If you have ever heard someone say “quote unquote” and wondered whether it is actually “quote on quote,” you are not alone. The two expressions can sound similar in fast speech, which makes them easy to confuse.
The standard expression is quote-unquote. “Quote on quote” is generally a mistaken version of the phrase, usually caused by mishearing or misremembering it.
Quote-unquote is used mainly in speech to indicate that the speaker is quoting a word or phrase. It can also show that the speaker is distancing themselves from the quoted expression, sometimes suggesting doubt, irony, or sarcasm.
For example:
He is a quote-unquote “expert.”
Here, the speaker is indicating that “expert” is the word being used, but the speaker may not necessarily agree that the person deserves that description.
In formal writing, ordinary quotation marks are often simpler:
He is an “expert.”
Understanding the difference between quote on quote and quote-unquote can help you avoid a common expression mistake and use the phrase naturally.
Quote on Quote or Quote Unquote: Which Is Correct?
Quote-unquote is the standard expression.
✅ quote-unquote
❌ quote on quote
The word on does not normally belong in the conventional expression.
Is “Quote on Quote” Correct?
If you are trying to use the familiar expression that signals spoken quotation marks, quote on quote is not the standard form.
For example:
❌ She is a quote on quote expert.
✅ She is a quote-unquote “expert.”
However, the phrase quote on quote could theoretically occur if the words quote and on happen to have their ordinary meanings in a different sentence. That is not the idiom people usually mean when they say quote-unquote.
Why Do People Say “Quote on Quote”?
The mistake is understandable because quote-unquote is primarily heard in conversation.
When people say it quickly, the sound of unquote may not be very clear. Someone who has never seen the expression written down may interpret what they hear as “quote on quote.”
This is a common issue with spoken expressions: people can know the phrase perfectly well but spell it incorrectly because they learned it by hearing rather than reading.
What Does Quote Unquote Mean?
Quote-unquote is an expression used to indicate that the speaker is reproducing or referring to someone else’s exact words, or to a particular term or description.
It works somewhat like verbal quotation marks.
For example:
He called the plan quote-unquote “brilliant.”
The speaker is telling you that “brilliant” is the word being quoted.
What Does “Quote” Mean?
In this expression, quote signals the beginning of the quoted material.
For example:
She said, quote, “We will be there tomorrow,” unquote.
In natural modern speech, the exact placement can vary, but the basic idea is that quote tells the listener that the following words are being presented as a quotation.
What Does “Unquote” Mean?
Unquote signals the end of the quoted material.
For example:
He described the decision as quote-unquote “temporary.”
The listener understands that “temporary” is the expression being quoted.
Together, quote and unquote function as spoken signals that mark quoted language.
How to Use Quote Unquote
The expression is most commonly encountered in speech, although it can appear in writing when a writer wants to reproduce a conversational style or make the speaker’s attitude clear.
Using Quote-Unquote in Speech
In conversation, a speaker may say:
She is quote-unquote “the best person for the job.”
The expression tells listeners that the words “the best person for the job” are being presented as a quotation or description.
Another example is:
He said he was quote-unquote “too busy.”
Depending on the speaker’s tone, this could simply report someone’s words or suggest that the speaker doubts the claim.
Using Quote-Unquote in Writing
In ordinary writing, quotation marks are usually more natural than spelling out quote-unquote.
For example:
She called the proposal “unrealistic.”
This is usually cleaner than:
She called the proposal quote-unquote “unrealistic.”
However, quote-unquote can be useful when you want to preserve a conversational voice.
For example:
The company offered what it called a quote-unquote “permanent” solution.
Here, the phrase can emphasize that the writer is skeptical about the word “permanent.”
Using Quote-Unquote Around a Phrase
The expression can be used around a single word or a longer phrase.
For example:
He described himself as quote-unquote “a professional.”
Or:
The company promised a quote-unquote “long-term solution.”
The quoted material does not have to be a complete sentence. It can be a single word, label, title, or short expression.
Is Quote Unquote Sarcastic?
Not necessarily. Quote-unquote can be neutral, but it is often used to signal skepticism, irony, or sarcasm.
Context and tone are important.
Quote Unquote as a Neutral Expression
A speaker may use the expression simply to identify someone’s exact wording.
For example:
The manager called the decision quote-unquote “necessary.”
The speaker might simply be reporting the manager’s choice of word.
There does not have to be any criticism.
Quote Unquote as Skepticism or Sarcasm
The expression can also create distance between the speaker and the quoted description.
For example:
He is a quote-unquote “expert” who has never worked in the field.
Here, quote-unquote suggests that the speaker does not fully accept the label expert.
Another example:
They offered us a quote-unquote “perfect” solution that stopped working the next day.
