Direct Quotes and Paraphrasing in Writing
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Quotes
And clichés
The quote
Writers for the mass media rely on
interviews. These produce quotes.
When you refer to what another source
has said or written using exact words, it’s
a quote.
It has quote marks around it.
Quote marks
Grammar reminder:
In the United States quote marks are
always outside punctuation, except when
using a colon or semicolon. Examples:
“Heavy snowfall is forecast for tomorrow,”
according to meteorologist Irving Nern.
Jenson proposed “an array of solutions to
stop high tuition”; the first step is a tax
increase.
Direct quotes
A direct quote uses quote marks (double
quotes in the United States) to indicate
the exact words a speaker used.
Writers or editors are ethically bound to
change nothing with quote marks around
it.
Some editors believe it’s OK to clear up
bad grammar in quotes.
Direct quotes
If a writer or editor prefers to use other
words, he or she must remove the quote
marks. Example:
Nern said, “I plan to run for Congress as
long as the people want me.”
You can change this, but you need to
remove the quotes:
Nern said she will consider running for
Congress as long as the voters want me.
This is called a paraphrase.
Partial quotes
A writer or editor may use some of the
source’s actual words, and some of his
or her own. Example:
Nern said she will run for Congress “as long
as the people will have me.”
The first part of that does not use her
exact words, so the sentence becomes a
partial quote.
The paraphrase
If a writer or editor prefers to use
different words from what the source
says, the statement becomes a
paraphrase. Example:
Nern said if the public support is there, a
run for Congress is a possibility.
Did she use those words? No, so we can’t
put quote marks around them, even if
the attribution “said” is there.
The paraphrase
A paraphrase interprets what a source
said. Is the paraphrase accurate? That
depends on the writer’s and editor’s
judgment.
Important note: NEVER add quote marks
to paraphrases. You don’t know if those
were the exact words.
You can remove quote marks if you wish,
but consider that mass media stories
should have some direct quotes to add
interest and color.
Attributions
Note that attributions (said, says) can be
in either the past or present tense, but
should be consistent throughout a story.
Don’t use clumsy attributions like stated
and commented.
Long quotes should have attributions in
the middle to remind a reader who’s
speaking. Example:
“I hope to run for governor next year,” said
Nern. “If that is successful, I’ll consider a
future senate race, and, who knows, maybe
president!”
Clichés
A cliché is a once cute and clever turn of
phrase that has become tired and
hackneyed through overuse.
We try to make our writing fresh and
original, so avoid clichés.
Levels of clichés
We can identify three levels of clichés:
Old common phrases.
Pop culture phrases.
Stereotypes.
Old common phrases
These are often metaphors. They usually
have been around for centuries.
Examples:
Beehive of activity.
Thorn in his side.
Chicken with its head cut off.
Sometimes these evoke barnyard or
nautical experiences long gone from our
day-to-day experience.
Journalese
Trite expressions favored by journalists
and business people also are a level of
the common cliché. Examples:
Acid test.
Long-smoldering disagreement.
The bottom line.
Cautious optimism.
Firestorm of criticism.
Impact or finalize as a verb.
Political clichés
Clichés can join with buzzwords to make
meaningless quotes. Here’s a classic by
John Kerry, secretary of state:
“I want to make this crystal clear,” he said.
“The president is desirous of trying to see
how we can make our best efforts in order
to find a way to facilitate.”
That’s “crystal clear?”
Business clichés
Business people use a bevy of clichés.
Some of the more extreme examples:
“Can we blue sky this synergy later?”
“Cascade this to your people and see what
the pushback is.”
“Run it up the flagpole and see who
salutes.”
Business clichés
In business, apparently, research shows
some clichés have a point. It gives others
the idea that you get “the big picture”
and so might be worthy of promotion to
management.
Whatever, but in the media these clichés
just sound ridiculous.
For credibility in media, language should
be real. Integrity in writing, as in life, is to
say what you mean and mean what you
say.
Platitudes
Also related to this level of cliché are the
old and common platitudes that actually
are fairly meaningless or inaccurate. A
few examples:
It’s not rocket science.
Good things come to those who wait.
Time heals all wounds.
If first you don’t succeed, try try again.
You’re as young as you feel.
Lists of common clichés
You can find lists of common clichés and
platitudes by internet search.
