In The Quote Or On The Quote
Introduction
Quotation marks are used to indicate that someone is speaking or writing. They can be used in different ways depending on the context of the sentence. However, one common confusion among people is whether to use 'In the quote' or 'On the quote'. In this article, we will discuss the difference between the two and when to use them.
What Are Quotation Marks?
Quotation marks are punctuation marks that are used to indicate that someone is speaking or writing. They are also known as inverted commas. Quotation marks can be used in different ways such as to quote someone's words, titles of books, articles, or songs, and to indicate irony or sarcasm.
What Is 'In The Quote'?
'In the quote' refers to the words that are inside the quotation marks. It means that the exact words that the speaker or writer used are being repeated. For example:
"She said, 'I love you'."
In this sentence, 'I love you' is 'in the quote' because it is the exact words that the speaker used.
What Is 'On The Quote'?
'On the quote' refers to the words that are outside the quotation marks. It means that the words are not being repeated exactly as the speaker or writer used them. For example:
She said, "I love you".
In this sentence, 'I love you' is 'on the quote' because it is not being repeated exactly as the speaker used it. The sentence is reporting what the speaker said, but not necessarily using the same words.
When To Use 'In The Quote'?
'In the quote' is used when we want to repeat someone's words exactly as they said them. It is commonly used in direct speech, where we want to accurately quote someone's words. For example:
"I can't believe you did that," he said.
In this sentence, 'I can't believe you did that' is 'in the quote' because it is the exact words that the speaker used.
When To Use 'On The Quote'?
'On the quote' is used when we are reporting what someone said, but not necessarily using the same words. It is commonly used in indirect speech, where we want to give the general idea of what someone said, but not the exact words. For example:
She told him that she loved him.
In this sentence, 'that she loved him' is 'on the quote' because it is not being repeated exactly as the speaker used it. The sentence is reporting what the speaker said, but not necessarily using the same words.
Other Uses Of Quotation Marks
Quotation marks can also be used in other ways such as to indicate irony or sarcasm. For example:
He's so 'smart' that he can't even spell his own name.
In this sentence, 'smart' is in quotation marks to indicate that it is being used sarcastically.
Conclusion
Quotation marks are an important punctuation mark that is used to indicate that someone is speaking or writing. The use of 'in the quote' and 'on the quote' depends on the context of the sentence. 'In the quote' is used when we want to repeat someone's words exactly as they said them, while 'on the quote' is used when we are reporting what someone said, but not necessarily using the same words. By understanding the difference between the two, you can use them correctly in your writing and avoid confusion for your readers.