Definition

Noun: 1. An incorrect quotation: The act or result of quoting someone inaccurately, either by altering the words, omitting parts, or attributing the statement to the wrong source.

Usage

The noun "misquotation" refers to a specific instance where a quote is not reproduced faithfully. It is used to describe the error itself, not the act of making the error (which is "misquoting").

Examples

• The article contained a serious misquotation of the scientist's remarks, changing the meaning entirely.
• Many famous sayings are surrounded by misquotations that have become more popular than the original.
• The politician demanded a correction for the misquotation in the newspaper.

Advanced Usage

• "To be a misquotation of": Used to state that a given phrase inaccurately represents an original source.
  • That popular line is actually a misquotation of a passage from Shakespeare's Hamlet.

Variants and Related Words

• Misquote (verb): To quote (someone) inaccurately.
  • The journalist misquoted the CEO in the interview.
• Misquoted (adjective): Describes a statement that has been inaccurately quoted.
  • The misquoted statistic spread quickly online.

Synonyms

• Misstatement: An inaccurate statement.
• Inaccuracy: Lack of accuracy; an error.
• Distortion: The action of misrepresenting facts or words.

Antonyms

• Accurate quotation
• Verbatim quote

Related Phrases

• Attributed misquotation: A misquotation that is incorrectly credited to a specific person.
  • The line "Elementary, my dear Watson" is an attributed misquotation; Sherlock Holmes never said it exactly that way in the original stories.

Noun

1. an incorrect quotation