A quotation reproduces a source's exact words, a paraphrase restates the source's idea in different words, and a source note identifies the source. A source note can accompany either form, but it does not replace exact quotation marks or turn a paraphrase into the source's exact wording.
What goes where
| Form | What belongs in it | Main distinction |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation | The source's exact words | Spelling, punctuation, and capitalization remain unchanged. |
| Paraphrase | The source's idea in different words | The wording belongs to the article, not the source, and still requires attribution. |
| Source note | The source identity and a locator for checking | It points to the evidence; it is not a replacement for the quoted or paraphrased text. |
These are editorial conventions, not rules attributed to the cited M49 page.
An M49 example
The UN Statistics Division's M49 page states:
“These names are based on the United Nations Terminology Database (UNTERM).”
An unchanged reproduction of that sentence is a quotation. A rewording such as According to the M49 page, its names are based on the United Nations Terminology Database. is a paraphrase, not an exact quotation. It should not be placed in quotation marks, but it should retain a source note identifying the page.
The same page also states:
“M49 is prepared by the Statistics Division of the United Nations Secretariat primarily for use in its publications and databases.”
This describes the use for which M49 is primarily prepared. It does not, by itself, establish a universal rule for how names must be presented in every publication.
How to check it
- The wording is classified first: unchanged wording is a quotation; reworded wording is a paraphrase.
- An exact quotation is compared with the source word for word, including spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Any change means it is not an exact quotation.
- A paraphrase omits quotation marks and makes clear that the wording is the article's wording rather than the source's wording.
- The source note identifies the source and a usable locator so that the quotation or paraphrase can be checked.
- The claim stays within the source's actual scope: the page supports the statement about the UNTERM basis and the statement about M49's primary use, but not a broader rule about terminology, legal rights, or publication practice.
What still needs confirmation
The statements quoted here do not settle the following for a particular publication or intended context:
- Whether a particular name should be reproduced exactly or adapted.
- Whether a separate UNTERM entry supports the exact term or spelling being used.
- Which citation style, link placement, or permission requirements apply.
- Whether any legal or contractual restriction applies.
Those points require separate, applicable sources. The defensible editorial treatment is therefore narrow: exact wording as a quotation with a source note, reworded content as a paraphrase with a source note, and no broader legal, licensing, or style claim presented as established.