Changing The Tense Of A Word In A Quote
When you are quoting someone, it is important to use their exact words. But what happens when the tense of a word in the quote doesn't fit with the tense of the rest of your writing? Do you change the tense of the word in the quote, or leave it as is? This can be a tricky question, but there are some guidelines you can follow to help you make the right decision.
What Is A Quote?
Before we dive into the issue of changing the tense of a word in a quote, let's first define what a quote is. A quote is a word-for-word repetition of what someone else said or wrote. When you quote someone, you put their exact words in quotation marks and attribute the quote to them.
When Should You Change The Tense Of A Word In A Quote?
In general, you should avoid changing the tense of a word in a quote. The reason for this is that when you change the tense, you are altering the original meaning of the quote. However, there are some situations where it may be appropriate to change the tense.
For example, if you are writing a historical fiction novel and you are quoting a historical figure who spoke in the past tense, but the rest of your novel is written in the present tense, it may be appropriate to change the tense of the word in the quote to match the tense of the rest of your novel.
How To Change The Tense Of A Word In A Quote
If you do decide to change the tense of a word in a quote, it is important to do so carefully and correctly. Here are some tips to help you change the tense of a word in a quote:
- Put the changed word in brackets to indicate that it was changed. For example, if the original quote was "I am going to the store", but you want to change it to "I was going to the store", you would write "[I] was going to the store".
- Use ellipses to indicate where you removed words from the quote. For example, if the original quote was "I went to the store and bought some milk", but you want to change it to "I [had] bought some milk", you would write "I [...] bought some milk".
- Make sure the changed tense still accurately reflects the meaning of the original quote. If changing the tense alters the meaning of the quote, it is better to leave it as is.
Conclusion
Changing the tense of a word in a quote can be a tricky issue, but by following these guidelines, you can make an informed decision about whether or not to change the tense. Remember, it is important to maintain the integrity of the original quote, so only change the tense if it is absolutely necessary and does not alter the meaning of the quote.
