When you’re writing an academic paper, it isn’t always possible to write out every quote. Rather than quoting an entire quote, it is sometimes better to paraphrase or sum up the information in your own words. This will ensure that your voice is dominant and the quote is used effectively within the text of your paper.
When You Quotain Directly
There are many reasons why you might want to quote directly from a source in your paper. For example, you might find an idea that is well-suited to your paper and want to incorporate it into your own argument. This is a great way to make your work stronger and more effective, but you will have to cite the source in order to give credit to the author.
You should use double quotation marks when quoting the original quote, as well as when you quoting it within a nested quote. You should also close the quotation marks at the appropriate moments, even if you have to change the punctuation in the original text.
If you’re quoting more than one line, format the quote as a block quote (see Section 8.1.1). You’ll need to add periods and commas inside the closing single or double quotation marks to separate the original quote from the citation.
The Block Quote technique can be useful when you need to use a short quote of less than 40 words or when you want to include a long quote in your paper but don’t need to include quotation marks. You’ll need to create an in-text citation for this style, which looks slightly different from the narrative citation you would create for a parenthetical citation.
APA Citation Guide
For in-text APA citations, use the lead-in or signal phrase from the cited material, followed by the author’s last name and year of publication. Then include the page number, if available, or other location information, in parentheses. Then put the citation in the sentence that contains the quote.
MLA Citation Guide
In MLA, you can also cite a paraphrased or quoted sentence with an in-text citation. The in-text citation looks like this:
When you’re quoting directly from an article or book, the title of the cited material should appear in italics. The rest of the citation will be in normal text. If the cited material is from an online source, the title will not be in italics but it should still be cited.
If you’re citing a film, TV show or audio-visual media, you can omit the page number and include a time stamp instead. This will allow your reader to find the material on the source’s website or in the library.
The Audiovisual Media Reference Manual, by the American Library Association and the Center for the Study of Science and Technology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, offers advice on citing sound or video media. The manual also offers guidelines on how to cite websites and other multimedia materials.
In addition to citing direct quotes, you may also need to cite any facts or ideas from outside sources that are common knowledge and not found in multiple places. This can include a statement about a popular food item or the chemical structures of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
