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News writing: writing great quotes

9/3/2014

News writing: writing great quotes
by Joanna Liu, Editor-in-Chief of Voice K

When I first introduced news writing to a group of 7- to 15-year-old students, I talked about the importance of using good quotes in their stories. Then when their assignments were due, I found many articles that looked like transcripts, consisting of several very long quotes.

I find writing quotes to be the most challenging concept for a young writer to comprehend. That is totally understandable, because writing good quotes is one of the most challenging aspects of journalism writing. I am also constantly reading and learning to write better quotes myself, so I gathered some tips that I found useful. Most tips are selected points from Bob Baker’s blog on a vocabulary list for editors and reporters on which I’ve expanded a little, and added some examples.

What is a quote in news writing?

A quote is written words copied from a text or speech. Basically it is about recording what people have spoken. A quote is different from a transcript; while a quote is often embedded in the story to illustrate a point, a transcript is just a record of exactly what is said.

A news article sometimes needs quotes because:

It repeats the exact words people said and reduces the mistakes in reporting.
It can give readers different point of views while the writer stays neutral.
It can make your story lively and make readers feel like they are at the event themselves.

Although quotes can make a story come to life, overuse of or poorly chosen quotes can also kill a good story. Here are some points to remember:

KEEP ‘EM SHORT AND POWERFUL

Bob Baker’s blog on a vocabulary list for editors and reporters said that we should think of quotes as the spices, the seasoning in your story. You should avoid having your sources drone on and on. A great tip to write a short, powerful quote is to use the ones you remember off the top of your head, and then check for accuracy later. These quotes are usually more emotional, leaving a permanent mark on reader’s mind.

Your quote should not be more than 3-4 lines long.

The other long, rambling, vague, or obvious quotes should be cut off or paraphrased.

DON’T ANNOUNCE THE QUOTE:

Announcing a quote is a waste of space and the reader’s time.

Example: Jonathan said that he could not remember the last time he got a good grade, “I’ve not gotten anything better than a C in many years,” he said.

It is repetitive. If you are going to tell your story in a quote, then let your quote do the job. If you think it is better to paraphrase or summarize it, then do so without the quote.

AVOID TALKING HEADS

Talking heads are faceless, personality-less people, speaking quotes in a story. We usually get a name, a title and a long, pointless quote from the talking heads. Some writers include them to show different reactions or convince an editor that many people were interviewed.

For example:

“I really like the rides here,” 6-year-old Jason Smith said.

“This is a great festival before school starts, I will come next year,” said Jason’s mom.

“I volunteer because it is fun and to gain some experience,” said Jenny Worth, a volunteer at the festival.

As Baker’s article phrases it: “Reading one of these stories is like going to a big party and shaking hands with 100 people, but getting to know no one.”

So the best practice is to go back and search for those most memorable moments, then develop those moments into a great quote with great description.

For example:

“I really like the rides here,” says 6-year-old Jason Smith as he charges into the bouncy arena with his balloon sword. This is Smith’s first time playing at a bouncy castle. He will be entering Grade 1 in September, and his mom thinks the festival is a great way to kick off a new school year.

CHANGE OUT-OF-TIME QUOTES TO IN-TIME QUOTES

Out-of-time quotes are quotes spoken to a reporter. The reader is reminded that he is reading a newspaper story. IN-TIME quotes make the reader feel in the midst of the story as it happened.

Example:

“The mayor told me right before his speech that he had forgotten his notes,” press secretary Bob Berg said.

An in-time quote about the same moment would read:

“Goddamn it,” the mayor muttered to his press aide moments before the speech began, “I forgot my notes.” (example from a vocabulary list for editors and reporters)

I hope these tips help. Here is a little assignment: try to rewrite the paragraph / quotes below to get rid of the long quotes:

“What inspired you to be in the race?” I asked.

“My dad and I used to always go rowing when I was your age and we did the same in Boy scouts too.” Hudson says. I asked him about the most challenging part of the dragon boat race. “The important part about racing is that everyone has to be in sync and you have to make sure you gotta listen to the man in the back and everyone on the boat has to know his instructions so you wanna start paddling very hard at the start, slow down in the middle, and then pick up at the end and you always have to be in sync. So that’s the hardest part.”(example from a young journalist)

See ourdragon boat race article to read the final version.

Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com

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Advanced Punctuation (Part 2)

12/24/2012

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This is a continuation of Advanced Punctuation (Part 1). In Part 1, we talked about commas, colons and semicolons.

