To quote someone means to repeat their exact words. When you quote your teacher, you say precisely what she said, word for word. Writers use quotation marks (“ ”) to show they're quoting: if your friend said “I can't wait for summer,” you might write, My friend said, “I can't wait for summer.”

Quoting is different from paraphrasing, where you put someone's ideas into your own words. When you quote, accuracy matters tremendously. Scientists quote other researchers' findings. Journalists quote people they interview. Students quote passages from books in their essays to support their arguments.

The word can also mean to state a price. When a mechanic quotes you $200 to fix your bike, she's telling you what the repair will cost. A contractor might quote a price for building a deck.

People sometimes say quote-unquote before or after repeating someone's words, especially when they doubt what was said or find it ironic. A quotation is the words being quoted, like a famous quotation from Abraham Lincoln. Collections of memorable quotes are called quotation books, filled with wisdom, humor, and inspiration from people throughout history.