Quotation: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'quotation' when formally citing someone's exact words, especially in academic or literary contexts.

• The professor included a long quotation from Shakespeare in her lecture
• The article contained multiple quotations from various experts

Use 'quote' in casual or everyday contexts when mentioning someone's exact words.

• She often quotes her grandmother's wise sayings
• I love this quote from Albert Einstein

Use 'excerpt' when referring to a small part or passage taken from a longer piece of writing or speech.

• She read an excerpt from her new novel during the book launch
• The magazine published an excerpt from the upcoming memoir

Use 'citation' primarily in academic contexts to reference sources or acknowledge someone else's work.

• You must include proper citations in your research paper
• The student provided citations to support her arguments

Used in financial or sales contexts to indicate a specific price offered for goods or services.

• The contractor provided a quotation for the renovation work
• Can you send me a quotation for 100 units of this product?

Commonly used in everyday conversations and commercial transactions to refer to the amount of money required to purchase an item or service.

• What is the price of this book? The price of gas has increased recently

Usually used to talk about pricing in relation to units of measurement, such as hourly rates or interest rates. Can also refer to speed or frequency.

• The interest rate on this loan is 5%
• What is your hourly rate for consulting?

Refers to the worth of an item or service, which can be monetary or intangible (like sentimental value). Often used when discussing the benefit or quality one derives from something.

• The value of that antique vase has increased over the years
• This car offers great value for money