Academic / B2

kwoh-TAYSHUN/kwəʊˈteɪʃn/

A quotation is copied words, or a formal price: a quotation from the report, in quotation marks, a quotation for the work. Quote is the verb and an informal noun; citation points to the source; estimate is a rougher price. In speech, a quote / a price is enough. Academic English prefers quotation for the words and citation for the reference. Do not drop quotation marks around someone else’s exact words in an essay.

Meaning

Words copied from a text or speech; also a formal price offered for a job (a quotation for).

Examples

• “Every quotation in the essay needs a citation.”
• “Every quotation needs a citation, not only inverted commas.”
• “Get a written quotation before the builder starts, which is the price sense.”

Good to know

a quotation from; quotation marks. Informal noun/verb: quote. Source pointer: citation. Price: a quotation for. Two senses: words vs price.

Near in meaning

quote

Topics

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