quote essay definition

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Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process, quotation – when & how to use quotes in your writing.

• © 2023 by Joseph M. Moxley - University of South Florida

What is a Quotation?

A quotation refers to the precise replication of words or phrases from another source, embedded within one’s own writing or speech. To distinguish these directly borrowed elements from original content, writers use quotation marks. Additionally, they provide citations or footnotes to trace back to the original source, maintaining the integrity of the content.

Related Concepts: Copyright ; Information Has Value ; Inserting or Altering Words in a Direct Quotation ; Intellectual Property ; Omitting Words from a Direct Quotation ; Plagiarism ; Scholarship as a Conversation

Why Does Quotation Matter?

When writers incorporate quotations, they aren’t merely borrowing words. They’re strategically weaving the collective wisdom of past thinkers into their narrative, bolstering their arguments, and enhancing their credibility .

• Recognition of Scholarly Foundations: Quotations enable writers to highlight and pay respect to the foundational works, insights, and contributions of past scholars, researchers, and theorists. By doing so, they acknowledge the deep roots of knowledge and ideas that have paved the way for present-day discussions and discoveries.
• Authentic Representation in Discourse: Quotations preserve the precise wording of an author, grounding the reader directly in the original discourse. Unlike paraphrases or summaries , which reinterpret or condense an author’s message, quotations maintain the unaltered essence, subtleties, and nuances of the original statement.
• Validation: Quotations may function as compelling evidence , fortifying the claims a writer has made in their argument
• Building upon Established Knowledge: Quotations illuminate existing ideas, paving the way for writers to elaborate on, challenge, or pivot them toward new directions.
• Preservation of Nuance: Quotations capture the intricate subtleties of unique expressions and poetic language, ensuring that their inherent meaning remains unaltered.
• Positioning within a Discourse: Through quotations, writers can align or differentiate themselves within specific intellectual landscapes, debates, or traditions.
• Credibility: Meticulous citation and thoughtful quotation are hallmarks of a diligent writer, revealing their commitment to professional and ethical codes of conduct.

What Do Writers Quote in Academic and Professional Writing

In both academic and professional writing , quotation serves multiple functions:

• Authenticity and Credibility : Quoting directly from a source provides evidence that the information is based on established research or authoritative accounts . It adds weight to arguments, showcasing that they aren’t merely opinions but are backed by recognized studies or experts in the field.
• Respect for Copyright & Intellectual Property : Academic and workplace writers, trained in critical literacy skills , follow citation conventions meticulously. This diligence stems from their respect for copyright laws and the broader principles of intellectual property . Properly citing and quoting indicates an acknowledgment of the original creator’s contribution and ensures that their work is not appropriated without due credit.
• Preserving Original Meaning: Paraphrasing or summarizing can sometimes inadvertently alter the original meaning or nuance of a text. Quoting ensures that the exact words and context provided by the original author are retained.
• Engaging the Reader: Quotations can be used strategically to capture the reader’s attention. A well-chosen quote can make an article or essay more engaging, invoking curiosity or emphasizing a point.
• Paying Homage: Quoting acknowledges the original creators of content. It’s a form of respect, indicating that their words have made an impact and are deemed worthy of repetition and recognition.
• Avoiding Plagiarism : In academic and professional contexts, using someone else’s words or ideas without proper citation is considered unethical and can have serious repercussions. Quoting, accompanied by appropriate citation, ensures that credit is given where it’s due.
• Enriching Content: Quotations can introduce diverse voices and perspectives into a piece of writing. They can be used to support or counter arguments, provide alternative viewpoints, or illustrate a point more vividly.
• Encouraging Deeper Engagement: When readers encounter a quotation, especially one from a recognized authority or a profound piece of literature, it prompts them to reflect on its meaning, perhaps encouraging them to seek out the original source and engage more deeply with the topic .
• Clarifying Complex Ideas: At times, original texts may communicate complex ideas in a way that’s particularly clear or compelling. Quoting such passages can assist the writer in conveying these complexities without the risk of oversimplification.

