When you’re in the middle of a fast-paced conversation on Slack, it can be difficult to keep track of all the messages that are flying by. If you need to refer back to something someone said earlier in the conversation, you can quote their message to make sure everyone is on the same page. Quoting a message is also a great way to emphasize a particular point or to show your support for someone’s idea.
To quote a message in Slack, simply hover over the message you want to quote and click the “Quote” button that appears. You can then edit the quoted text to include your own comments or to highlight specific parts of the message. Once you’re finished, click the “Send” button to post your quoted message to the conversation.
Quoting messages in Slack is a quick and easy way to keep track of important information and to participate in the conversation. By following these simple steps, you can make sure that your voice is heard and that your ideas are understood.
Understanding Message Quoting
Message quoting is a valuable feature in Slack that allows you to respond to specific messages in a conversation, making it easier to follow and respond to discussions. To be able to participate and understand this feature properly, here are the different types of message quotes and how they’re used within the platform:
Inline Quotes
Inline quotes are used to reference a specific message within the current conversation. To create an inline quote, simply type a “>” symbol followed by the text you want to quote. This type of quote is ideal for quickly referencing a particular point or responding to a specific question or statement.
Block Quotes
Block quotes are used to quote a larger section of text from a previous message. To create a block quote, type three “>” symbols followed by the text you want to quote. The quoted text will be indented and separated from the rest of your message, making it easy to identify and read.
Full Message Quotes
Full message quotes are used to quote the entire text of a previous message. To create a full message quote, type “>” followed by the text “Message from [sender’s name]:”. This type of quote is useful for quoting messages from users who are no longer active in the conversation or for referencing a message that is particularly long or complex.
| Quote Type | Syntax | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Inline Quote | > Text | Reference a specific message |
| Block Quote | >>> Text | Quote a larger section of text |
| Full Message Quote | > Message from [sender’s name]: Text | Quote the entire text of a message |
Identifying the Message to Quote
To quote a specific message in Slack, you must first identify the exact message you want to quote. Here are some methods to help you locate the message:
Searching for the Message
Use the search bar at the top of the Slack window to search for specific keywords or phrases that may appear in the message you want to quote. You can also use advanced search operators, such as filtering by channel or time frame, to narrow down your search.
Using the Message Thread
If you remember the channel and general time frame in which the message was posted, navigate to that channel and scroll through the message history. When you find the message, click the “Reply” button to open the message thread. The original message will be displayed at the top of the thread, making it easy to quote.
Using the “Quoted” Feature
Slack introduces a “Quoted” feature that allows you to quickly find messages that have been quoted in the current or other channels. To use this feature:
| Steps | Actions |
|---|---|
| 1. | Click on the “Search” bar at the top of the Slack window. |
| 2. | In the search bar, type “quoted:” followed by the name of the channel or user you want to search within. For example, “quoted:general” or “quoted:john.doe”. |
| 3. | Press “Enter” to display a list of all messages that have been quoted in the specified channel or from the specified user. |
Using the Keyboard Shortcut
To quickly quote a message using the keyboard shortcut, follow these steps:
Step 1: Select the Message
Hover over the message you want to quote and click the down arrow icon that appears in the top-right corner.
Step 2: Choose “Quote”
From the drop-down menu, select the “Quote” option. This will insert a quoted block containing the original message into the message composer.
Step 3: Enhance the Quoted Message
Slack offers various options to enhance the quoted message:
Highlighting: Highlight specific parts of the quoted message by selecting the text and clicking the “Highlight” icon (looks like a paintbrush).
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Strikethrough | Cross out the quoted text. |
| Code Block | Format the text as a code block, which is useful for displaying code or technical information. |
Note: To access these options, hover over the quoted message and click the “Format” icon (looks like a gear).
Employing the Message Menu
Initiate the quoting process by clicking the three dots located at the message’s top right corner. This will display the message menu, offering a range of options, such as “Reply,” “Forward,” and “Edit.” Select the “Quote” option from this menu to proceed.
Upon selecting “Quote,” the original message will be automatically added to your reply box, enclosed in a distinctive gray quote block. This signifies that you are now quoting the original message, and your subsequent text will be placed below the quoted text.
To customize your quoted message, you can modify the quoted text as desired. You can add additional context, comments, or highlight specific sections within the quoted message by using the text editing tools available within the reply box.
The ability to customize quoted messages provides flexibility in how you respond to and engage in conversations on Slack. You can emphasize specific points, draw attention to relevant information, and provide context to your replies, making your communications more precise and meaningful.
Selecting Multiple Messages
To quote multiple messages in Slack, follow these detailed steps:
- Hover over the first message: Place your cursor over the message you wish to quote and wait for the options menu to appear.
- Click the “Quote” option: Select the “Quote” icon from the menu to create a new message window with the quoted text.
- Continue quoting additional messages: Repeat steps 1 and 2 for each additional message you want to quote.
- Organize quoted messages: The quoted messages will appear in separate text boxes within the new message window. You can rearrange them by clicking and dragging the text boxes.
