Quotes and attribution

1. “ Quotes and attribution A refresher

2. Benefits of quotes • Quotes add credibility • Quotes enliven • Quotes reveal personality • Show, don’t tell “

3. Don’t change quotes… …but you may trim them. You may eliminate minor grammatical errors or profanities (if these add nothing to the story). Any full news story should have at least two or three quotes. “

4. Paraphrase more than quote Most quotes should be paraphrased – only use them for punch, when a quote is interesting, or revealing or phrased in an interesting way. Paraphrase routine information or details of routine processes. • “The commission will look over the budget next week,” Jones said. • “We took his fingerprints, booked him and put him in the county jail,” Smith said. “

5. Paraphrase more than quote Most quotes should be paraphrased – only use them for punch, when a quote is interesting, or revealing or phrased in an interesting way. Paraphrase routine information or details of routine processes. • “The commission will look over the budget next week,” Jones said. • “We took his fingerprints, booked him and put him in the county jail,” Smith said. • Don’t assume an attributed statement should be in quotes just because “she said” is at the end of the sentence. “

6. Avoid partial or orphan quotes • The mayor said commissioners would decide on the budget “Tuesday of next week.” … unless the phrase adds meaning or a special perspective. • The mayor said commissioners would decide on the budget Tuesday or else he would “give them a swift kick in the behind.” “

7. Avoid stutter quotes Jones said commissioners would need to decide on the budget Tuesday because they were running out of time. “The commission had better reach a decision Tuesday, because there’s just not much time left,” Jones said. “

8. Basics of attribution •  Use said •  You may also use told or according to •  Avoid claimed or admitted •  Name first, then said – She said, Jones said, the mayor said • Name second only when the title is unusually long (see below) “…said Earvin Flaggerty, deputy secretary of the Department of Urban Planning and Environmental Renewal. “

9. Other tips: Placement • Normally, put attribution at the end of the sentence. However place it after the first sentence in a paragraph with more than one quoted sentence. “

10. Other tips: Placement • Normally, put attribution at the end of the sentence. However place it after the first sentence in a paragraph with more than one quoted sentence. Don’t use quote marks at the end of the first paragraph of a continuing quote: Graber said he did not remember ever seeing so many birds on the island. “I’m not sure the wetlands can sustain them all, but I don’t know where they would go otherwise. “It’s likely the crowding on the island has led to fewer births in the flock,” he said. “

11. Other tips: Introduce new speakers WRONG: “I don’t recall seeing so many endangered birds migrating to these particular wetlands before,” Graber said. I’m not sure the wetland nutrients can sustain them all, but I don’t know where they would go otherwise,” said John Simon, a local ornithologist. “

12. Other tips: Introduce new speakers WRONG: “I don’t recall seeing so many endangered birds migrating to these particular wetlands before,” Graber said. I’m not sure the wetland nutrients can sustain them all, but I don’t know where they would go otherwise,” said John Simon, a local ornithologist. BETTER: “I don’t recall seeing so many endangered birds migrating to these particular wetlands before,” Graber said. Local ornithologist John Simon agrees and worries there may not be enough room for them. “I’m not sure the wetland nutrients can sustain them all, but I don’t know where they would go otherwise,” Simon said. “