This document provides guidance on using quotations and attribution in writing. It outlines best practices for directly quoting sources, including accurately capturing the speaker's words and attributing quotes properly. The document also discusses indirect quotations, paraphrases, partial quotes, and dialogue. Examples are provided for different types of quotes. The document stresses never inventing quotes and always attributing opinions to sources.

1. Quotations and Attributions
1 Stratton 2011

2. Basic Rules to Follow
Rule #1: Never create, invent or manufacture
quotations
Rule #2: Always be a good observer
Rule #3: Choose quotes wisely
Rule #4: Better to not use quote than use poor
quote
Rule #5: Punctuation marks go inside quotes
Rule #6: Always attribute every statement &
opinion
Rule #7: Quotations should begin new paragraph
Rule #8: If a quote needs explaining then
paraphrase instead

3. Uses of Quotes
1.Provides color
2.Lends authenticity and realism to the story
3.Increase reader interest in the story
4.Personalizes the story for the reader
5.Moves the story along
6.Reveals something crucial about the subject
7.Expresses a thought better than the writer can
8.Reveals character traits about a subject
9.Captures dramatic moments better than exposition could
10.Suggest universal truths

4. Types of Quotations
1. Direct quotations
2. Indirect quotations
3. Paraphrased quotations
4. Partial quotations
5. Dialogue

5. Direct Quotes
 Uses the person's exact words.
 Contained in quotation marks.
 Reports word-for-word what a speaker
said.

6. Direct Quotes
 Faulty grammar may be polished if the
person you are quoting would recognize
the error in print.
 Quote must…
 the substance of the remark in full
accuracy
 the spirit in which the remark was made
 the typical language used by the speaker

7. Using Direct Quotes
 Use quote if it is particularly
articulate or powerful in the wording
 Most people do not speak in a way
which translates well into a quote

8. Using Direct Quotes
 Only use a quote if it conveys
something not communicated better in
your own words
 If it isn’t articulate (clear), then a
better strategy is paraphrasing what
the subject has told you

9. Direct Quote Example
 In an interview, for example, the speaker
may tend to ramble. Suppose the speaker,
Principal Don Jackson, actually said:
 “Well, ah, what I’m trying to get across is,
maybe we ought to consider, ah, whether or not
the students, you know, should be allowed to
smoke anywhere on this campus.”
 In print the quoted remark probably would
be simplified to:
 “We ought to consider whether or not students
should be allowed to smoke anywhere on this
campus.”

10. Direct Quotes
 If the subject is well known, then a
direct quote may be appropriate
 The more significant the interviewee is,
the more likely a reader will be
interested
 Make sure the quote is used to add a
unique angle or credibility to the
story

11. Direct Quotes
 If the quote is quirky or captures the
source’s personality
 If it is emotional or highly
opinionated

12. Indirect quotations
 Mostly uses the person's ideas in
their words.
 A few words my be changed for
clarification.
 Not in quotation marks as words are
not exactly what person said.

13. Paraphrased quotations
 Paraphrasing means using the ideas of
an author, but not using his or her
exact words.
 Uses the reporters words & terms.
 The meaning should be the same.
 No quotation marks used.

14. Partial quotations
 A combination of direct and
paraphrased quotations.
 Will have some words in quotation
marks.
 AP states this style is overused by
professionals.

15. Dialogue
 Combines two or more speakers.
 Often seen in feature stories &
magazines.
 May be seen in trial court reporting.

16. Quotations Examples Part 1
 Direct Quotation: “We ought to consider
whether or not students should be allowed to
smoke anywhere on this campus,” Don Jackson,
principal, said.
 Indirect Quotation: Jackson said the
administration ought to consider whether or
not students should be allowed to smoke on
campus.
 Paraphrase: Jackson raised the question of
students smoking on campus.
 Partial Quotation: Jackson urged the
administration to consider banning student
smoking on campus to eliminate “the disgusting
mess left in the smoking area.”