In this sentence, the expression is clearly skeptical or ironic.
Therefore, it is important not to assume that quote-unquote always means sarcasm. The speaker’s tone and the surrounding context determine the intended attitude.
Quote Unquote or. Quotation Marks
Quote-unquote and quotation marks can perform similar functions, but they are used differently.
Quotation marks are a visual punctuation device:
She called the idea “brilliant.”
Quote-unquote is a verbal expression:
She called the idea quote-unquote “brilliant.”
When writing, quotation marks are generally more concise.
When speaking, however, you cannot physically show quotation marks, so expressions such as quote-unquote can tell listeners where the quoted material begins or indicate the speaker’s attitude toward it.
When Should You Use Quotation Marks?
Use quotation marks when you are writing and need to identify a direct quotation or a particular word or expression.
For example:
The report called the policy “unnecessary.”
This is usually preferable in formal writing.
When Should You Use Quote-Unquote?
Use quote-unquote when the expression itself adds something to the communication, particularly in speech or conversational writing.
For example:
He is a quote-unquote “specialist,” although he has very little experience.
Here, the phrase helps communicate the speaker’s skepticism.
Quote Unquote, Quote Unquote, or Quote-Unquote?
You may see the expression written in several forms.
The most familiar form when treating it as a fixed expression is:
quote-unquote
You may also encounter:
quote unquote
And in descriptions of spoken language, writers may represent the two words separately:
quote … unquote
The important point is that the standard expression is quote-unquote, not quote on quote.
Is Quote Unquote Hyphenated?
Quote-unquote is commonly written with a hyphen when it functions as a combined expression before a quoted term.
For example:
He is a quote-unquote “expert.”
You may also see quote unquote without the hyphen, particularly when writers are representing speech more literally.
Punctuation conventions can vary by style, but quote-unquote is a widely recognized form.
Is “Quote Unquote” One Word?
No. Quote-unquote consists of two words joined by a hyphen when written in its common hyphenated form.
It is not normally written as:
❌ quoteunquote
The standard forms you are most likely to encounter are quote-unquote and quote unquote, depending on context and style.
Quote and Unquote or. Quote Unquote
Quote and unquote and quote-unquote are closely related expressions.
Quote and Unquote
A speaker can use quote and unquote as verbal markers around quoted material.
For example:
He said, quote, “The project is complete,” unquote.
This construction explicitly signals the beginning and end of the quotation.
Quote-Unquote
Quote-unquote is the more familiar fixed expression and is often inserted around a word or phrase.
For example:
She is a quote-unquote “leader.”
The expression can be especially useful when the speaker wants to emphasize that the quoted label comes from someone else or does not fully endorse it.
Common Mistakes With Quote Unquote
Because the phrase is commonly learned through speech, several mistakes occur.
Writing “Quote on Quote”
This is the most important mistake to avoid.
❌ He is a quote on quote expert.
✅ He is a quote-unquote “expert.”
Assuming “Quote-Unquote” Always Means Sarcasm
It does not.
The expression can simply identify quoted language. Sarcasm or skepticism comes from the context and tone.
Using Quote-Unquote Unnecessarily in Formal Writing
In many formal contexts, ordinary quotation marks are clearer.
Instead of:
The report described the plan as quote-unquote “successful.”
You can simply write:
The report described the plan as “successful.”
If you specifically want to emphasize skepticism, however, quote-unquote may be appropriate.
Confusing Quote-Unquote With Direct Quotation
Quote-unquote can indicate quoted language, but it is not a substitute for understanding the rules of direct quotation.
For longer quotations in writing, use the appropriate quotation marks, formatting, and citation practices required by your style guide.
Quote Unquote Examples
Examples are one of the easiest ways to understand how this expression works.
Neutral Examples
She described the event as quote-unquote “successful.”
He called it a quote-unquote “temporary” arrangement.
The company used the term quote-unquote “innovative.”
These examples can be neutral if the speaker is simply reporting someone else’s wording.
Skeptical Examples
He is a quote-unquote “expert” who has no professional experience.
They promised a quote-unquote “permanent” solution that lasted only a week.
The project was supposed to be quote-unquote “finished.”
In these examples, the speaker appears doubtful about the quoted descriptions.
Sarcastic Examples
He gave us a quote-unquote “helpful” explanation that answered nothing.
That was a quote-unquote “brilliant” idea that caused three new problems.
Here, the context makes the sarcastic meaning clear.
Formal-Writing Examples
In formal writing, ordinary quotation marks are often preferable:
The spokesperson described the measure as “temporary.”
The newspaper called the decision “controversial.”
If the writer wants to deliberately preserve a conversational or skeptical tone, quote-unquote can still be used.