When Should You Use Quotations in Your Writing?

There are five major reasons for using quotations:

• Evidential Support: To back up claims or arguments with concrete evidence .
• Illustrative Purposes: To give specific examples or to illuminate a point .
• Eloquence and Impact: Sometimes, the original phrasing is so poignant or well-expressed that paraphrasing might dilute its power or clarity.
• Appeal to Authority: Quoting renowned figures or experts can bolster the credibility of an argument .
• Attribution : To give credit to the original source or author and avoid plagiarism .

When Should I Quote as Opposed to Paraphrasing or Summarizing?

Quoting, paraphrasing , and summarizing are all essential techniques in writing , allowing writers to incorporate the ideas of others into their work.

In general, however, because readers do not want to read miscellaneous quotations that are thrown together one after another, you are generally better off paraphrasing and summarizing material and using direct quotations sparingly. Students—from middle school, college, through graduate school—sometimes believe loads of quotations bring a great deal of credibility , ethos , to the text . Yet, if too many quotes are provided, the text loses clarity .

Like everything else in life, balance is the key. The problem with texts that use extensive direct quotations is that they tend to take attention away from the writer’s voice , purpose , thesis . If you offer quotations every few lines, your ideas become subordinate to other people’s ideas and voices, which often contradicts your instructor’s reasons for assigning research papers—that is, to learn what you think about a subject.

Below are some general strategies you might consider when determine it’s best to quote, paraphrase, or summarize:

• Heart of the Argument: When a passage directly encapsulates the essence of the discussion, quoting ensures the original message isn’t diluted.
• Eloquence & Precision: Some texts are so beautifully articulated or precisely worded that rephrasing would diminish their impact or clarity .
• Eyewitness Accounts: Dramatic firsthand accounts of events can lose their emotional potency if not presented verbatim.
• Influential Authorities: Quoting recognized experts or influential figures can lend credibility to an argument .
• Pertinent Data: Specific statistics or data points, when exactness is crucial, should be quoted directly.
• Challenging to Rephrase: Some complex ideas or specialized terminologies can be hard to rephrase without altering the original meaning.

Paraphrasing

• Clarification: When the original text is dense or hard to understand, a paraphrase can clarify the message for the reader.
• Integration: To weave source material more seamlessly into one’s writing, a paraphrase can be more fluid than a direct quote.
• Modification: If a writer wishes to emphasize a particular aspect of the source material or adapt it for a different audience , paraphrasing allows for this flexibility.

Summarizing

• Overview: Summaries are excellent for providing readers with a snapshot of a larger work or body of research.
• Brevity: When the main gist of a longer text is relevant, but details aren’t necessary, summarizing captures the essence in fewer words.

In all cases, whether quoting, paraphrasing, or summarizing, proper attribution is vital to respect the original author’s intellectual property and to provide readers with a clear path to the primary source.

Is It Okay to Edit Quotations for Brevity and Clarity ?

Yes, editing quotations for clarity and brevity is often necessary, especially when you want to emphasize your own voice and perspective in your writing . Utilizing direct quotations from reliable sources enhances your credibility , but extensive quotations can overshadow your voice and detract from your main argument . Responsible writers prioritize both the quality and the quantity of their quotations, selecting only the most pertinent words or phrases to articulate their points effectively.

How Can I Effectively Shorten a Quote?

• Opt for integrating the part of a quotation that is most impactful, concise, and uniquely expressive.
• Extract only the key segments of the quote that align with your argument , employing ellipses where you omit sections.
• Aim for quotations that span no more than two lines.
• Adhere to the 10% rule: quotations shouldn’t exceed 10% of your paper’s total word count.
• Always respect guidelines given by instructors or publishers regarding quotation length.

Example: Trimming a Quote for Brevity

Original quote:.