In Advanced Punctuation (Part 2), we will discuss specific details and rules that you may not know about:

Quotation Marks
Apostrophes
Slashes

Quotation Marks ("")
As you already know, quotation marks surround the words that are being spoken. Here are the rules for using quotation marks:

Begin quotations with a capital letter

Place all ending punctuation after the quote but before the closing quotation mark

Using quotation marks in a split quotation is a bit trickier. A quote separated by the person who spoke is called a split quotation. Begin the first part of a split quotation with a capital letter, and end with a comma. Begin the second part of a split quotation with a lower case letter. Enclose both parts of the split quotation with quotation marks.

For example:
“Okay class,” said the teacher, “tomorrow we will use the computer to learn more about continents.”
“No,” my mother replied, “you cannot go to Alana’s party!”
“Wait,” she interrupted, “how did you do that again?”

Use single quotation marks for quotations within quotations or direct speech within a text. Note that the period goes inside all quotation marks.

Example:
He said, “Karen said, ‘Do not treat me that way.’”
“Have you read ‘The Hunger Games’ yet?” he asked her.

Apostrophes (')
Apostrophes are used in the following circumstances:
1. With contractions. The apostrophe is always placed at the spot where the letter(s) has been removed.
Examples:
don't, isn't
You're right.
She's a great teacher.

2. To show possession. Place the apostrophe before the s to show singular possession.
Examples:
one boy's hat
one woman's hat
one actress's hat
one child's hat
Ms. Chang's house

NOTE: Although names ending in s or an s sound are not required to have the second s added in possessive form, it is preferred.
Examples:
Mr. Jones's golf clubs
Texas's weather
Ms. Straus's daughter
Jose Sanchez's artwork
Dr. Hastings's appointment (name is Hastings)
Mrs. Lees's books (name is Lees)

3. Where the noun that should follow is implied.
Example: This was his father's, not his, jacket.

Rules for using the apostrophe:

To show plural possession, make the noun plural first. Then immediately use the apostrophe.

Examples:
two boys' hats two women's hats
two actresses' hats
two children's hats
the Changs' house
the Joneses' golf clubs
the Strauses' daughter

Do not use an apostrophe for the plural of a name.

Examples:
We visited the Sanchezes in Los Angeles.(name is Sanchez)
The Changs have two cats and a dog.(name is Chang)

With a singular compound noun, show possession with 's at the end of the word.

Example:
my mother-in-law's hat

If the compound noun is plural, form the plural first and then use the apostrophe.

Example:
my two brothers-in-law's hats

Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.

Examples:
Cesar and Maribel's home is constructed of redwood.
Cesar's and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year. (Indicates separate ownership)
Cesar and Maribel's job contracts will be renewed next year. (Indicates joint ownership of more than
one contract)

Never use an apostrophe with possessive pronouns: his, hers, its, theirs, ours, yours, whose. They already show possession so they do not require an apostrophe.

Correct: This book is hers, not yours.
Incorrect: Sincerely your's.

The only time an apostrophe is used for it's is when it is a contraction for it is or it has.

Examples:
It's a nice day.
It's your right to refuse the invitation.
It's been great getting to know you.

Use apostrophes with capital letters and numbers when the meaning would be unclear otherwise.

Examples:
Please dot your i's.
You don't mean is.
Ted couldn't distinguish between his 6's and 0's.
You need to use the apostrophe to indicate the plural of zero or it will look like the word Os.To be
consistent within a sentence, you would also use the apostrophe to indicate the plural of 6's.

Slashes (/)
A slash is used to indicate a choice between the words it separates. It is also called a slant, solidus or virgule. It is also used to separate lines in poetry.

Slash rules and usage:

The slash can be translated as or

Examples:
We’ll go to the beach if/when your brother finishes his homework.
When one has to return to the store, he/she must take the receipt.
When the knight shows up, he/she must prove his/her worth to the King.

Slashes should not be used where the word or could not be used in its place

There is no space between the slash and the letters on either side of it when indicating a choice
In poetry, slashes are used to indicate a line-break. In quoted poetry, there are spaces between the slash and letters at both sides of it.

Example:
Whose woods these are I think I know / His house is in the village though;

Using slashes to indicate line breaks in poetry is limited to only four or five lines of verse. If the verse is more than four or five lines, the poem is written out as it appears in its original form, without using line breaks or quotation marks.