Why “Quote on Quote” Is So Common
The phrase quote on quote is understandable as a mistake because people often encounter quote-unquote through listening.
Spoken Language Can Cause Mishearing
When quote-unquote is pronounced quickly, the un- portion may be difficult for an unfamiliar listener to identify.
Someone might therefore interpret the sound as:
“quote on quote”
instead of:
“quote-unquote”
This is similar to other English expressions that are frequently misspelled because people first learn them by hearing them.
The Word “On” Feels Natural
There is another reason the mistaken form may sound plausible. English frequently uses phrases containing on, so quote on quote can seem grammatically possible to someone who has never seen the expression written.
However, the established expression used for this purpose is quote-unquote.
Quote on Quote or Quote Unquote: Quick Comparison
| Expression | Standard expression? | Meaning |
| quote-unquote | ✅ Yes | Signals quoted language, often in speech |
| quote unquote | ✅ Used | Same basic expression, without the hyphen |
| quote … unquote | ✅ Used | Verbal markers around quoted material |
| quote and unquote | ✅ Used | Explicitly marks the beginning and end of a quotation |
| quote on quote | ❌ Generally incorrect for this meaning | Usually a mistaken version of “quote-unquote” |
The simplest rule is:
Say and write “quote-unquote,” not “quote on quote,” when you mean the familiar expression used to signal quoted words.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it quote on quote or quote unquote?
The standard expression is quote-unquote. Quote on quote is generally a mistaken version of the phrase.
Is “quote on quote” correct?
Not when you mean the conventional expression used to indicate quoted words. The standard form is quote-unquote.
What does quote-unquote mean?
Quote-unquote is a spoken expression used to indicate that the speaker is quoting a word or phrase. It can also signal that the speaker is skeptical about or distancing themselves from the quoted description.
Is quote-unquote hyphenated?
Quote-unquote is commonly hyphenated when it functions as a combined expression. You may also see quote unquote written without a hyphen, depending on context and style.
Is quote-unquote sarcastic?
It can be, but it is not always sarcastic. Quote-unquote can simply indicate quoted language. Context, tone, and word choice determine whether it conveys skepticism or irony.
Why do people say quote-unquote?
People say quote-unquote to verbally indicate quotation marks or to signal that particular words are being quoted. It is especially useful in speech, where visual quotation marks are unavailable.
Can quote-unquote be used in writing?
Yes, but ordinary quotation marks are often more natural in formal writing. Quote-unquote can be useful in conversational writing or when the writer wants to emphasize skepticism or distance from a particular term.
What is the difference between quote-unquote and quotation marks?
Quotation marks are written punctuation, while quote-unquote is primarily a spoken expression. Both can indicate quoted words, but quotation marks are usually more concise in writing.
Is “quote and unquote” correct?
Yes. Quote and unquote can be used as verbal markers to indicate the beginning and end of quoted material. Quote-unquote is the more familiar fixed expression.
How do you pronounce quote-unquote?
It is pronounced approximately as “kwoht-un-KWOHT.” The second part is unquote, not on quote.
Is quote unquote one word?
No. It is made up of two words: quote and unquote. It is commonly written as quote-unquote when hyphenated.
What does “quote-unquote” mean in texting?
In informal digital communication, quote-unquote can be used to indicate that a particular word or phrase is being quoted or used ironically. However, many people simply use quotation marks instead.
Should I use quote-unquote in formal writing?
Usually, ordinary quotation marks are clearer and more concise. Use quote-unquote in formal writing only when its conversational or skeptical effect is intentional.
Conclusion
If you are choosing between quote on quote or quote unquote, the standard expression is quote-unquote.
Quote on quote is generally a mistaken version that results from hearing or remembering the expression incorrectly.
Use quote-unquote when you want to indicate quoted language, particularly in speech:
He called the plan quote-unquote “perfect.”
The expression can be completely neutral, but it can also suggest skepticism, irony, or sarcasm, depending on the context.
In formal writing, ordinary quotation marks are often the better choice:
He called the plan “perfect.”
The easiest rule to remember is:
Quote-unquote is correct. Quote on quote is generally incorrect.
Once you remember that unquote, not on quote, closes the verbal quotation, you will be much less likely to confuse the two expressions.
I am Daniel Brooks, a language researcher and grammar author passionate about exploring the history, meaning, and correct usage of English words and expressions. I enjoy analyzing confusing grammar rules, spelling differences, and common mistakes that many English learners face. My mission is to provide reliable and easy-to-understand grammar guidance that helps readers improve their communication skills.
I have created detailed learning materials and authored books such as “English Grammar Made Simple: Rules Everyone Should Know” and “The Ultimate English Usage Guide.” I write to make grammar less complicated and more enjoyable for learners at every level.