Quote and cite both come up when you are using someone else's words or ideas, and the two get used loosely in casual speech. In careful writing, they mean different things.
To quote is to repeat someone's exact words, usually inside quotation marks.
quote full definition →
To cite is to refer to a source as evidence or support, without necessarily using the exact words.
cite full definition →
| quote | cite | |
|---|---|---|
| What you use | The exact words | A reference to the source |
| Typical form | Inside quotation marks | A name, date, or footnote |
| Simple test | "She quoted him" means she used his exact words | "She cited him" means she referred to his work as support |
Quote means repeating exact words. Cite means pointing to a source as evidence, with or without exact words.
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