misquote
C1Formal/Neutral
Definition
Meaning
To quote (a person, a source) inaccurately or incorrectly.
To repeat or cite something said or written by someone else in a way that distorts its original meaning or wording, often unintentionally but sometimes deliberately.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The focus is on the inaccurate reproduction of someone else's words. It implies a failure of fidelity, which can range from a minor slip to a serious distortion. Often used in contexts of journalism, politics, scholarship, and law.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The word is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Universally negative, implying error or dishonesty. The severity of the connotation depends on context (e.g., a simple mistake vs. a deliberate smear).
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in US media and political discourse, but common in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] misquotes [Object (person/source)][Subject] misquotes [Object] as saying...[Subject] is misquoted (by [Agent])Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A misquote that went viral”
- “To be famously misquoted”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The CEO's spokesperson clarified the remarks, stating the trade press had misquoted her comments on the merger."
Academic
"The scholar's thesis was weakened when reviewers found he had misquoted several key primary sources."
Everyday
"Don't misquote me! I said I might be late, not that I wasn't coming."
Technical
"In legal depositions, court reporters must transcribe testimony verbatim; to misquote a witness could jeopardise the case."
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The newspaper had to issue an apology after they misquoted the minister's remarks on the NHS.
- He is often misquoted in the tabloids, much to his frustration.
American English
- The senator accused the journalist of deliberately misquoting her stance on the bill.
- I hope you won't misquote me when you write up the interview.
adjective
British English
- The article was full of misquoted statistics, damaging its credibility.
- She gave a statement to correct the misquoted passages in the biography.
American English
- He threatened to sue over the misquoted remarks attributed to him.
- The study was retracted due to misquoted sources.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The student misquoted the author in her essay.
- Politicians frequently complain that the media has misquoted them to create a more sensational story.
- It's a serious academic offence to misquote your references.
- The biographer was accused of selectively misquoting private correspondence to support a controversial narrative about her subject.
- Despite being notoriously misquoted throughout history, the philosopher's actual writings remain unambiguous on this point.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: MIS-takenly QUOTE-ing someone.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUOTATION IS A PRECISE COPY; to misquote is to produce a defective/faulty copy.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating directly as 'неправильно цитировать' in all contexts; for deliberate distortion, 'искажать цитату' or 'перевирать' is stronger. The English term covers both accidental and intentional error.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'misquote' with 'misinterpret' (the latter deals with meaning, not the exact words).
- Using 'misquote' for paraphrasing errors; it strictly concerns the verbatim words.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary implication of 'misquote'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The noun is 'misquotation' (e.g., 'The article contained a serious misquotation').
Yes, it can refer to both unintentional errors and deliberate distortions. Context usually clarifies the intent.
Yes. 'Misquote' specifically refers to inaccurately reproducing spoken or written words. 'Mis-cite' is broader and can refer to incorrectly citing a source (wrong author, date, page number) even if the quoted text itself is accurate.
Commonly as 'to be misquoted' (e.g., 'The scientist felt she had been misquoted by the popular media').