And I'm not talking about "officer involved shooting" or language that would feature in a Citations Needed episode, I'm asking for niche. My example:
When you read a long form interview and the interviewer has to open the piece with describing them entering, what they ordered for lunch, etc in the most flowery language.
"Mr. Hex Bear greeted me with a comfortable yet quaint handshake. The disheveled, patchy beard paired with a stained hoody gave off the impression that he was a common man, but his lunch choice said the opposite. He ordered the Truffle Salad, a glass of 1989 Cabernet, and mentioned the chef by name, asked the waiter how his children were. From the moment Hex sat down, he never broke eye contact with me, but exuded a confidence that made it seem like he did this every day."
This is a weird post and feel no need to respond.
If you're writing a science article concerning a subject which you have not studied extensively, and a verbatim quote from a scientist is available, use it. Do not try to paraphrase it. You are not helping by trying to paraphrase it. The verbatim quote might be a style-guide violation because the vocabulary is too advanced, but the paraphrase will be inaccurate, and that's worse.
Big agree. Most frustratingly most scientists will gladly give you a shorter quote if you're any sort of accredited journalist, you just have to do the work of reaching out to them and waiting for a reply.
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