Frame of Reference

[BJCooperIT]

Not too long ago I started the thread "Favorite Quotes". In a separate thread I was startled to see a conversation that the title should have been "Favorite Quotations". The gist of it was that "quote" is a verb and "quotation" is a noun.

I was mortified to have made that mistake in a forum dedicated to the use of language. Mortified, but not apologetic. Why? Because never once did my high school English teacher teach the distinction. Because, in my frame of reference, the word remains appropriate. Growing up, when my father needed work done on the car, the mechanic gave him a quote. Now when my husband, the handyman, is asked to fix something, he gives the person a written quote. I have never heard it said differently (Honey, the plumber gave us a $900 quotation to fix the faucet!!!). Even the internet propagates the incorrect usage Quotes of the Day.

Sometimes it is differences in the language, culture or geographic location that leaves these knowledge gaps and sometimes a simple lack of education.

Have you learned something new that has expanded your frame of reference? I certainly did.

^{Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw}
Consultant Developer/Analyst Oracle, Forms, Reports & PL/SQL (Windows)
My website: www.EmuProductsPlus.com

 

[flapeyre]

Force of habit from using the TGML tag [ignore]

[/ignore]?

Maybe the tag should be changed to display "Quotation:" instead of "Quote:"?

Tibi gratias agimus quod nihil fumas.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Barb, please don't allow yourself to be too mortified. According to Merriam-Webster, "quote" is both a noun and a verb. Here is the noun definition, which matches your original usage:

Entry Word: quote
Function: noun
Text: a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example <got a book of quotes from his favorite author for his birthday> -- see QUOTATION

Then, when you follow the link to "quotation" it says:

Entry Word: quotation

Function: noun
Text: a passage referred to, repeated, or offered as an example <the beautiful autumn day brought to mind this quotation from Thoreau: "So live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each">
Synonyms citation, quote

So, those who indicated that the proper term was soley "quotation" may have been too narrow.


Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[Lunatic]

Well as the guilty party to starting the other thread, I too will readily admit I didn't know there was a difference until I had a rather hardcore debate coach in college use a squirt gun to beat it into my head. My origional post wasn't targeted at any single thread, but rather the 'Favorite Quote' thread was the straw that broke the camel's back.

With all the education that goes on with minor language misuses (such as my spelling) that goes on here I was having a hard time understanding why such a momumental (you have to understand the number of times I was blasted with the squirt gun) example of improper language was uncontested.

Santa, can you provide a link? Because I see something completely different at m-w.com. I become more and more confused with this all the time...

Here's what I see at m-w.com

http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/quote

Main Entry: 1quote
Pronunciation: 'kwOt also 'kOt
Function: verb
...
3 a : to state (the current price or bid-offer spread) for a commodity, stock, or bond b : to give exact information on

If you you click on the "quote[2, noun]" option at the top it takes you to the entry for quotation (or quotation mark if want to go to that entry).

So to provide a 'quote' for services to be rendered is an accurate use of the verb (adverb, is that what the "a" stands for?").

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum

 

[SantaMufasa]

It's appears to be rather bizarre, but m-w.com modified its contents following my posting at 19:37 GMT and prior to Lunatic's posting at 21:09 GMT. I copied and pasted the content of my posting directly from m-w.com's entry for "quote" and "quotation", yet I cannot find the same m-w.com entry(s) now.

In any case, notice that the entry from "quote" in the nomnative sense is:

Main Entry: 2quote
Function: noun
1 : QUOTATION...

Even m-w.com's text for "QUOTATION" has changed since earlier today. I promise I didn't make that stuff up...I just plagiarised it. (Who'd have thought that I would ever have to defend myself against the cloud of "original work" by my using a "plagiarism" defence?...Go figure.)

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[BJCooperIT]

See:

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Quote

 

[columb]

The American Heritage Dictionary, quoted in Dictionary.com shows

quote (kw?t) Pronunciation Key
v. quot·ed, quot·ing, quotes

v. tr.

1. To repeat or copy the words of (another), usually with acknowledgment of the source.
2. To cite or refer to for illustration or proof.
3. To repeat a brief passage or excerpt from: The saxophonist quoted a Duke Ellington melody in his solo.
4. To state (a price) for securities, goods, or services.


v. intr.
To give a quotation, as from a book.

n.

1. Informal A quotation.
2. A quotation mark.
3. Used by a speaker to indicate the beginning of a quotation.
4. A dictum; a saying.

This shows the noun synonym of 'quotation' as informal. Here in the UK I would say that it was far stronger than that. In particular the user of 'quote' as a noun for 'A stated (a price) for securities, goods, or services.' is completely accepted.

Ceci n'est pas une signature
Columb Healy

 

[Thadeus]

Not to worry Santa, you were quoting from the Thesaurus, not the Dictionary. I didn't believe that M-W was that dynamic, so I had to investigate further.

As requested, here are the links for quote and for quotation

~Thadeus [small]nevermore[/small]

 

[Lunatic]

And so the mystery is solved! ;p

Back to the origional point... I did often wonder when competing that with all the mis-use of the word, how long it would be before 'quote' assumed the noun meaning as well and 'quotation' became an archaic relic of a bygone era.

***************************************
Have a problem with my spelling or grammar? Please refer all complaints to my English teacher:
Ralphy "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Wiggum