“Hand-washing is especially important for children in child care settings. Young children cared for in groups outside the home are at greater risk of respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, which can easily spread to family members and other contacts. Be sure your child care provider promotes frequent hand-washing or use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers. Ask whether the children are required to wash their hands several times a day — not just before meals.” (“Hand-washing: Do’s and Don’ts” 2)

Revised Quote with Context :

Parents should be concerned about their child’s hand-washing habits—not only under supervision at home, but when the child is being cared for by others. Experts from the Mayo Clinic staff advise that “[h]and-washing is especially important for children in child care settings. . . . Be sure your child care provider promotes frequent hand-washing” (“Hand-washing: Do’s and Don’ts” 2).

What is the Purpose of Ellipses in Quotations?

Ellipses, represented by three dots ( . . . ), indicate that a portion of the original text has been removed for brevity , relevance, or clarity.

How Should Ellipses Be Formatted Within a Quotation?

• Spacing : There should be a space before, between, and after each of the dots. Example :“Original thought . . . remains crucial.”

When Is It Appropriate to Use Ellipses in a Quotation?

• To remove non-essential information that doesn’t alter the quote’s original meaning.
• To make the quotation fit seamlessly into the writer’s sentence or argument.

Are There Any Cautions to Consider When Using Ellipses?

• Avoid altering the original intent or meaning of the quotation.
• Refrain from overusing ellipses; excessive omissions can make the quote unclear or misleading.
• Do not start or end a quotation with ellipses, unless it’s essential to convey that the quote is part of a larger context.

How Do I Use Ellipses After a Complete Sentence?

If you’re omitting content following a complete sentence, the ellipsis points should come after the sentence’s ending punctuation.

Correct : “He enjoyed the evening. . . . They discussed various topics.”

Incorrect : “He enjoyed the evening. . . They discussed various topics.”

Remember, while ellipses help in streamlining quotations, they should be used judiciously to ensure the integrity of the original text remains intact.

Can I Make Changes to Quotations? If So, How to Do I Alert My Readers to Those Changes?

• Purpose of Brackets in Quotations : Brackets [ ] are used to insert or alter words in a direct quotation for clarity, explanation, or integration.
• Example: “It [driving] imposes a heavy procedural workload on cognition…”
• Reminder: The word ‘driving’ clarifies the pronoun ‘it’.
• Example: “[D]riving imposes a heavy procedural workload [visual and motor demands] on cognition…”
• Point: Brackets offer deeper insights on the “procedural workload”.
• Example: Salvucci and Taatgen propose that “[t]he heavy cognitive workload of driving suggests…”
• Note: The change from uppercase ‘T’ to lowercase ‘t’ is indicated with brackets.
• Example: “Drivers [are] increasingly engaging in secondary tasks while driving.”
• Note: The verb changes from past to present tense, and this change is enclosed in brackets.
• Incorrect: “It (driving) imposes a heavy procedural workload…”
• Correct: “It [driving] imposes a heavy procedural workload…”
• A Key Caution : Don’t misuse brackets to alter the original text’s intent or meaning. Always represent the author’s intent accurately.
• Do use brackets to enclose inserted words for clarity or brief explanation.
• Do use brackets to indicate changes in letter case or verb tense.
• Don’t use parentheses in these scenarios.
• Never use bracketed material to twist the author’s original meaning.

Remember, the aim is to ensure clarity and respect the original author’s intent while making the quotation fit seamlessly into your writing.

For More Information on Shortening Quotations, See Also:

• Inserting or Altering Words in a Direct Quotation
• Omitting Words from a Direct Quotation (MLA)
• Omitting Words from a Direct Quotation (APA)

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2021, December 10). Hand-washing: Do’s and don’ts. Mayo Clinic .

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How to use Quotes in an Essay in 7 Simple Steps

A quote can be an effective and powerful literary tool in an essay, but it needs to be done well. To use quotes in an essay, you need to make sure your quotes are short, backed up with explanations, and used rarely. The best essays use a maximum of 2 quotes for every 1500 words.

