Quote vs QuotationQuote vs Quotation — illustrated emblem for the Mr. B Quotes glossary, category Types of Quotes“QTYPES OF QUOTES
Types of Quotes

Quote vs Quotation

Verb vs noun in traditional usage — but modern style treats both as nouns.

Strict traditional usage treats 'quote' as a verb (to quote someone) and 'quotation' as the resulting noun (the quotation). Most contemporary dictionaries now accept 'quote' as a noun too, especially in informal writing and journalism.

Style guides split on the question. The Chicago Manual of Style and the Oxford English Dictionary accept the noun use. The Associated Press style retains a slight preference for 'quotation' in formal contexts, particularly in legal and academic writing.

For most modern purposes, the two are interchangeable as nouns. 'Quotation' carries a faint air of formality; 'quote' is faster on the tongue and the page. On Mr. B Quotes, we treat them as synonyms.

Example
“The problem with quotes on the internet is you can never be sure of their authenticity.”
— Abraham Lincoln (falsely attributed)
Related terms

Keep reading the glossary