propaganda technique

Quoting out of context

Also called: Contextomy, Selective quotation

Quoting out of context removes words from their surroundings so that they appear to mean something different from what the speaker intended.

How it works

A sentence lifted from a hypothetical, a quotation of someone else or a joke can be presented as a sincere statement. The words are accurate; the meaning is not.

Examples

A review saying "The film is anything but a masterpiece" is quoted on a poster as "...a masterpiece".

The cut reverses the meaning.

A politician says "Some argue we should raise taxes, but I disagree"; a rival quotes "we should raise taxes".

The speaker was describing a view they rejected.

How to spot it

Short, punchy quotations with no surrounding sentence.
Ellipses or cuts at key points.
The quote seems out of character for the speaker.

How to respond

Find the full original statement.
Read or watch the surrounding context.
Quote enough context yourself for the meaning to be clear.