# Help using the Quote feature? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [June 1, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401 "2005-06-01T16:38:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/1 "2005-06-01T16:38:26Z")
Can anyone explain how to use the Quote feature to reply to only part of a Poster’s submission? I know how to include the whole post as a Quote that I am replying to, but I cannot seem to select specific sentences to reply to? Forgive my ignorance? ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/2 "2005-06-01T17:02:06Z")
You can copy the whole thiing, then delete out the irrelevant portions. Just make sure you keep a (quote) in the front and a (/quote) in the back replacing the () with . What you CANNOT do is alter someone’s quote. You can bold it, but you can’t change the essence of their statement. Okay, technically you can, but it’s a no-no. ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/3 "2005-06-01T17:13:30Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > Okay, technically you can, but it’s a no-no. Test ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/4 "2005-06-01T17:14:37Z")
Thanks bunches **ivylass**. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/5 "2005-06-01T17:16:57Z")
De nada. Welcome to the boards! ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/6 "2005-06-01T17:17:01Z")
**Mint** , I’m guessing that by “the Quote feature” you’re referring to the “Quote message in reply” checkbox below the Quick reply box at the bottom of a thread. Checking that box will repost the entire post you’ve Quick replied to. To selectively quote from a post above, click the “Reply” button (it’s the one that has the word reply on it) on the right of the screen in the post you’d like to quote. This will load a new page with a box for you to type your answer and in the box will be the text quoted from the original post, which you can then modify. (N.B., as **ivylass** notes, it is a violation of SDMB policy to modify the meaning of quotes beyond simply excising irrelevant text.) You can also get to this reply page by clicking the “Post Reply” button at the bottom left of a thread. This is useful if you’re going to do any coding or use any smilies in your post, as it has tools on that page which make these easy to use. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![Mint\_Julep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@Mint\_Julep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mint_Julep)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-using-the-quote-feature/306401/7 "2005-06-01T17:25:21Z")
Thanks **Cliffy** , I am not looking to land in the “bad place for Dopers that misbehave” so I will adhere to the welcome advice about Quote alteration.