Forum:CT:Quotations

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The result of the debate was Option 1 (single speaker) and Option 2 (two speakers):

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
―Han Solo to Luke Skywalker[src]
"I prefer more straightforward methods."
"Master of understatement."
―Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]

—Xwing328(Talk) 06:40, 21 January 2007 (UTC)

We seem to have resolved the issue of internal links during our last discussion and vote on quotations, but there are still a few discrepancies between articles, specifically on the quote labels. Here is one classic quote, as it appears in the blaster article:

1)
"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
―Han Solo to Luke Skywalker[src]

2) In contrast, a few other articles have everything but the speaker in parentheses:

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
―Han Solo (to Luke Skywalker)[src]

3) Or this version with smaller parentheses, which is not quite as popular:

"Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
―Han Solo (to Luke Skywalker)[src]

I personally feel that the parentheses versions are more elegant, but that may be only my opinion. I wonder if most people actually prefer the plain "Person A to Person B" format, or if it's just routine. Also, I was curious if we have a set standard for two-line dialogue quotes. This one, from the Form V article, is different from most:

1)
"I prefer more straightforward methods."
―Anakin Skywalker[src]
"Master of understatement."
―Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]

2) Most of them appear in this format:

"I prefer more straightforward methods."
"Master of understatement."
―Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]

3) And rarest, though there is a template for it, is this version that is generally used for dialogues that have more than two lines:

Skywalker: "I prefer more straightforward methods."
Kenobi: "Master of understatement."
―Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi[src]

Again, I prefer the first version here for similar reasons (avoiding a cluttered quote label), but with this case there is a small precedent. Those who own the book Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina can find before the title page a quote exchange between Obi-Wan and Luke, using the format of two separate quotes. Also, we've seemed to be cutting down to a single quote for each article section, so a quote-counterquote format might be more aesthetic than it was before, when sections had a handful of quotes unrelated to each other. Thoughts? -BaronGrackle 22:36, 2 December 2006 (UTC)

  • For single quotes, I prefer option number 3 because that format is somewhat cleaner and easier to decipher at a glance. For conversations, I rather like option 3 as well, but I think that the attribution field should probably be made optional.–SentryTalk 23:59, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
  • I'll take Option 1 and Option 2, respectively. jSarek 01:25, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • Option 1 for single quotes and Option 2 for two-line dialogue quotes. —Mirlen 01:32, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • Option 1 at top. The smaller font and/or parathenses stuff are just clutter, imo. For 2 people use option 2 or dialogue form for 3 or more lines. -Fnlayson 20:51, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • 1 and 2 as well. Havac 03:47, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • Should this be moved to CT? —Xwing328(Talk) 04:16, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
    • Well, so far 5 out of 7 are in complete agreement. There may be no need. :-) -BaronGrackle 09:48, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • 1 and 2 again - \\Captain Kwenn// — Ahoy! 19:57, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  • When it comes to the dialogue, I like option 3 because it clearly identifies the speakers. Option 2 is fine as long as the first name in the attributions is the first to speak, but it doesn't easily identify whose talking for longer dialogue, particularly with more than two speakers. On the other hand, option 3 requires different templates for different situations, though we already have 4 variations (1-2, 1-2-1, 1-2-1-2, 1-2-3) which should cover most quotes. Green Tentacle (Talk) 10:39, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  • Let me also point out that not every quote even necessarily needs a "to" part. If that makes sense. - breathesgelatinTalk 02:44, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
    • Yeah, it does, and I almost added such in my original post. But, looking at the major articles here (e.g. Han, Luke, Leia, Palpatine), direct object-abuse doesn't seem to be a very big problem. It is pervasive in some articles, but that's the price we have to pay when we remove a quote's internal links. -BaronGrackle 10:41, 14 December 2006 (UTC)

Single quotes

Option 1

  1. jSarek 01:25, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  2. Mirlen 01:32, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  3. —Xwing328(Talk) 03:47, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  4. Fnlayson 20:51, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  5. Havac 03:47, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  6. \\Captain Kwenn// — Ahoy! 19:57, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  7. Jasca Ducato 10:24, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  8. Green Tentacle (Talk) 10:25, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  9. --Ol' BenMy Chambers 14:24, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  10. Chack Jadson 00:37, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
  11. Yoshi626 01:09, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
  12. Riffsyphon1024 06:00, 13 December 2006 (UTC)
  13. - breathesgelatinTalk 02:41, 14 December 2006 (UTC)
  14. I need a name (Complain here) 16:10, 28 December 2006 (UTC)
  15. April Seven 21:44, 29 December 2006 (UTC)
  16. ---Vladius Magnum(Clan Magnum) 01:59, 5 January 2007 (UTC)

Option 2

  1. Feeling a little out of place here, but not gonna give in to the peer pressure and vote for Option 1 (my 2nd choice) - JMAS 19:58, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
  2. Best choice Enochf 05:46, 13 December 2006 (UTC)

Option 3

  1. SentryTalk 23:59, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
  2. BaronGrackle 11:06, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  3. Atarumaster88 Jedi Order (Audience Chamber) 15:48, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  4. .... 21:35, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Two person quotes

Option 1

  1. BaronGrackle 11:06, 4 December 2006 (UTC)

Option 2

  1. jSarek 01:25, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  2. Mirlen 01:32, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  3. —Xwing328(Talk) 03:47, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  4. Fnlayson 20:51, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  5. Havac 03:47, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  6. \\Captain Kwenn// — Ahoy! 19:57, 3 December 2006 (UTC)
  7. Jasca Ducato 10:24, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  8. Atarumaster88 Jedi Order (Audience Chamber) 15:48, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  9. .... 21:38, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  10. JMAS 19:59, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
  11. Chack Jadson 00:37, 8 December 2006 (UTC)
  12. Riffsyphon1024 06:00, 13 December 2006 (UTC)
  13. It just looks better. Less like a script and more like dialouge or something someone would say.---Vladius Magnum(Clan Magnum) 18:07, 29 December 2006 (UTC)
  14. Mandofett 12:45, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

Option 3

  1. SentryTalk 23:59, 2 December 2006 (UTC)
  2. Green Tentacle (Talk) 10:25, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  3. --Ol' BenMy Chambers 14:24, 4 December 2006 (UTC)
  4. FWIW Enochf 20:01, 5 December 2006 (UTC)
  5. Yoshi626 04:21, 13 December 2006 (UTC)
  6. April Seven 21:44, 29 December 2006 (UTC)
The above discussion is preserved as an archive of the debate. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made in a new section.