A key component of effective communication is the ability to adequately respond to others’ ideas. When engaging in a dialogue via a digital platform like Slack, directly quoting sections of a message can greatly enhance clarity, ensure accuracy, and convey a sense of respect for the original sender. Slack offers a straightforward yet powerful feature that allows users to quote another message, enabling seamless integration of specific content into their responses.
Utilizing the quote feature in Slack not only streamlines communication but also fosters a collaborative environment. By including excerpts from previous messages, you can build upon shared ideas, avoid misunderstandings, and maintain a clear record of the conversation. Moreover, quoting specific messages highlights their significance, demonstrating that you have carefully considered and are actively responding to the content.
To quote a message in Slack, simply hover over the desired message and click the “More actions” icon (three dots). Next, select the “Quote” option from the drop-down menu. The quoted message will appear in a new message box, complete with the original sender’s name and timestamp. You can then add your comments, questions, or responses below the quoted text, ensuring that your message is directly connected to the specific content you are addressing.
Replying to a Specific Message
Selecting the Message to Quote:
To reply to a specific message in Slack, first identify the message you want to quote. You can do this by hovering your mouse over the message and clicking on the three dots that appear. A menu will pop up, giving you the option to “Reply with quote.” Alternatively, you can press the “R” key while hovering over the message to quickly summon the reply with quote option.
Once you click “Reply with quote,” a pop-up window will appear. This window will contain the quoted message in a gray box at the top, along with a text field where you can type your reply. The quoted message will be formatted with a light gray background and an arrow pointing to the sender’s profile picture.
The quoted message feature is extremely useful for highlighting specific points or questions you want to address in your reply. It ensures that the context of your response is clear and helps keep the conversation organized.
Inserting the Quote into Your Reply
After selecting the message you want to quote, you can insert it into your reply in two ways:
| Method | How to Do It |
|---|---|
| Manual Insertion | Copy the quoted message text from the gray box and paste it into your reply. |
| Automatic Insertion | Click on the “Quote” button located in the reply window. |
Both methods will insert the quoted message into your reply, maintaining the formatting and arrow pointing to the sender’s profile picture.
Citing a Message in a New Thread
Initiating a New Thread with a Quote:
- Hover over a message until a small arrow icon appears on the right side.
- Click the arrow and select “Quote in New Thread” from the menu that appears.
- A new thread will open with the quoted message included in the compose box.
Highlighting and Quoting a Specific Portion of a Message:
- Highlight the text you want to quote by clicking and dragging your cursor over it.
- A menu will appear with the option to “Quote Selected Text.”
- Click “Quote Selected Text” to open a new thread with only the highlighted portion of the message quoted.
Table: Message Quoting Methods
| Method | Quoted Text |
|---|---|
| Quote Entire Message | Full message text included in the quote |
| Quote Selected Text | Only the highlighted portion of the message is included in the quote |
Inline Quoting Within a Message
Inline quoting allows you to quote a specific message while replying to a message thread. When you inline quote, a small box will appear around the quoted text, and the quoted message’s sender and timestamp will be displayed.
To inline quote a message, simply type the `>` character followed by the text you wish to quote. You can also use the following keyboard shortcuts:
– **Windows/Linux:** `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Q`
– **Mac:** `Cmd` + `Shift` + `Q`
There are two ways to use inline quoting:
1. **To respond to a specific message:** Type the `>` character at the beginning of the line and quote the message you’re responding to.
2. **To quote multiple messages:** Type the `>` character at the beginning of each line for each message you wish to quote.
| Example | Result |
|---|---|
|
“` > Hello Team, > > I’m writing to you today to follow up on the project deadline. “` |
“` > Hello Team, > > I’m writing to you today to follow up on the project deadline. Dear John, > > Thank you for the update. I’ll be sure to keep you posted. “` |
Copying a Message Link
To create a direct link to a specific message in Slack, follow these steps:
- Hover your mouse over the timestamp of the message you want to link to.
- Click on the three dots that appear to the right of the timestamp.
- Select “Copy Link” from the menu.
- The link to the message will be copied to your clipboard. You can then paste the link into any other application or website.
Additional Notes
- The message link will only work for people who have access to the Slack workspace where the message was sent.
- If the message is edited or deleted, the link will no longer work.
- You can also create a link to a specific thread in Slack by following the same steps and selecting “Copy Link to Thread” from the menu.
| Platform | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Windows/Linux | Ctrl + Shift + L |
| Mac | Command + Shift + L |
Quoting a Message from Another Channel
To incorporate a message from a different channel into your current conversation, follow these simple steps:
1. **Locate the target message:** Browse through the desired channel to find the message you wish to quote.
