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Misquotation
*** Shopping-Tip: Misquotation
A '''misquotation''' is an accidental or intentional misrepresentation of a person's speech or writing, involving one or more of:
* Omission of important '''context''': The context can be important for determining the overall argument the quoted person wanted to make, for seeing whether the quoted statement was restricted or even negated in this context, or for recognizing hints that it was meant as
irony.
* '''Omission''' of important parts of the quote.
* '''Insertion of allegedly implied words or partial sentences''': The inserted portions may be specially marked (e.g. by square brackets or
cursive typeface font). Using unmarked insertions is commonly deprecated. In order to constitute a misquotation, the implied portions must alter the meaning of the quote in a way that the original author did not obviously intend.
* '''Incorrect rephrasing''': The quote is replaced by one which is only superficially identical in meaning.
* '''Misattribution''': Attributing someone else's (or no one's in particular) words to a person who did not use them. Misattribution is often found in
satire.
* '''Misspelling''', although usually inadvertent, can sometimes be used deliberately, especially with satirical intent, to portray the quoted person as stupid or uneducated.
The following causes are mostly responsible for misquotations:
* '''Imperfect reproduction''', e.g. from memory, in communication or by transcription.
Gossip, which involves many consecutive memorizations and mouth-to-mouth communications, can quickly 'mutate' a quote beyond recognition.
* '''Misunderstanding''', if the person using the quote misjudges the importance of context, partial sentences, or inserts an invalid implication.
* '''Malice or deliberate deceit'''.
* '''Humor''' or
satire.
See also
*
Famous non-quotation
*
Quotation
External links
{{wikiquotepar|List of misquotations}}
-
Wikiquote
-
Questionable quotes -- the
urban legend reference pages at snopes.com
