Mention vs Quote

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Mention

Top 1,000 (very common) A2 verb

Quote

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 verb

	Mention	Quote
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈmenʃn/","/ˈmenʃnz/","/ˈmenʃnd/","/ˈmenʃənɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈmenʃn/","/ˈmenʃnz/","/ˈmenʃnd/","/ˈmenʃənɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //kwəʊt// 🇺🇸 //kwoʊt//
Meaning	To talk about something briefly.	To repeat someone else's words.
Example	Please mention your favorite books in the discussion.	She decided to **quote** the famous author in her essay.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	A2	B1
Part of speech	verb	verb
Collocations	already, earlier, just, not bother to, fail to, forget to, as, in, in connection with, avoid mentioning somebody/​something, be worth mentioning something, mentioned above	quote a passage, quote someone, quote a source
Antonyms	ignore, overlook, disregard	misquote, ignore
Common mistakes	Using it without specifying the object, e.g., 'I mention' instead of 'I mention the topic.', Confusing 'mention' with 'tell' when it comes to conveying information., Using 'mention' in contexts where 'suggest' or 'advise' would be more appropriate.	Confusing 'quote' with 'quotation' (the noun form)., Using 'quote' without specifying the source., Incorrectly using 'quote' in passive voice.
Usage notes	Used in both spoken and written contexts. It can be used formally or informally. Be careful not to confuse it with 'discuss' which implies a deeper conversation.	Used in academic, literary, and casual contexts. Avoid in informal speech unless referencing a well-known saying.

See it in real clips

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

I bet they don't mention his fireworks.

Sherlock › S1 E1

Oh, perhaps I should mention - Ididn't kill her.

Mention it. Don't insist.

The Lord Of The Rings › The Fellowship Of The Ring

I bet they don't mention his fireworks.

Sherlock › S1 E1

Oh, perhaps I should mention - Ididn't kill her.

Mention

The Wire › S1 E1

That's the price that you were going to quote me?

Quote

Frequently asked questions: Mention vs Quote

What's the difference between Mention and Quote?

Mention: To talk about something briefly. Quote: To repeat someone else's words.

Which is more advanced: Mention and Quote?

Quote is the highest level, at B1, on the CEFR scale.

Are Mention and Quote the same CEFR level?

Mention: A2, Quote: B1 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Mention and Quote?

Mention: verb, Quote: verb.

Can you show an example of each?

Mention: Please mention your favorite books in the discussion. Quote: She decided to **quote** the famous author in her essay.

Can I use Mention and Quote interchangeably?

Not always. Mention and Quote are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.