2. **Access the Share menu:** Hover over the message and click on the three horizontal dots that appear. Select “Copy link” from the menu.
3. **Switch to the destination channel:** Navigate to the channel where you want to include the quote.
4. **Paste the link:** In the message composer, paste the copied link into the text field.
5. **Select the desired quote length:** Slack offers two options for quoting: **Regular quotes** include only the selected text, while **Block quotes** enclose the quoted message in a shaded box along with its timestamp and channel origin. To choose a block quote, simply paste the link again after the original paste. The quote will automatically convert into a block quote.
| Quote Type | Example |
|---|---|
| Regular Quote | [Message link] |
| Block Quote | [Message link][Message link] |
Sharing a Message Snippet
To quickly share a portion of a message, follow these steps:
- Hover your cursor over the message you want to quote.
- Click the three dots that appear in the top right corner of the message.
- Select “Share Snippet” from the dropdown menu.
- Choose the specific text you want to share by dragging the sliders.
- Click “Share Snippet” again.
- In the “To” field, enter the name or email address of the person you want to share the snippet with. You can also share the snippet to a specific channel or group.
- Add an optional message or comment.
- Click “Send”.
The message snippet will be sent as a direct message to the specified recipient or posted to the selected channel or group.
Alternatively, you can use keyboard shortcuts to share a message snippet:
| Operating System | Keyboard Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Windows/Linux | Ctrl + Shift + S |
| macOS | Cmd + Shift + S |
Using keyboard shortcuts is a convenient way to quickly share specific portions of messages without having to manually select the text.
Adding a Comment to a Quote
To add a comment to a quoted message, follow these steps:
- Select the message you want to quote.
- Click the three dots (…) in the upper right corner of the message.
- Select “Quote” from the menu.
- Enter your comment in the text box that appears.
- Click “Send.”
Additional Options
When quoting a message, you have several additional options:
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Include attachments | Attaches files associated with the original message. |
| Include reactions | Shows reactions from the original message. |
| Include thread | Includes the entire thread of messages related to the original message. |
| Edit quoted message | Allows you to change the original message before quoting it. |
| Delete quoted message | Removes the original message from the channel. |
Note that these options may vary depending on the Slack workspace settings and your permissions.
Using Markdown to Style Quotes
Markdown provides several options for styling quoted text in Slack:
Option 1: Basic Quote
To create a basic quote, simply indent the text to be quoted with a greater-than sign (>) followed by a space. This will create a quote block with a grey background.
Example:
“`
> This is a basic quote.
“`
Option 2: Multiline Quote
For multiline quotes, each line must be indented with a greater-than sign. This will create a multi-line quote block with a grey background.
Example:
“`
> This is a multiline quote.
> It can span multiple lines.
> And it will still be formatted as a quote.
“`
Option 3: Inline Quote
To create an inline quote, use backticks (` `) around the quoted text. This will create a quote that is inline with the rest of the text, but visually distinct with grey shading.
Example:
“`
This is an inline quote: `This is the quoted text.`
“`
Option 4: Block Quote
To create a blockquote, use three greater-than signs (>>>) followed by a space before the quoted text. This will create a block quote that is indented and visually distinct from the surrounding text.
Example:
“`
>>> This is a blockquote.
>>> It is visually distinct from the surrounding text.
>>> And it can span multiple lines.
“`
Option 5: Quoted Code
To create a quoted code block, use three backticks (“`) before and after the code. This will create a code block that is indented and has a light grey background.
Example:
“`
“`
console.log(“Hello world!”);
“`
“`
Option 6: Code Snippet
To create a code snippet, use a single backtick (` `) before and after the code. This will create a code snippet that is inline with the rest of the text, but visually distinct with a light grey background.
Example:
“`
`console.log(“Hello world!”);`
“`
Option 7: Code Block Attributes
You can also add attributes to code blocks and code snippets to specify the language of the code. To do this, add the language name in parentheses after the opening backticks.
Example:
“`
“`python
print(“Hello world!”)
“`
“`
Option 8: Advanced Inline Code Formatting
Markdown supports more advanced inline code formatting using curly braces ({}) and pipes (|). This allows you to specify the start and end of the code, as well as the language it should be interpreted in.
The syntax for advanced inline code formatting is as follows:
| Syntax | Description |
|---|---|
| {lang|code} | Inline code with specified language |
| {lang|code|label} | Inline code with specified language and label |
| {lang|code|label|extra-info} | Inline code with specified language, label, and extra information |
Example:
“`
{python|print(“Hello world!”)|Python snippet}
“`
Adjusting Quote Formatting
Slack offers multiple options for adjusting quote formatting to suit your preferences. You can use the following methods to customize the appearance of quoted messages:
1. Customize the quote style: You can choose from three quote styles – compact, full, and none. The compact style displays only the relevant portions of the quoted message, while the full style includes all quote details. The none style removes all quote formatting, leaving only the quoted text.
