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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.

133 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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How should I quote American English speakers in a British English essay?

I am working on a formal essay where I have to quote a few American English speakers, but my essay is written in British English. Should I change terms like color to colour?
gen
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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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Quote at the beginning of a chapter, is it advisable for fiction novels?

I have read a few non-fiction works (mostly scientific) where there is a quote at the beginning of each new chapter. Sometimes the quote related to the chapter along with the title, sometimes it was difficult to make out why its there. I am assuming…
White Cloud
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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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Who pays for lyrics or quotes?

Occasionally, novels will include song lyrics in the story, or start out chapters with songs or quotes. In many cases, these lyrics or quotes are from copyrighted materials and would presumably require royalties be paid to the original author. Does…
sjohnston
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Quoting Yourself

I am editing a book for a writer who has quotes at the beginning of each chapter. The first chapter has a quote of her own. It's weird, but it's what she wants. Do I just treat it like the other quotes with her own name after it? Is this something…
Elizabeth Duncan
9
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2 answers

How to emphasize a quote is written, not spoken?

In a similar question on EL&U, I asked about suggestions for indicating that a quote is written instead of spoken. Robusto's answer suggested several possible approaches: For longer quotes of written text, use a form of block quote Shorter sections…
Cliff Hangerson Page
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Approach to pop culture quotes in fiction writing

I am contemplating writing a fictional character [nerd] who speaks in a pop culture references. I appreciate this question somewhat overlaps Referencing modern pop culture in science fiction The concept is a period piece so I see the use of quotes…
user3473715
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What are the poetry/quotes at the start of a chapter/book called?

For instance, "A Rasin in the Sun" starts with the poem "Harlem." I've noticed many (mostly contemporary) novels will start chapters with pieces of Poetry or quotes that are completely separate from the chapter itself, but that somehow compliment…
sinθ
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Many quotations of a black British novel which used creolized English language. When to use sic?

I finished writing my essay about Sam Selvons "The Lonely Londoners" which is written in creolized English. The use of creolized English comes with many grammatical as well as spelling errors. Now I am not sure whether to use "sic" after every error…
BrianBrain
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As a new poet, where can I find help from a professional to judge my work?

I often write short poems and quotes here: https://www.mirakee.com/atd, but I really want to hear from someone professional to give their valuable feedback on my work, so that I know where exactly I stand in the world of poets and poetry and improve…
Infinity
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How to use a quote with frequent changes

I am editing a manuscript in which the author frequently wants to change words within a fairly long quote (two sentences or more), and believes that if he does so he no longer needs to put the rest of the quote within quotation marks. I tell him he…
Carrie
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How to indicate that a single letter was removed from a quotation

Suppose a source text says: 1 Timothy 2:4 says that God desires all people to be saved. Now suppose I want to quote it like this: It is possible for God to "desire all people to be saved." Notice that I used 'desire' instead of 'desires'. How do…
Chris Morris
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When quoting issuing commands to multiple individuals, should each new person be a new paragraph?

If a person is giving instructions to separate individuals and it's all spoken in quotes, should the spoken words for each new person start a new paragraph or if the commands are connected to a single theme, should they all be together in a single…
GraniteStateColin
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