Dequote: meaning, definitions and examples

Etymology

• The prefix 'de-' comes from Latin, meaning 'down from' or 'away from', suggesting an action of removal.
• The term 'quote' originates from the Latin word 'quotare', which means to mark a passage with a number or to cite.
• As a modern term, 'dequote' emerged with the rise of digital communication, often used in forums and programming.

Technology

• In computer programming, to dequote often refers to eliminating quotation marks around a string of text.
• Messaging apps and social media have popularized the concept of dequoting conversations for clarity and smoother communication.
• Developers use functions to dequote data when manipulating text, ensuring it’s formatted correctly for processing.

Literature

• In literary analysis, dequoting can clarify an author's original intent by stripping away contextual embellishments.
• Writers sometimes dequote their earlier statements to show growth or change in perspective over time.
• In scholarly work, carefully dequoting can prevent misinterpretation of an author's ideas by avoiding unnecessary elements.

Communication

• Removing quotes is essential for paraphrasing and summarizing conversations, making them more digestible.
• In the context of debate, dequoting can serve to refocus the discussion on original points without distractions.
• Effective communication often involves understanding when to dequote to enhance clarity versus retaining the original phrasing.

Pop Culture

• Dequoting was popularized in online culture, especially in meme contexts where phrases get altered for humor.
• Quotes from movies or songs may be dequoted to create new, inventive versions circulating on social media.
• Celebrity interviews often feature dequoting to emphasize specific phrases taken out of context for dramatic effect.