Quotes policy
This page is for journalists, creators, partners and advocates who quote anyone about Exponential. It sets out the rules this documentation follows and asks you to follow them too. Its short version: a quote is only a quote if someone actually said or wrote it, and you can show where.
Contents
- The rules
- Three kinds of quotable material
- Getting a quote from 7x or the Foundation
- Examples
- Paraphrase
- When a quote turns out to be wrong
The rules
- No quote is ever invented. Not a "representative" quote, not a composite, not a quote "in the spirit of" an organization. This documentation contains no quotes from people beyond what is published, and no page of it may be used as one.
- Quotes from 7x or the Exponential Foundation come only from them: given to you in writing (e-mail, a written statement), said to you in an interview you can document, or published on their own pages.
- Published text is quoted word for word, with its link and, where it may change, the date you read it. Spelling and grammar of the original stay as they are; mark an omission with "...".
- Documentation is not a spokesperson. A sentence from the README or this help is "what the documentation says", never "7x said" (Attributing statements).
- People speak for themselves. A community member, advocate or partner quoted in a story speaks for themselves unless 7x or the Foundation asked them to speak for it (Disclosure and conflicts of interest).
- Consent for names. Name a private person or a customer only with their consent (Privacy in your coverage).
Three kinds of quotable material
| Kind | Example | How to attribute |
|---|---|---|
| Published statements of the organizations | "This project is operated by the Exponential Foundation" (https://exponential.earth/about/project) | "the project website states", with the link |
| Repository files | "You can expect a first answer within one business day" (SECURITY.md) | "the project's security policy says" |
| Statements given to you | An answer by e-mail to your question | "<name, role> of <organization> said in an e-mail" |
Earlier press releases are published statements too; quote them with their date (Earlier press releases and coverage).
Getting a quote from 7x or the Foundation
Ask through the addresses on Press contacts. No named spokesperson is published; ask who will answer and how you should name them.
Subject: Request for comment - <outlet> - deadline <date, time zone>
I am writing about <topic> for <outlet>, publishing on <date>. Could 7x / the Exponential Foundation
comment on: <one or two precise questions>?
I will quote your answer word for word and attribute it to the person and role you give me.Examples
Right: The README describes Exponential as "a professional PHP application framework with advanced CMS
(content management system) functionality".
Right: "<answer>," <name>, <role> at 7x, said in an e-mail on <date>.
Wrong: "We are thrilled to bring Exponential to the world," said 7x. (invented)
Wrong: "Exponential is the safest CMS," according to the Foundation. (no such statement)
Wrong: 7x said: "Velocity is a web server written in PHP ..." (that is the README, not a person)Paraphrase
Paraphrase is fine when it is faithful. Do not put a paraphrase in quotation marks, and do not paraphrase a statement into a stronger claim: "writes drafts only" must not become "can write your website" (Story: an assistant that writes drafts only).
When a quote turns out to be wrong
Correct it openly and say what changed (Corrections and updates). If someone quoted an organization wrongly in your coverage, tell the organization you corrected it.
Related pages
- Attributing statements
- Verifying quotes
- Press releases and announcements
- Free documentation: this page is free to copy, translate and improve under the GNU FDL 1.3.
Become an Exponential Partner
Partners share their information, provide funding, contribute back and develop the products with us, and that is how Exponential grows. A partner website and dashboard are planned for mid-2027: please become a partner today to speed up our growth rate and land new features faster.