Rules for using quotes in essays:

• Avoid Long Quotes.
• Quotes should be less than 1 sentence long.
• Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples.
• Use Max. 2 Quotes for 1500 words.
• Use page numbers when Citing Quotes.
• Don’t Italicize Quotes.
• Avoid quotes inside quotes.

Once you have mastered these quotation writing rules you’ll be on your way to growing your marks in your next paper.

How to use Quotes in an Essay

1. avoid long quotes.

There’s a simple rule to follow here: don’t use a quote that is longer than one line. In fact,  four word quotes  are usually best.

Long quotes in essays are red flags for teachers. It doesn’t matter if it is an amazing quote. Many, many teachers don’t like long quotes, so it’s best to avoid them.

Too many students provide quotes that take up half of a paragraph. This will lose you marks – big time.

If you follow my  perfect paragraph formula , you know that most paragraphs should be about six sentences long, which comes out to about six or seven typed lines on paper. That means that your quote will be a maximum of one-sixth (1/6) of your paragraph. This leaves plenty of space for discussion in your own words.

One reason teachers don’t like long quotes is that they suck up your word count. It can start to look like you didn’t have enough to say, so you inserted quotes to pad out your essay. Even if this is only your teacher’s perception, it’s something that you need to be aware of.

Here’s an example of over-use of quotes in paragraphs:

Avoid Quotes that are Too Long

Children who grow up in poverty often end up being poor as adults. “Many adult Americans believe that hard work and drive are important factors on economic mobility. When statistics show that roughly 42% of children born into the bottom level of the income distribution will likely stay there (Isaacs, 2007), this Is a consequence of structural and social barriers.” (Mistry et al., 2016, p. 761). Therefore poverty in childhood needs to be addressed by the government.

This student made the fatal mistake of having the quote overtake the paragraph.

Simply put, don’t use a quote that is longer than one line long. Ever. It’s just too risky.

Personally, I like to use a 4-word quote in my essays. Four-word quotes are long enough to constitute an actual quote but short enough that I have to think about how I will fit that quote around my own writing. This forces me to write quotations that both show:

• I have read the original source, but also:
• I know how to paraphrase

2. Do not use a Quote to that takes up a full Sentence, Starts a Sentence, or Ends a Paragraph

These are three common but fatal mistakes.

Essay quotes that start sentences or end paragraphs make you appear passive.

If you use a quotation in an essay to start a sentence or end a paragraph, your teacher automatically thinks that your quote is replacing analysis, rather than supporting it.

You should instead start the sentence that contains the quote with your own writing. This makes it appear that you have an  active voice .

Similarly, you should end a paragraph with your own analysis, not a quote.

Let’s look at some examples of quotes that start sentences and end paragraphs. These examples are poor examples of using quotes:

Avoid Quotes that Start Sentences The theorist Louis Malaguzzi was the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. “Children have the ability to learn through play and exploration. Play helps children to learn about their surroundings” (Malaguzzi, 1949, p. 10). Play is better than learning through repetition of drills or reading. Play is good for all children.

Avoid Quotes that End Paragraphs Before Judith Butler gender was seen as being a binary linked to sex, men were masculine and women were feminine. Butler came up with this new idea that gender is just something society has made up over time. “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler, 1990, p. 136).

Both these quotes are from essays that were shared with me by colleagues. My colleagues marked these students down for these quotes because of the quotes:

• took up full sentences;
• started sentences; and
• were used to end paragraphs.

It didn’t appear as if the students were analyzing the quotes. Instead, the quotes were doing the talking for the students.

There are some easy strategies to use in order to make it appear that you are actively discussing and analyzing quotes.

One is that you should make sure the essay sentences with quotes in them  don’t start with the quote . Here are some examples of how we can change the quotes:

Example 1: Start Quote Sentences with an Active Voice The theorist Louis Malaguzzi was the founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach to Education. According to Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10), “children have the ability to learn through play and exploration.” Here, Malaguzzi is highlighting how to play is linked to finding things out about the world. Play is important for children to develop. Play is better than learning through repetition of drills or reading. Play is good for all children.