17. Quotations Examples Part 2
 Dialogue:
• The assembly became electrified.
• “Should we be thumping our chests and
telling the world?” Principal Don Jackson
bellowed to the student body after
announcing that South had been recognized
as one of the top schools in the nation.
• “Yes, yes, yes,” they echoed back.
• “Are we proud?” he asked.
• “Yes, yes, yes,” they replied.
• “We are...” yelled Jackson.
• “South Eugene,” screamed the students.

18. Identify the Quote Type 1
1.Direct
quotations
2.Indirect
quotations
3.Paraphrased
quotations
4.Partial
quotations
5.Dialogue
1."We have been waiting for
this moment for a long
time. Moammar Gadhafi has
been killed," Prime
Minister Mahmoud Jibril
told a news conference in
the capital Tripoli.
2.Celebratory gunfire and
cries of "Allahu Akbar" or
"God is Great" rang out
across the capital Tripoli.
3.Libya's new leaders had
said they would declare the
country's "liberation"
after the fall of Sirte.
1
4
4

19. Identify the Quote Type 2
1.Direct
quotations
2.Indirect
quotations
3.Paraphrase
d
quotations
4.Partial
quotations
5.Dialogue
1.NOAA issued their annual
winter outlook for the United
States Thursday and it
certainly has a La Nina flavor
to it, meaning the Pacific
Northwest is likely in for
another wet and cool winter.
2.Tusko weighs 13,000 pounds,
Zoo officials said.
3.“The birth of a new calf is an
incredibly enriching event in
these animals’ lives,” said
Mike Keele, the zoo’s director
of elephant habitats and one
of North America’s leading
Asian elephant experts.
2
2
1

20. Identify the Quote Type 3
1.Direct
quotations
2.Indirect
quotations
3.Paraphrase
d
quotations
4.Partial
quotations
5.Dialogue
1.After the new hires, the plant
will have a total workforce of
about 1,050, Daum said. Plant
jobs start at $12 an hour and
top out at $23 to $25 an hour.
2.Proponents say the move is key
in preventing teen pregnancy
and promoting student health.
3.At Canby's 2-year-old center,
students have access to select
"reproductive health" services,
a requirement for school-based
health centers in Oregon.
2
3
4

21. Identify the Quote Type 4
1.Direct
quotations
2.Indirect
quotations
3.Paraphrase
d
quotations
4.Partial
quotations
5.Dialogue
1. In early March, we sat down at his kitchen
counter in downtown New York City over sushi to
talk about his career.
CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN: You're considered one of Georgia's
native sons. But in reality, you grew up on army bases
all around the country, didn't you?
MICHAEL STIPE: I was born in Georgia. That's where my
grandparents-and all my people-are from. But my family
traveled a great deal because my dad was in the army as
a helicopter pilot.
Bollen: How did music first get into the ears of an
army kid?
Stipe: Music really started when I read about the CBGB
scene in New York in a magazine called Rock Scene. And
then I accidentally got a subscription to The Village
Voice when I was 14.
2.Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez says he is free
of cancer after returning from Cuba for health
checks, four months following surgery there.
5
2

22. Identify the Quote Type 5
1.Direct
quotations
2.Indirect
quotations
3.Paraphrase
d
quotations
4.Partial
quotations
5.Dialogue
1. Eight children and four young adults
are put in protective custody in
Philadelphia amid a probe into the
chaining of four people in a so-called
'dungeon'.
2. Authorities say at least 105 people
have died in flooding and landslides
provoked by 10 days of heavy rains
in Central America.
3. Steve Honig, Lohan's spokesman, said
in a statement that the actress was
late because she didn't know which
entrance to report to and "and
confusion caused by the media
waiting for her arrival."
4
3
4

23. Quote Problems
 Avoid rambling quotes
 Avoid quotes with too much technical
lingo

24. Quoting Accurately
 If the grammar is poor, then some
reporters will “clean up” the quote
 This practice varies by publication
 Generally not done
 HOWEVER, if the interview was
witnessed by multiple media outlets
(example: press conference) then you
should leave the quotes alone

