Quote

Definition

A quote is a repetition of someone else's statement or thoughts, often used to lend authority, clarity, or emotion to a piece of writing. In dialogue, quotes are crucial for conveying character voice and advancing the narrative, allowing readers to hear the characters' actual words and engage more deeply with their perspectives.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Quotes in dialogue help create a realistic interaction between characters, reflecting their personalities and emotions.
2. Using quotes effectively can enhance the authenticity of a narrative, as readers get to experience the characters' thoughts and speech directly.
3. It's essential to punctuate quotes correctly, using quotation marks to indicate spoken words and adhering to grammatical rules.
4. Quotes can serve different purposes in writing, such as providing evidence in an argument or illustrating a point in storytelling.
5. In journalism, quotes are vital for capturing the voice of sources and adding credibility to articles by presenting information directly from individuals involved.

Review Questions

• How do quotes contribute to character development in dialogue?
  • Quotes play a significant role in character development by allowing readers to hear characters' voices directly. Through their spoken words, readers can gain insight into a character's personality, motivations, and emotions. The specific language and style of speech that characters use in their quotes can reveal their backgrounds, social status, and relationships with others, enhancing the overall narrative.
• Discuss the importance of punctuation and formatting when incorporating quotes into dialogue.
  • Punctuation and formatting are crucial when integrating quotes into dialogue because they ensure clarity and accuracy. Quotation marks must be used to indicate spoken words, while proper placement of punctuation—like commas and periods—affects how the dialogue flows. This attention to detail not only maintains grammatical integrity but also aids readers in understanding who is speaking and the tone of the conversation.
• Evaluate the impact of using quotes from various sources within journalistic writing, particularly regarding audience perception.
  • In journalistic writing, utilizing quotes from various sources can significantly impact audience perception by adding credibility and depth to the story. When journalists include direct quotes from experts, witnesses, or public figures, they provide a firsthand perspective that enhances the article's authority. This practice allows readers to engage with different viewpoints, fostering a more nuanced understanding of the subject matter while also establishing trust in the journalist's work.

Related terms

Attribution: The act of identifying the original speaker or source of a quote, providing context and credibility to the statement.

Paraphrase: A restatement of a quote or passage in one's own words, maintaining the original meaning but altering the phrasing.

Dialogue Tag: Words or phrases that attribute dialogue to a character, often used to clarify who is speaking and convey tone.