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Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [quotes]

The words a character speaks. Use this tag for questions about how to write quotes, or common practices specific to quotes.

124 questions
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What English version of the bible should I quote from?

Say I want to quote from the bible in something I'm writing (think the famous passage in Pulp Fiction). What bible version should I quote from? I've done some research but only ended up more confused than before - KJV, NIV, NAB... every website…
ggambetta
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6 answers

Attributing quotes to fictional characters

Let's say, for example, that I want to post my favourite quote from Babylon 5 somewhere: "I'm not saying what I'm saying. I'm not saying what I'm thinking. As a matter of fact, I'm not thinking what I'm thinking." - John Sheridan, Babylon 5 How…
Adam Lear
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14
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3 answers

What is the meaning of square brackets in quotes?

"[t]he company engaged..." I read a quote earlier starting with these words, and I am unsure of the meaning of the square brackets encapsulating the "t". A cursory search online doesn't seem to yield anything relevant. Aside from being used for…
Magikarp
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4 answers

Is it appropriate to credit someone with a quote if I am not absolutely sure they are the source?

I read a quote a long time ago, but did not know the origin. I want to use it in a paper I am writing, so I tried researching to find out who is the source of the quote. The quote is "We are the universe trying to understand itself." and I believe…
Michael
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What is the original source of the Lawrence Durrell quote starting with "My spirit turns more and more [...]"?

This may be more appropriately called a "Literature" or "History" question but as it's about a writer, I thought I'd try here first. I'm seeking more information about the origin of the following quote, which appears on the flyleaf of the book…
user1071914
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2
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2 answers

Spacing for quotes within quotes

Character A is quoting characters B and C. Since character A is talking their words are enclosed in double quotes. Their rendition of characters B and C's speech is enclosed in single quotes. Should there be spacing as well for character B/C's? …
Ken - Enough about Monica
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Attributing Quote to Fictional Characters (Who are based on real people)

I'm making a poster of one of my favorite quotes from Almost Famous: You'll meet them all again on their long journey to the middle. The quote was spoken by the character of Lester Bangs, who was written by Cameron Crowe, BUT the character was…
user8018
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Quoting characters' writing

If a character writes something inside of a diary, how do I quote it? Do I quote just like anything else? Specifically I am talking about page 145 of the Washington Square Press paperback edition of Warriors Don't Cry.
Snakes and Coffee
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What did Norman Mailer mean?

I read this quote recently, attributed to Norman Mailer, that has had my brain itching: Alimony is the curse of the writing class. What did he mean by it?
Ramy
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First page of the Diary - Quote

am gifting some one a diary I want to write something meaningful in the first page of it. All I could come up with is... In the most ammaaazing journey that you are yet to embark upon, Called Life! Record all your beautiful memories.. so that one…
codeMan
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When quoting a person's informal speech, how much liberty do you have to make changes to what they say?

Even during a formal interview for a news article, people speak informally. They say "uhm", they cut off sentences half-way through, they interject phrases like "you know?", and they make innocent grammatical mistakes. As somebody who wants to…
Jason Indigo
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