25. (sic)
 If you want to be cautious, then you
can use the “(sic)” notation in your
printed quote to notate a grammatical
error made by your subject

26. Editing Quotes
 Never make up a quote
 Don’t add words to a quote
 Exception: You may “clean up” the
grammar if it is minimal and does not
change the context or meaning
 [Be sure to put the changed words in
brackets]

27. Attribution
 In most cases, the simple verb “said”
is appropriate since it is neutral
Example: “This is a quote,” the
teacher said.
 There are other verbs you can use, but
be conservative

28. Verbs to Avoid
 Minimize use of attribution verbs
which are not neutral
 “ ,” he cried.
 “ ,” she emphasized.
 “ ,” she contended.

29. Identification in Attribution
 Attribute with the name and job title.
 AFTER Example: “This year’s textbooks are
going to be more expensive,” Mary Smith,
librarian, said.
 Use this method!
 BEFORE Example: Mary Smith, librarian,
said “This year’s textbooks are going to
be more expensive.”
 Avoid this method

30. Middle Initials
 AP Stylebook recommends that you use
them.
 Particularly in hard news stories where
they help identify a specific individual,
such as casualty lists and stories naming
the accused in a crime. This helps to
minimize confusion.
 A middle initial may be dropped if a
person does not use one or is publicly
known without it: Mickey Mantle (not
Mickey C.), the Rev. Billy Graham (not
Billy F.).

31. Talking to Sources
 Many of the best stories will not
originate from a news release
 By nurturing your sources, you will
be more likely to get closer to the
truth
 The longer you work with a source,
the more likely you are to determine
the relevance of the information
that comes from that source

32. Sources
 Some sources will want to
remain anonymous
 Avoid this
 If you agree to keep their
identity private, it is
unethical to reveal their
names to anyone except
your editor and advisor
(high school)

33. Exceptions:
 Government subpoena (real world only)
 If it is determined to jeopardize the
national security or is essential is
solving a crime
 Publication policy
 Due to some problems with reporter
integrity, some publications are now
requiring reporters to share the identity
of the anonymous reporter with their
supervising editor or advisor

34. Recent Example
 Josh Wolf was in jail for
226 days for refusing to
turn over raw news video
footage to authorities
 This is the longest time
a journalist has been
imprisoned in the U.S.
for protecting source
materials

35. Use Caution
 Be aware of sources that have an axe
to grind
 Do they have an agenda?
 Are they telling the truth?
 Are they reliable?
 Substance abuse = suspicion
 Do they really have a direct
connection to the news event?
 Be careful of “hearsay”

36. Gossip Alert
 A newspaper is not supposed
to be a tabloid
 Verify information provided
by your sources
 Is the information relevant
to the news value of the
story?
 Juicy “gossip” may not equate
to news

37. Anonymous Sources
 On the record – Everything can be
quoted with attribution
 Background – Everything can be quoted
but no attribution
 Deep background – No quotes can be
used, no attribution – but information
can be used
 Off the record – No quotes, no
attribution

38. Policies
 Some publications do not allow
anonymous sources, especially high
school publications
 Some require you to disclose the info
to your superior; editor, advisor

39. “Off the Record”
 Hotly debated topic
 Is it ethical to gather info “off the
record”?
 Should everything be fair game?
 Can you use information gained “off
the record” without directly quoting
the information or source?

40. Remember: Basic Rules to Follow
Rule #1: Never create, invent or manufacture
quotations
Rule #2: Always be a good observer
Rule #3: Choose quotes wisely
Rule #4: Better to not use quote than use poor
quote
Rule #5: Punctuation marks go inside quotes
Rule #6: Always attribute every statement &
opinion
Rule #7: Quotations should begin new paragraph
Rule #8: If a quote needs explaining then
paraphrase instead