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
Example: “She provided a detailed quotation from the author in her research paper.”
Describes the act of citing or reproducing someone else’s words verbatim.
- Quotation Marks Usage
Example: “The rules of proper citation include using quotation marks around direct speech.”
Indicates the punctuation marks used to set off a quotation within a text.
- Formal Statement of Price
Example: “The contractor submitted a detailed quotation for the construction project.”
Can also refer to a formal statement of the estimated cost for a service or product.
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
Example: “The article began with a powerful quote from a renowned philosopher.”
Refers to a specific, cited passage taken directly from a source.
- Inspirational Saying
“She shared her favorite quote to motivate her team during the project.”
Example: Can also denote a memorable or inspirational saying.
- Offering a Price
Example: “The company provided a quote for the requested services.”
As a verb, “quote” can mean offering a specific price for a service or product.
Strategies for Differentiation
- Action vs. Entity
Recognize that “quotation” relates to the action of 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 outcome—a specific cited passage or saying.
