in dramatized contexts. Modern expansions include viral dissemination via streaming and social clips since the 2010s, where bite-sized excerpts from platforms like Netflix fuel online trends; "Winter is coming" from Game of Thrones (2011–2019) evolved into memes warning of impending challenges.[80] Emerging AI-generated content has introduced synthetic quotes, as in the 2024 Megalopolis trailer, where fabricated critic endorsements created by AI tools led to backlash and removal, highlighting ethical concerns in promotional entertainment.[83]Places
United States Locations
Quote, Missouri, is an extinct town located in Washington Township, Carroll County, in the northern part of the state. It served as a small rural settlement tied to the area's farming communities during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, functioning primarily as a trading point with a modest country store but never being platted or incorporated as a formal municipality.[84] A post office was established in Quote in 1892 to support local mail services for surrounding agricultural residents, operating continuously until its discontinuation in 1919 as the community's viability declined. The origin of the name "Quote" remains obscure, with no definitive records explaining its selection, though it reflects the informal naming practices common in rural Missouri settlements of the era. The site is situated in sections 26, 27, 34, and 35 of Township 55 North, Range 25 West, approximately along County Road C east of Road D, at coordinates 39.5391° N, 93.6832° W.[84] Today, Quote holds no incorporated status or resident population, classified by the U.S. Geological Survey's Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) as a historical populated place with lingering significance in Carroll County records for its role in local postal and economic history from the 1880s onward. Documentation of the settlement appears in county historical compilations and federal postal records, underscoring its place among Missouri's many vanished rural hamlets inspired by everyday vernacular or personal references.[84][85]International Locations
One notable international location incorporating "Quote" in its name is Quote San Francesco-Stranghilo-Torre, a small populated locality in the municipality of Portigliola, Province of Reggio Calabria, Calabria region, southern Italy. Situated at approximately 38.21°N 16.23°E and an elevation of 11 meters above sea level, it has around 140 residents and lies near the archaeological site of ancient Locri Epizephyrii.[86] The name "Quote San Francesco" reflects historical land division practices in the region, where "quote" is the plural form of the Italian word "quota," denoting portions or allotments of land, derived from the Latin verb quotare, meaning "to divide" or "to mark by numbers." This etymological root, traceable to Medieval Latin usage for distinguishing sections or shares, often appears in Italian toponymy associated with feudal or agricultural partitioning in southern Europe, particularly in areas of ancient settlement like Calabria.[87][88] Archaeologically, the site features a late antique palatium (elite residence) from the 5th-6th centuries CE, located just outside the walls of ancient Locri, indicating continued occupation into the Byzantine period amid regional mining activities and rural elite estates. This structure, part of a broader complex of Roman villas in the area, underscores Quote San Francesco's role in the transition from Roman to early medieval land use, with evidence of defensive adaptations such as upper-story residential shifts. Culturally, the naming likely ties to medieval ecclesiastical influences, honoring Saint Francis, and mirrors Calabria's history of fragmented land holdings in trade and resource extraction zones, including silver mining documented in Byzantine records.[89] Records of such minor locales remain sparse before the 20th century due to limited documentation in rural southern Italy, with much of the modern mapping and population data emerging from GIS integrations and archaeological surveys since the 2000s, enhancing visibility of these hamlets through databases like GeoNames.