- Customize quoted text: You can modify the quoted text by deleting unnecessary sections, highlighting specific parts, or adding comments. This allows you to emphasize key points or provide context to the quoted messages.
| Additional Options | Steps |
|---|---|
| Quote a message in a different channel | Click the “More actions” icon (…) on the message and select “Quote in a different channel.” |
| Cancel quoting a message | Click the “X” button next to the quoted message text box. |
| Edit a quoted message | Click the pencil icon on the quoted message text box and make your changes. |
Formatting the Quoted Text
1. Bold Text
To bold the quoted text, place an asterix (*) before and after the text. For example:
*This is bold text.*
2. Italic Text
To italicize the quoted text, place an underscore (_) before and after the text. For example:
_This is italicized text._
3. Strikethrough Text
To strike through the quoted text, place a tilde (~) before and after the text. For example:
~This is strikethrough text.~
4. Code Text
To display quoted text as code, place a backtick (`) before and after the text. For example:
`This is code text.`
5. Table Formatting
To create a table within a quoted message, use the following syntax:
| Header 1 | Header 2 |
|---|---|
| Cell 1,1 | Cell 1,2 |
| Cell 2,1 | Cell 2,2 |
6. Markdown Formatting
The following Markdown formatting options can also be used within quoted text:
| Markdown Syntax | Result |
|---|---|
| # Heading | Heading |
| ## Subheading | Subheading |
| **Bold** | Bold text |
| _Italic_ | Italicized text |
| [Link](URL) | Link to URL |
Opting for the Inline or Block Quote
Slack allows you to choose between inline and block quotes to reference other messages. Inline quotes are embedded within your message text, while block quotes create a separate section to highlight the quoted text.
Inline Quotes
To create an inline quote, use the following format:
> [quoted text]
The quoted text will appear indented and attributed to the original sender.
Block Quotes
To create a block quote, use the following format:
```quote [quoted text] ```
The quoted text will appear in a separate box with a gray background and the sender’s name and profile picture.
The table below summarizes the key differences between inline and block quotes:
| Feature | Inline Quote | Block Quote |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Indented text, attributed to sender | Separate box with gray background |
| Emphasis | Less noticeable | Prominent and attention-grabbing |
| Use Cases | Referencing specific phrases or sentences | Highlighting important or lengthy quotes |
Previewing the Quoted Message
Once you have selected the desired message to quote, you can preview the quoted message before sending it. This allows you to ensure that the correct message has been selected and that it looks as intended within the quoted block.
To preview the quoted message:
- Select the message you want to quote.
- Click on the “Quote” button in the message options.
- A preview of the quoted message will appear in a pop-up window.
- Review the quoted message to ensure accuracy.
- Make any necessary adjustments to the quoted text (e.g., removing or adding context).
- Click the “Send” button to send the quoted message.
Here’s a table summarizing the steps to preview a quoted message:
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Select the message to quote |
| 2 | Click the “Quote” button |
| 3 | Review the quoted message preview |
| 4 | Make any necessary adjustments |
| 5 | Click “Send” to send the quoted message |
Editing the Quoted Text (Optional)
If you need to make any changes to the quoted text before sending the message, simply click on the text and start typing. You can add or remove text, change the formatting, or even delete the entire quote. Keep in mind that any edits you make will only affect your copy of the quoted text, and will not change the original message.
Customizing the Quote Appearance
You can also customize the appearance of the quoted text by using Markdown syntax. For example, you can add backticks (`) around the text to create an inline code block, or you can add two asterisks (**) around the text to create bold text. See the table below for a full list of Markdown options:
| Markdown Syntax | Effect |
|---|---|
| `text` | Inline code block |
| **text** | Bold text |
| *text* | Italic text |
| ~text~ | Strikethrough text |
| > text | Blockquote |
| “` code “` |
Code block |
Sending the Quoted Message
To quote a message in Slack, simply click on the message you want to quote and select “Quote” from the menu that appears. This will open a new message window with the quoted message inserted. You can then add your own message above or below the quoted message.
There are a few different ways to customize the way your quoted message appears. You can use the formatting options in the message window to change the font, size, and color of the quoted message. You can also add a comment to the quoted message.
To add a comment to a quoted message, simply type your comment in the message window after the quoted message. Your comment will appear in a smaller font below the quoted message.
Here are some tips for quoting messages in Slack:
- Only quote messages that are relevant to the conversation.
- Be respectful of the person you are quoting.
- Use the formatting options to make your quoted message easy to read.
- Add a comment to the quoted message to provide context or your own thoughts.
- Avoid quoting long messages. If you need to quote a long message, consider summarizing it or only quoting the most relevant parts.
- Don’t use quotes to attack or belittle someone.
- Use quotes to start a new conversation.
- Use quotes to share helpful information with others.
- Use quotes to keep track of important conversations.
- Use quotes to create a sense of continuity in a conversation.
| Formatting Option | Description |
|---|---|
| **Bold** | Makes the text bold. |
| Italic | Makes the text italic. |
| Underline | Makes the text underlined. |
| ~Strikethrough~ | Makes the text struck through. |
Code |
Makes the text appear as code. |
How To Quote Another Message In Slack
To quote another message in Slack, simply hover over the message you want to quote and click the “Quote” button. This will insert the quoted message into a new message box, with the original sender’s name and profile picture.
You can also quote multiple messages at once by selecting them all and then clicking the “Quote” button. This will create a new message box with all of the selected messages quoted in order.
When you quote a message, you can add your own commentary or questions before sending it. This can be a helpful way to keep track of conversations or to ask for clarification.
People Also Ask
How do I quote a message in Slack on mobile?
To quote a message in Slack on mobile, tap and hold the message you want to quote until the message options appear. Then, tap the “Quote” button.
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. Once you’ve selected the channel, click the “Quote” button.
What is the difference between quoting and replying to a message?
Quoting a message inserts the original message into a new message box, while replying to a message simply adds your own commentary below the original message. Quoting a message can be helpful when you want to keep track of conversations or to ask for clarification, while replying to a message is more useful for adding your own thoughts or questions.
