Quotation: The Act of Quoting or Citing
Quotation refers to the action or process of quoting or citing someone else’s words:
- Citing Someone Else’s Words: Describes the act of citing or reproducing someone else’s words verbatim.
Example: “She provided a detailed quotation from the author in her research paper.” - Quotation Marks Usage: Indicates the punctuation marks used to set off a quotation within a text.
Example: “The rules of proper citation include using quotation marks around direct speech.” - Formal Statement of Price: Can also refer to a formal statement of the estimated cost for a service or product.
Example: “The contractor submitted a detailed quotation for the construction project.”
Quote: A Directly Cited Passage or Extract
Quote, as a noun, refers to a specific passage or extract that is directly cited from a source:
- Direct Citation: Refers to a specific, cited passage taken directly from a source.
Example: “The article began with a powerful quote from a renowned philosopher.” - Inspirational Saying: This can also denote a memorable or inspirational saying.
Example: “She shared her favorite quote to motivate her team during the project.” - Offering a Price: As a verb, “quote” can mean offering a specific price for a service or product.
Example: “The company provided a quote for the requested services.”
Strategies for Differentiation
- Action vs. Entity
Recognize that “quotation” relates to citing or quoting, while “quote” denotes a specific cited passage or saying. - Process vs. Outcome
Use “quotation” when referring to the process of citing and “quote” when pointing to the outcomeโa specific cited passage or saying.
