to quote someone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "to quote someone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when you want to refer to or repeat the exact words spoken or written by another person. Example: "In her speech, she chose to quote someone who inspired her during her journey."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

You should exercise caution if you want to quote someone anonymously.

Independent

"I don't want to quote myself so I'm going to quote someone else.

The Guardian

"Is it possible to quote someone yawning?" the Senator's press secretary, Philippe Reines, said to the Washington Post.

The New Yorker

how is it legal for someone to "quote" someone and publish it if in fact you never said what was quoted.

Independent

Use quotes that illustrate the point you are trying to make, not just because you feel obliged to quote someone.

Forbes

To quote someone out of context is to ignore how the meaning of what they said may have been affected by what they said previously.

University of Chicago

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

When they quote someone, they are required to do so accurately.

The New York Times

The other thing with Trump: We were for the most part looking at the traditional press, and they pursue what's sometimes called the "objective model," or "balance". So if they quote someone attacking Trump, they have a tendency to [also] quote someone who's saying good things about Trump.

Harvard University

And it's fairly easy for us to deal with an opinion, like "This policy should pass Congress;" we also quote someone who says it shouldn't.

The New York Times

You quote someone from a conservative think tank who concludes that New York's test is unreliable.

The New York Times

On the other hand, he does quote someone who was there.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Check the context of the original statement to avoid misrepresenting the speaker's intended meaning.

Common error

Do not use "to quote someone" as a justification for selecting a single sentence that contradicts the speaker's overall message. This practice, known as contextomy, undermines your credibility and the integrity of the source.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "to quote someone" serves as an infinitive phrase that typically functions as a direct object or an adverbial of purpose within a sentence. In many instances provided by Ludwig, it follows verbs like "want", "obliged" or "decide", indicating a planned action of attribution.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Academia

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Social Media

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "to quote someone" is an essential tool for clear and ethical communication. According to Ludwig AI, it is most frequently utilized in journalistic and academic settings to provide direct evidence or support an argument with authoritative voices. Unlike alternatives such as "to paraphrase someone", which involves summarizing, the choice "to quote someone" signals a commitment to verbatim accuracy. When using this phrase, writers must be careful to avoid "quoting out of context", a common pitfall that can distort original meanings. Overall, the phrase is grammatically standard and highly effective for adding depth and credibility to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

to cite someone

Carries a more formal or academic connotation, often implying a written reference or bibliography entry.

to reference someone

Suggests a broader mention of an individual's work or ideas rather than just their direct speech.

to attribute to someone

Focuses specifically on assigning the authorship or origin of a statement to a particular person.

to repeat someone's words

A descriptive, literal alternative that lacks the technical nuance of quoting.

to echo someone

Suggests repeating words or ideas because you agree with them or are influenced by them.

to paraphrase someone

Shifts from using exact words to summarizing the person's ideas in your own words.

to excerpt someone

Usually refers to taking a specific, often longer, passage from a written work.

to mention someone

A much broader term that indicates bringing up a person's name without necessarily repeating their words.

to invoke someone

Implies calling upon a person's authority or spirit to support an argument.

to call upon someone

Often used in a rhetorical sense to bring a witness or authority into a discussion.

FAQs

How to use "to quote someone" in a sentence?

You can use it to introduce a direct statement, such as: "The journalist chose "to quote someone" who had witnessed the event firsthand."

What can I say instead of "to quote someone"?

Depending on your tone, you might prefer "to cite someone" for formal work or "to reference someone" for general mentions.

What is the difference between "to quote someone" and "to paraphrase someone"?

When you choose "to quote someone", you use their exact words in quotation marks. If you "to paraphrase someone", you rewrite their ideas in your own words without quotation marks.

Is it better to say "to quote someone" or "to cite someone"?

"to quote someone" is generally used for verbal or written repetition of words, while "to cite someone" is the standard term for formal academic attribution.