Example:
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near

(As you can see, there are no slashes or quotation marks and the lines are written like they are in the
original poem)

Slashes are also used in internet URL’s. There are no spaces in this case.

Example: http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

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Advanced Punctuation (Part 1)

12/20/2012

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There are many different punctuation marks and it can be difficult to distinguish between them all. Here’s a comprehensive list of rules and examples for using various punctuation marks. This list will help those who have already have a general understanding of punctuation but need further guidance when using them. Furthermore, we will expand on things mentioned in Basic Punctuation for Beginners. In Advanced Punctuation (Part 1), we will discuss specific details that you may not know about:

Commas
Colons
Semicolons

Commas (,)
When properly placed, commas clarify meaning by helping readers organize information. Without it, sentence parts can collide into one another and cause confusion. However, too many commas can cause distraction.

Rules for comma usage:

Commas with numbers:

-Use commas to separate off the thousands, millions and billions in numbers.
Example: 2,460,558
- Don’t use commas in decimals.
Example: $4534.79
- Use a comma before the year if the date is given as follows: month, day, year.
Example: January 11, 2004
- Don’t use a comma if only two elements of the date are given (e.g. month and year).
Example: I was born in August 1989.

2. Commas with series (lists):
-Use a comma to separate items in an enumeration.
Example: Mrs. B had a dog, a cat, a fish and a pig.
- Don’t use a comma before and if two items are a unit. Ham and eggs as a dish is a unit and should therefore not be separated by a comma.
Example: Mrs. B had soup, ham and eggs, juice, and an apple pie for lunch.
- Don't use a comma if all items in an enumeration are separated by and, or, nor etc.
Example: Mrs. B had a pig and a dog and a cow and a horse.

3. Commas with Salutations:
- Use a comma if the sentence starts with an address to someone.
Example: John, may I talk to you for a second?
- Use a comma with salutations in private letters.
Example: Dear Alexandria, ...
- After the greeting, the comma is optional.
Example: Sincerely, or Sincerely

4. Commas with "please":
- Use a comma if "please" is at the end of a request.
Example: Send me a letter, please.
- Don't use a comma if "please" is at the beginning of a request.
Example: Please send me a letter.

5. Commas with Affirmatives, Negatives and Question Tags:
- Use a comma after yes and no.
Affirmatives: Yes, I can help you.
Negatives: No, I can't help you.

-Question Tag: Use a comma before question tags.
Positive main clause - Negative question tag
Example: You are Scottish, aren't you?
Negative main clause - Positive question tag
Example: You aren't Scottish, are you?

6. Commas with Adjectives:
- Use a comma if the adjectives are equally important and give similar kinds of information.
Example: It was a cold, windy night.
- Don't use a comma if the adjectives are not equally important or give different kinds of information.
Example: She was a clever young woman.
Note: To check if adjectives give similar kinds of information or not, put and between the adjectives.

Example: It was a cold and windy night.
If adjectives give different kinds of information, the and between the adjectives doesn't sound right. (Example of wrong use: She was a clever and young woman.)

7. Commas with Adverbs:
- Use a comma after certain adverbs: however, in fact, therefore, nevertheless, moreover, furthermore, still, instead, too (meaning 'also').
- If these adverbs appear in the middle of a sentence, they are enclosed in commas.
Example: The boy, however, was very smart.
- The comma is optional for the following adverbs: then, so, yet.
Example: Then, she ran upstairs. Then she ran upstairs.

8. Commas between Main Clauses:
- Use a comma between two main clauses which are separated by and or but.
Example: We ran out of fuel, and the nearest gas station was 5 miles away.
- Use a comma to separate parts of a sentence in a sequence.

Example: She ran down the stairs, opened the door, saw her mom(,) and gave her a hug.
- Don’t use a comma if these parts of the sentence are separated by and or but.
Example: She ran down the stairs and opened the door and saw her mom and gave her a hug.

9. Commas with Conditional Sentences
- Use a comma if the if clause is at the beginning of a sentence.
Example: If I go to London, I will visit the Tower.
- Don’t use a comma if the if clause is at the end of the sentence.
Example: I will visit the Tower if I go to London.

10. Commas with Introductory Clauses:
-Use a comma after introductory infinitive clauses.
Example: To improve her Math, she practiced kwizNET Worksheets every day.
- Use a comma after introductory prepositional clauses.
Example: Before he went to New York, he had spent a year in Australia.
- Use a comma after introductory participle clauses.
Example: Having said this, he left the room.

