What is common to both direct and indirect quotations?

• A. Both must be offset by quotation marks
• B. Both convey the meaning of someone else's words
• C. Both can express personal views of the author
• D. Both are used exclusively in formal writing

Answer: (B)

The correct choice conveys that both direct and indirect quotations serve the purpose of relaying someone else's words or ideas, thereby preserving the original meaning while integrating it into the current text.

Direct quotations involve verbatim repetition of what someone has said or written and are enclosed in quotation marks. On the other hand, indirect quotations paraphrase or summarize someone's statement without using their exact words, thus still reflecting the essence of the original message. This function of conveying meaning makes option B suitable, as it highlights the core role of both types of quotations in writing.

The other options do not accurately describe the commonalities between the two types of quotations. For instance, while direct quotations require quotation marks, indirect quotations do not; hence, option A does not apply to both. Option C suggests that both can convey personal views, but this is typically not true as indirect quotations aim to reflect the original speaker's views rather than the author's own. Lastly, stating that both are used exclusively in formal writing is misleading since quotations are also commonly found in informal contexts, making option D incorrect as well.