I suggest you become familiar with at
least the most common ones so you will
be able to identify them when editing.
They do take a while to learn, but…
Patience is a virtue.
Pop culture clichés
These are usually fairly new. They become
popular based on movies or television
shows.
Usually pop culture clichés are fads that
come and go. Here are a few from 70s
and 80s:
Sock it to me! (“Laugh In,” 1960s.)
Isn’t that special. (“Saturday Night Live,”
1970s.)
Sorry about that, chief. (“Get Smart,”
1960s).
Stereotypes
This third level of cliché is more
insidious, and more dangerous.
It is based on assumptions by writers
and editors who never have experienced a
location or culture.
Bias or ignorance encourages
stereotypes.
Stereotypes and journalism
It is common for us to compartmentalize
groups in society.
Perhaps it’s even useful, as we can’t
always re-examine our ideas every time
we consider a group. So we reduce it to a
few broad ideas and move on.
But editors in particular need to know
that unexamined stereotypes are
transmitted and fixed in people’s minds
through the media.
Common stereotypes
Here are some of the most common and
damaging stereotypes:
African-Americans are lazy drug-dealers.
Christians are homophobic.
Italians are good lovers.
Native Americans are lazy alcoholics.
Students are also lazy alcoholics!
Fargo is a frozen wasteland.
California is a state of crazy liberals.
Stereotypical phrases
Stereotypes can be shortened into phrases
that suggest the cliché:
Ghetto-blasting drug dealers;
Islamic terrorists;
Wild-eyed feminists;
Absent-minded college professors;
Dumb blonde coeds;
Stingy manipulative Jews.
Crooked politicians.
Uses of stereotypes
We do recognize stereotypes in film and
novels. They offer a shorthand to help
describe a character.
Even Shakespeare used them,
particularly for Jews and women.
Cinderella is an obvious stereotype of
women as helpless and vulnerable. This
is repeated in typical action movies.
In “The Simpsons” Homer portrays the
world’s stereotype of Americans: lazy,
dumb and fat.
Avoiding stereotypes
Does a stereotype sometimes have an
element of truth? Sometimes. That’s
where the stereotype comes from.
Nevertheless, editors need to both
recognize the damage that stereotypical
presumptions in themselves, and in their
publications, can do.
When you reduce a person to a few
simplistic presumptions, you refuse to
treat the person with respect as an
individual.
Do you like to be treated as a “lazy
boozing college student?”
Writers often use direct quotes to capture the exact words of a speaker, while paraphrasing involves restating the information in one's own words. It's crucial to use quote marks appropriately and accurately when referencing sources in writing. Remember, direct quotes retain the original speaker's wording, whereas paraphrases offer a rephrased interpretation of the information shared.
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Presentation Transcript
Quotes And clich s
The quote Writers for the mass media rely on interviews. These produce quotes. When you refer to what another source has said or written using exact words, it s a quote. It has quote marks around it.
Quote marks Grammar reminder: In the United States quote marks are always outside punctuation, except when using a colon or semicolon. Examples: Heavy snowfall is forecast for tomorrow, according to meteorologist Irving Nern. Jenson proposed an array of solutions to stop high tuition ; the first step is a tax increase.
Direct quotes A direct quote uses quote marks (double quotes in the United States) to indicate the exact words a speaker used. Writers or editors are ethically bound to change nothing with quote marks around it. Some editors believe it s OK to clear up bad grammar in quotes.
Direct quotes If a writer or editor prefers to use other words, he or she must remove the quote marks. Example: Nern said, I plan to run for Congress as long as the people want me. You can change this, but you need to remove the quotes: Nern said she will consider running for Congress as long as the voters want me. This is called a paraphrase.
Partial quotes A writer or editor may use some of the source s actual words, and some of his or her own. Example: Nern said she will run for Congress as long as the people will have me. The first part of that does not use her exact words, so the sentence becomes a partial quote.
The paraphrase If a writer or editor prefers to use different words from what the source says, the statement becomes a paraphrase. Example: Nern said if the public support is there, a run for Congress is a possibility. Did she use those words? No, so we can t put quote marks around them, even if the attribution said is there.
The paraphrase A paraphrase interprets what a source said. Is the paraphrase accurate? That depends on the writer s and editor s judgment. Important note: NEVER add quote marks to paraphrases. You don t know if those were the exact words. You can remove quote marks if you wish, but consider that mass media stories should have some direct quotes to add interest and color.
