Supporting Quote

What is a Supporting Quote?

A supporting quote is a meaningful quotation that supports a key message and makes it credible. It underpins a statement through the voice of a person – such as an expert, customer, or affected person.

Supporting Quote in Detail

In press releases, specialist articles, and speeches, supporting quotes serve to make abstract messages concrete and credible. Instead of merely formulating a claim, it is “backed up” by the authentic statement of a person. Good supporting quotes are concise, understandable on their own, and convey attitude or emotion – they sound like a real person, not like marketing language. In media work, they increase the chance that a quote is taken up, because journalists look for soundbites that make a report lively. The fit is important: the quote should support the key message, come from a credible source, and be authorized. A strong supporting quote sticks and often becomes the most-quoted element of a release.

A good supporting quote differs clearly from a marketing phrase: it sounds like a real person, conveys an attitude, and ideally contains a vivid image or a concrete figure. Common mistakes are interchangeable platitudes, overloaded nested sentences, or pure self-praise formulations that journalists do not take up. It is proven practice to actively pre-formulate quotes and offer several variants from which the editorial team can choose. In press releases, the quote should be attributed to a credible, clearly named person and be authorized. Because the strongest quote often becomes the most-quoted element, it is worth investing special care in wording and selection here.

What is a Supporting Quote used for?

It makes messages credible and quotable. In press texts it delivers journalists a ready-made soundbite; in speeches and presentations it lends statements authority and emotion. It is effective when it is short, understandable on its own, and clearly attributed to the key message.

Supporting Quote – Examples in Practice

In a press release, a CEO quote underpins the strategic message. A customer quote proves a product's benefit. In a study, an expert's statement supports the central thesis.

Supporting Quote: Key Features at a Glance

• Function: supports and backs up a key message
• Conciseness: short and understandable on its own
• Credibility: from a fitting source
• Tone: human rather than promotional
• Benefit: increases quotability in the media

Related Terms

• Key Message
• Quote
• Soundbite (O-Ton)
• Authorization Loop
• Print Interview

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Supporting Quote: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a supporting quote?

A meaningful quotation that supports a key message and makes it credible – for example from an expert, customer, or affected person.

What is a supporting quote for in press work?

It delivers journalists a ready-made, lively soundbite and thus increases the chance that the message is taken up and quoted.

What makes a good supporting quote?

It is concise, understandable on its own, conveys attitude or emotion, and comes from a credible source – it sounds like a real person.

How does a supporting quote differ from a key message?

The key message is the central statement. The supporting quote is the concrete, quotable voice that underpins this statement and makes it credible.