Should I edit quotes? Or should I leave them as they are? This is a question that bothers every reporter and editor when handling copy where quotes have been used.
Here are three common sense tips to decide how to handle quotes when writing or editing a news report for a print publication, a blog or a website:
1. When the quote has grammatical problems
The subject may not agree with the verb or the articles may be missing. The subject may quite possibly have used two different tenses while speaking. These errors can be corrected as long as the meaning of the quote stays the same.
2. Abnormally long quotes
All direct speech should be short and punchy. Reporters must not run quotes across three to four paragraphs. They lose their immediacy.
In such cases, the editor should use ellipsis to break long staements. This makes the quotes snappier, and more relevant.
Another option is to paraphrase long quotes, especially quotes that are terse, dense or difficult to understand. This especially happens when a reporter is quoting from government documents, multilateral agreements or judgements. However, care must be exercised while paraphrasing long quotes.
Two points that must be kept in mind are: one, the meaning is not changed; and two, the reporter picks out the relevant points that need paraphrasing.
3. Partial or fragmentary quotes
These should be handled with great care. They must be used only if they are unusual. Also, they must be used in context. A reporter should not use a partial quote to imply another meaning.
For instance, there is no point calling a book “wonderful”. The partial quote may be used as part of the paraphrased sentence.
But if the critic called the book “sick” then it should surely be used as a partial quote.
Read also: 3 reasons to quote subjects