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Subject:Re: USEAGE: Unquote/End quote From:Jay Jordan <jay -at- MAINELINK -dot- NET> Date:Wed, 10 Jan 1996 15:41:15 -0500
On Tue, 9 Jan 1996, Tom T Kiersted/asf> wrote:
> Rex Stout's grammar maven/private eye Nero Wolfe had fits when people used
> "unquote" claiming that it was a corruption of the proper "end quote." Does
> anyone know if he was right or wrong? If not for today, for the turn of the
> century or some other time in English's contemporary history? "End quote" wins
> on my ear test, though I'm certain "unquote" wins by an overwhelming majority
> in my anecdotal experience of common usage.
The American Heritage Dictionary (1978 ed.) gives for "unquote":
v-tr. To close a quotation. -intr. To close a quotation. Used by
a speaker to termination of a quotation.
Unquote. Found nothing on "end quote" however.
JAY JORDAN jay -at- mainelink -dot- net
Jordan Indexing
Voice/Fax (207)878-5907
Portland, Maine USA
