Can you remove words from a quote?

Yes, you can leave out words you deem unnecessary in a quotation, but you can’t take out words that will change its meaning.

What to do if there is an error in a quote?

Quotations That Include Errors

1. A quotation that includes an error may be distracting, so consider paraphrasing instead.
2. If any incorrect spelling, punctuation, or grammar in the source might confuse readers, insert the word “[sic],” italicized and in brackets, immediately after the error in the quotation.

How do you shorten a quote?

You can shorten quotes by removing words from the middle of the quote and adding ellipses to indicate that you have removed some words. Shortening quotes helps the reader focus on the key information. You can remove words that are redundant or irrelevant to the point you are making.

How do you correct a quote?

When writers insert or alter words in a direct quotation, square brackets—[ ]—are placed around the change. The brackets, always used in pairs, enclose words intended to clarify meaning, provide a brief explanation, or to help integrate the quote into the writer’s sentence.

How do you truncate a quote?

Edited or truncated quotations If the source quotation is truncated, either in the middle or at the end of the quotation, use ellipses to mark the point of the omitted material. Do not use ellipses at the start of the quote, even if material has been omitted there.

How do you skip part of a quote?

The rule: Indicate that you have skipped material within a quote by placing three periods (an ellipsis) in place of the missing material. Do not place an ellipsis at the beginning or end of a quote, ever: only to indicate skipped material in the middle of a quote.

Can a quote be edited?

Changing or Adding Words in Quotations You can edit quotes by changing or adding words in order to: Integrate quoted text into your own writing. Clarify the meaning of something. Correct an error in the original text.

Can you fix punctuation in a quote?

Some punctuation marks at the end of a quotation may be changed to fit the syntax of the sentence in which the quotation appears, as long as meaning is not changed (e.g., it might alter meaning to change a period to a question mark, depending on how the sentence is written).

What do you do if a quote is too long?

Long quotations For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2 inch from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing.

Can I change a quote?

You can change direct quotations under certain circumstances. Some changes require you to explain the change, and others you can make without indicating the change to readers.

Can a sentence have two quotes?

For a single sentence of quotation, enclose only the speaker’s words in double quotation marks. For a direct quotation of two or more sentences with the attribution at the beginning of the first sentence, put a colon, not a comma, after the attribution and place the quotation in double quotation marks.

How do you omit words at the beginning of a quote?

An ellipsis is a series of three points with spaces between them (. . .) inserted into a quotation to indicate the omission of material from the original quotation.

What are some famous quotes about errors?

Errors Quotes – BrainyQuote. . Any man whose errors take ten years to correct is quite a man. J. Robert Oppenheimer. Man Ten Years Correct. Errors are not in the art but in the artificers. Isaac Newton. Art. A man of genius makes no mistakes; his errors are volitional and are the portals of discovery. James Joyce.

What is a good quote for errerrors?

Errors Quotes. “Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. “A library implies an act of faith which generations, still in darkness hid, sign in their night in witness of the dawn.”.

How do you mark a misspelling when quoting?

When quoting, the convention is to quote the text exactly as it appears in the source. It is common to mark a misspelling (or other problematical word) that might be otherwise thought to be an error by you (the quoter) by following it with “[sic]”.

What if there were an unusual number of errors in work?

“If there were an unusual number of ‘typos’ (typographical errors) in their work–well, the lurking fear of a Winchester slug in the back might account for many mistakes.” “The need for a solution suggests the existence of a problem.