Attributions Note that attributions (said, says) can be in either the past or present tense, but should be consistent throughout a story. Don t use clumsy attributions like stated and commented. Long quotes should have attributions in the middle to remind a reader who s speaking. Example: I hope to run for governor next year, said Nern. If that is successful, I ll consider a future senate race, and, who knows, maybe president!
Clichs A clich is a once cute and clever turn of phrase that has become tired and hackneyed through overuse. We try to make our writing fresh and original, so avoid clich s.
Levels of clichs We can identify three levels of clich s: Old common phrases. Pop culture phrases. Stereotypes.
Old common phrases These are often metaphors. They usually have been around for centuries. Examples: Beehive of activity. Thorn in his side. Chicken with its head cut off. Sometimes these evoke barnyard or nautical experiences long gone from our day-to-day experience.
Journalese Trite expressions favored by journalists and business people also are a level of the common clich . Examples: Acid test. Long-smoldering disagreement. The bottom line. Cautious optimism. Firestorm of criticism. Impact or finalize as a verb.
Political clichs Clich s can join with buzzwords to make meaningless quotes. Here s a classic by John Kerry, secretary of state: I want to make this crystal clear, he said. The president is desirous of trying to see how we can make our best efforts in order to find a way to facilitate. That s crystal clear?
Business clichs Business people use a bevy of clich s. Some of the more extreme examples: Can we blue sky this synergy later? Cascade this to your people and see what the pushback is. Run it up the flagpole and see who salutes.
Business clichs In business, apparently, research shows some clich s have a point. It gives others the idea that you get the big picture and so might be worthy of promotion to management. Whatever, but in the media these clich s just sound ridiculous. For credibility in media, language should be real. Integrity in writing, as in life, is to say what you mean and mean what you say.
Platitudes Also related to this level of clich are the old and common platitudes that actually are fairly meaningless or inaccurate. A few examples: It s not rocket science. Good things come to those who wait. Time heals all wounds. If first you don t succeed, try try again. You re as young as you feel.
Lists of common clichs You can find lists of common clich s and platitudes by internet search. I suggest you become familiar with at least the most common ones so you will be able to identify them when editing. They do take a while to learn, but Patience is a virtue.
Pop culture clichs These are usually fairly new. They become popular based on movies or television shows. Usually pop culture clich s are fads that come and go. Here are a few from 70s and 80s: Sock it to me! ( Laugh In, 1960s.) Isn t that special. ( Saturday Night Live, 1970s.) Sorry about that, chief. ( Get Smart, 1960s).
Stereotypes This third level of clich is more insidious, and more dangerous. It is based on assumptions by writers and editors who never have experienced a location or culture. Bias or ignorance encourages stereotypes.
Stereotypes and journalism It is common for us to compartmentalize groups in society. Perhaps it s even useful, as we can t always re-examine our ideas every time we consider a group. So we reduce it to a few broad ideas and move on. But editors in particular need to know that unexamined stereotypes are transmitted and fixed in people s minds through the media.
Common stereotypes Here are some of the most common and damaging stereotypes: African-Americans are lazy drug-dealers. Christians are homophobic. Italians are good lovers. Native Americans are lazy alcoholics. Students are also lazy alcoholics! Fargo is a frozen wasteland. California is a state of crazy liberals.
Stereotypical phrases Stereotypes can be shortened into phrases that suggest the clich : Ghetto-blasting drug dealers; Islamic terrorists; Wild-eyed feminists; Absent-minded college professors; Dumb blonde coeds; Stingy manipulative Jews. Crooked politicians.
Uses of stereotypes We do recognize stereotypes in film and novels. They offer a shorthand to help describe a character. Even Shakespeare used them, particularly for Jews and women. Cinderella is an obvious stereotype of women as helpless and vulnerable. This is repeated in typical action movies. In The Simpsons Homer portrays the world s stereotype of Americans: lazy, dumb and fat.
Avoiding stereotypes Does a stereotype sometimes have an element of truth? Sometimes. That s where the stereotype comes from. Nevertheless, editors need to both recognize the damage that stereotypical presumptions in themselves, and in their publications, can do. When you reduce a person to a few simplistic presumptions, you refuse to treat the person with respect as an individual. Do you like to be treated as a lazy boozing college student?
