Verbatim Quote
A word-for-word reproduction of what a source or participant said or wrote, preserved exactly and clearly attributed.
A verbatim quote reproduces spoken or written words exactly as they occurred, without correction or smoothing. In writing, it is the strict standard behind direct quotation: the wording, spelling, and punctuation of the source are preserved, with any alterations flagged by ellipses or brackets. In qualitative research, verbatim quotes from interview or focus group transcripts carry participants' voices into the analysis, and transcription conventions determine how pauses, fillers, and errors are recorded.
In a thesis, verbatim material demands special care. Quotes from the literature must be checked against the original page, since even small transcription slips look careless to examiners. Quotes from participants must respect ethical commitments: anonymize identifying details, follow your consent agreements, and select excerpts that fairly represent the data rather than only the most vivid lines. Always pair each quote with your own interpretation.
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