quotation
B1Formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
A group of words taken from a text or speech and repeated by someone other than the original author or speaker.
A formal statement of the estimated cost for a job or service; the act of quoting or the words quoted; a registration granted to a company enabling its shares to be traded on a stock exchange.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. The verb form is 'quote'. In business contexts, it often refers to a price estimate. In publishing, it can refer to a short extract from a published work.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling is identical. Usage is largely the same, though 'quote' as a noun is more accepted in informal American English than in British English.
Connotations
Neutral in both varieties. In finance, 'quotation' refers to a listed security on a stock exchange.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in British English in formal writing; American English shows a stronger preference for the clipped form 'quote' in speech and informal writing.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
quotation from [source]quotation for [service/product]quotation by [author/speaker]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “chapter and verse (implies a precise quotation)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
A formal price estimate provided to a potential customer: 'We will send you a quotation by the end of the day.'
Academic
A cited passage from a source used to support an argument, often requiring precise referencing.
Everyday
Repeating something memorable someone said: 'She began her speech with a quotation from Mandela.'
Technical
In finance, the price at which a security is trading; in publishing, a short excerpt used with permission.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The contractor will quote for the work tomorrow.
- She quoted a line from 'Hamlet'.
American English
- The contractor will quote the job tomorrow.
- He quoted the Second Amendment.
adjective
British English
- The quotation marks were missing.
- We need a quotation number for the file.
American English
- Use quotation marks for direct speech.
- Check the quotation date on the estimate.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I like this quotation from my favourite book.
- The teacher wrote the quotation on the board.
- Can you give me a quotation for repairing the roof?
- Her essay started with a relevant quotation.
- The article was full of direct quotations from the interview.
- We are awaiting quotations from three different suppliers.
- The diplomat's careful quotation of the treaty defused the tension.
- The company's stock market quotation was suspended pending an investigation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'QUOTATION' as a 'QUOTE' you put into 'ACTION' by repeating it.
Conceptual Metaphor
WORDS AS COMMODITIES (to 'quote a price'), TEXT AS PHYSICAL OBJECT (to 'lift' a quotation from a book).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing with 'цитата' (citation) and 'котировка' (financial quote/price). 'Quotation' covers both concepts in English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'quotation' as a verb (correct verb is 'to quote').
- Misspelling as 'quoteation'.
- Using 'inverted commas' instead of 'quotation marks' in a UK context is fine, but the latter is more standard globally.
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, a 'quotation' is most likely to be:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In formal writing, 'quotation' is preferred for the noun. 'Quote' is the verb and an informal noun. In business, both are used for a price estimate.
Use double quotation marks (") for direct speech and quotations in American English. British English often uses single marks ('). Titles of short works (articles, poems) are also placed in quotation marks.
Yes, it refers to the listing of a company's shares on a stock exchange or the current price at which a security is bid or offered.
No, the verb is always 'to quote'. Using 'quotation' as a verb (e.g., 'He quotation the president') is incorrect.