11. Commas with Direct Speech:
- Use a comma after the introductory clause.
Example: She said, ''I was in England last year.''
- If the direct speech is at the beginning of the sentence, put the comma before the final quotation mark. (Don’t use a period here.)
Example: ''I was in England last year,'' she said.
- Don’t use a comma after direct speech if the direct speech ends with a question mark or exclamation mark.
Example: “Were you in England last year?” he asked. (The question mark replaces the comma because it is a question)

12.   Commas with interjections:
- Use a comma to separate an interjection or weak exclamation from the rest of the sentence.
Examples:
Wow, you really did it this time! (Wow is an interjection)
Hey, will you do me a favor? (Hey is a weak exclamation)

13.   Commas with Additional Information:
- Use a comma if the additional information is not part of the main statement.
Example: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for giving me the opportunity to speak to you today.
- Use a comma in relative clauses before who and which if the information is not essential for the understanding of the sentence.
Example: Her brother, who lives in Chicago, came to see her. She has only one brother. He lives in Chicago and came to see her.
- Don’t use a comma in relative clauses if the information is essential for the understanding of the sentence.
Example: Her brother who lives in Chicago came to see her. She has more than one brother. But she was visited by only one of them–the brother who lives in Chicago.
- Don’t use a comma if the relative clause starts with that.
Example: The book that I’m reading now is interesting.

14.   Commas with Opposites:
- Use a comma with opposites, even if they are separated by and or but.
Example: It was the father, and not the son, who went to the disco every Friday.

Colons (:)
Colons have a number of functions:

1.   To introduce an idea.
The colon is used to introduce an idea that is an explanation or continuation of the one that comes before the colon. The colon can be considered as a gateway inviting the reader to go on.

Examples:
You are left with only one option: Press on until you have mastered it.
There is one thing you need to know about coleslaw: it looks and tastes like slurry.

In the above examples you have some idea of what will come after the colon. It is important to note that the clause that comes before the colon can stand alone and make complete sense on its own.

If the initial clause cannot stand alone and make complete sense, you should not use a colon.

2.   To introduce a list.
The second main use of the colon is to introduce a list. You need to take care; many people assume that a colon always precedes a list. This is not the case. Again it is important to remember that the clause that precedes the colon must make complete sense on its own.

Examples:
The potion contained some exotic ingredients: snails’ eyes, bats’ tongues and garlic.
The magic potion contained sesame seeds, bran flakes and coleslaw.

In the first sentence, the clause preceding the colon has a subject and a predicate and makes complete sense on its own 'The potion contained some exotic ingredients.' In the second sentence a colon should not be used, as the clause that would precede it would not make sense alone 'The magic potion contained'.

3.   To introduce quoted material.
The colon has other uses: it can also be used after a clause introducing quoted material.
Example: The girl often used her favourite quotation from Romeo and Juliet: “Oh Romeo, Romeo, where art thou Romeo?”

If the colon precedes a quotation, you should begin the language of that quote with a capital letter.

4.   For style.
Having mastered the correct use of the colon, it is useful to make it work for you in your writing. Using a colon can add emphasis to an idea. For example, consider the following two sentences:
Examples:
The one thing mankind cannot live without is hope.
There is one thing that mankind cannot live without: hope.

Both sentences are grammatically correct, but the second makes the point a little more forcefully. Now we are in the realms of style, it is important to emphasize that you, as the writer, have to decide how to make your newfound expertise with punctuation work for you. Do not be tempted to overuse colons. They are powerful but should be used with precision and care.

Semicolons (;)

Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses. (This eliminates the need for a comma and a conjunction.)

Examples:
With a comma and conjunction: My grandmother seldom goes to bed this early, because she’s afraid she’ll miss out on something.
With a semicolon: My grandmother seldom goes to be this early; she’s afraid she’ll miss out on something.

2. Use a semicolon to separate items in a series when those items contain punctuation such as a comma.
Example: We went on field trips to Topeka, Kansas; Freedom, Oklahoma; and Amarillo, Texas.

Topeka, Kansas is one place, Freedom, Oklahoma is another place, and Amarillo, Texas is another. The semicolon just makes it easier to tell that these are not all separate places.

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News writing: writing great quotes

Advanced Punctuation (Part 2)

Advanced Punctuation (Part 1)

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