Quotes

Today I want to talk about using quotes. First, an admission. I don’t have anything original to say on the topic.

Why use quotes?

In the words of Joe Glaser in Understanding Style, “At times the best words you can use are someone else’s.” Paul LaRocque in The Concise Guide to Copy Editing states, “Quotations add life, authority and veracity to a story …”

How long should they be?

LaRocque’s advice to editors is to not be “slaves to the quoted word. Paraphrase when necessary. Cut when necessary.” If you’re quoting someone you’ve interviewed, put yourself in the position of your reader. Would you want to read every word they said. Thing is, when we speak we use a lot of redundancy. We say things over and over again. Repeatedly. It’s not nice to read, is it? So be ruthless. Cut.

Very Important Thing to Remember

Attribute the quote. Don’t pretend the words are yours if they are not. In most writing it is enough to use the name of the person who wrote or said the words. Glaser says, “Include the title of the piece if you think it will be useful to the reader.” He also states that in academia and research there are more rigorous requirements which you must follow.

An otherwise dull piece of work can be enlivened by quotes. They change the pace. They add another voice, and thus add interest. They can also lead the reader to discover new insights when they follow up on the source of a quote. 

Useful things really.