2. Control quote length: To limit the length of quoted messages, enable the “Quote Length” option. This feature allows you to specify the maximum number of lines or characters allowed in a quote.
3. Use different quote styles for different responses: Slack allows you to set different quote styles for different types of replies. For example, you can use the compact style for quick responses and the full style for detailed replies.
4. Include the sender’s name and timestamp: To display the name and timestamp of the original sender, enable the “Include Sender Info” option. This information provides context and helps identify the message’s source.
5. Hide the quoted message’s formatting: By enabling the “Hide Formatting” option, you can remove the original message’s formatting, such as bold or italicized text. This option provides a clean and concise display of the quoted text.
6. Use Markdown formatting in quotes: Slack supports Markdown formatting within quotes. This allows you to add emphasis, headings, code blocks, and other formatting elements to enhance readability.
7. Control quote indentation: You can adjust the indentation level of quoted messages to create visual separation. Use the “Quote Indentation” option to specify the number of spaces for indentation.
8. Disable quote wrapping: To ensure that quoted text remains together on a single line, disable the “Quote Wrap” option. This is useful for preserving code snippets or long URLs.
9. Custom CSS for quotes: For advanced customization, you can use custom CSS to modify the appearance of quoted messages. Create a CSS file with the desired styles and upload it to your Slack workspace.
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Quote Style | Compact, full, or none |
| Quote Length | Limit the length of quoted messages |
| Include Sender Info | Display the sender’s name and timestamp |
| Hide Formatting | Remove the original message’s formatting |
| Use Markdown in Quotes | Add Markdown formatting to quotes |
| Quote Indentation | Adjust the indentation level of quoted messages |
| Disable Quote Wrap | Ensure quoted text remains on a single line |
| Custom CSS for Quotes | Advanced customization using CSS |
How to Quote Another Message in Slack
Slack, the popular instant messaging platform for businesses, offers a convenient feature for quoting other messages. This allows you to easily share and respond to specific content within a conversation.
To quote a message, simply hover over the message and click the down arrow icon. Then, select “Quote” from the drop-down menu. The quoted text will be inserted into a new message, with the original sender’s name and profile picture displayed.
Tips for Effective Quoting
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Contextualize the quote: When quoting a message, it’s important to provide enough context for others to understand its relevance. Briefly summarize the main points of the original conversation or provide a brief explanation of why you’re quoting it.
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Use sparingly: Quoting every message can make conversations cluttered and difficult to follow. Use quotes strategically to emphasize important points or highlight specific content.
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Avoid quoting entire messages: When possible, quote only the relevant portion of a message. This makes it easier for others to quickly grasp the main idea.
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Use the "Link to message" option: Instead of quoting a message, you can also share a link to it. This allows others to click on the link to read the full context.
-
Edit the quote: You can edit the quoted text to remove unnecessary details or add additional context. This is especially useful when quoting long messages.
-
Use different styles: Slack offers different styling options for quoted messages, such as bold, italic, and strikethrough. Use these styles to highlight important parts of the quote.
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Add a comment: When quoting a message, you can also add your own comment. This allows you to provide additional information, ask questions, or express your perspective.
-
Use Markdown: Markdown can be used to format quoted text, making it easier to read and visually appealing.
-
Thread replies: Quoting a message can also be used to thread your replies. This keeps related conversations organized and easy to follow.
-
Be mindful of message length: Avoid quoting messages that are excessively long. If the quote is too long, it can make it difficult for others to read and follow the conversation. Consider summarizing the main points or providing a link to the original message instead.
How to Quote Another Message in Slack
Quoting another message in Slack is a great way to respond to a specific part of a conversation or to highlight something important. To quote a message, simply hover over the message and click the “Quote” button. This will create a new message with the quoted text already included. You can then add your own comments or questions.
Here are some tips for quoting messages in Slack:
- Only quote the relevant part of the message.
- Include enough context so that people can understand what you’re referring to.
- Be respectful of the person you’re quoting.
People Also Ask About
How do I quote multiple messages in Slack?
To quote multiple messages in Slack, simply select the messages you want to quote and then click the “Quote” button. This will create a new message with all of the quoted text included.
Can I quote a message from a different channel?
Yes, you can quote a message from a different channel by clicking the “Share” button on the message and then selecting the channel you want to share it to.