Here, the sentence with the quote was amended so that the student has an active voice. They start the sentence with According to Malaguzzi, ….

Similarly, in the second example, we can also insert an active voice by ensuring that our quote sentence does not start with a quote:

Example 2: Start Quote Sentences with an Active Voice In 1990, Judith Butler revolutionized Feminist understandings of gender by arguing that “gender is a fluid concept” (p. 136). Before Butler’s 1990 book  Gender Trouble , gender was seen as being a binary linked to sex. Men were masculine and women were feminine. Butler came up with this new idea that gender is just something society has made up over time.

In this example, the quote is not at the start of a sentence or end of a paragraph – tick!

How to Start Sentences containing Quotes using an Active Voice

• According to Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10), “…”
• Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10) argues that “…”
• In 1949, Malaguzzi (p. 10) highlighted that “…”
• The argument of Malaguzzi (1949, p. 10) that “…” provides compelling insight into the issue.

3. Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples

Earlier on, I stated that one key reason to use quotes in essays is so that you can analyze them.

Quotes shouldn’t stand alone as explanations. Quotes should be there to be analyzed, not to do the analysis.

Let’s look again at the quote used in Point 1:

Example: A Quote that is Too Long Children who grow up in poverty often end up being poor as adults.  “Many adult Americans believe that hard work and drive are important factors in economic mobility. When statistics show that roughly 42% of children born into the bottom level of the income distribution will likely stay there (Isaacs, 2007), this Is a consequence of structural and social barriers.”  (Mistry et al., 2016, p. 761). Therefore poverty in childhood needs to be addressed by the government.

This student has included the facts, figures, citations and key details in the quote. Essentially, this student has been lazy. They failed to paraphrase.

Instead, this student could have selected the most striking phrase from the quote and kept it. Then, the rest should be paraphrased. The most striking phrase in this quote was “[poverty] is a consequence of structural and social barriers.” (Mistry et al., 2016, p. 761).

So, take that one key phrase, then paraphrase the rest:

Example: Paraphrasing Long Quotes Children who grow up in poverty often end up being poor as adults. In their analysis, Mistry et al. (2016) highlight that there is a misconception in American society that hard work is enough to escape poverty. Instead, they argue, there is evidence that over 40% of people born in poverty remain in poverty. For Mistry et al. (2016, p. 761), this data shows that poverty is not a matter of being lazy alone, but more importantly  “a consequence of structural and social barriers.”  This implies that poverty in childhood needs to be addressed by the government.

To recap,  quotes shouldn’t do the talking for you . Provide a brief quote in your essay, and then show you understand it with surrounding explanation and analysis.

4. Know how many Quotes to use in an Essay

There’s a simple rule for how many quotes should be in an essay.

Here’s a good rule to follow: one quote for every five paragraphs. A paragraph is usually 150 words long, so you’re looking at  one quote in every 750 words, maximum .

To extrapolate that out, you’ll want a maximum of about:

• 2 quotes for a 1500-word paper;
• 3 quotes for a 2000-word paper;
• 4 quotes for a 3000-word paper.

That’s the maximum , not a target. There’s no harm in writing a paper that has absolutely zero quotes in it, so long as it’s still clear that you’ve closely read and paraphrased your readings.

The reason you don’t want to use more quotes than this in your essay is that teachers want to see you saying things in your own words. When you over-use quotes, it is a sign to your teacher that you don’t know how to paraphrase well.

5. Always use page numbers when Citing Quotes in Essays

One biggest problem with quotes are that many students don’t know how to cite quotes in essays.

Nearly every referencing format requires you to include a page number in your citation. This includes the three most common referencing formats: Harvard, APA, and MLA. All of them require you to provide page numbers with quotes.

Citing a Quote in Chicago Style – Include Page Numbers

• Incorrect: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler 1990).
• Correct: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler 1990, 136).

Citing a Quote in APA and Harvard Styles – Include Page Numbers

• Incorrect: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler, 1990).
• Correct: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler, 1990, p. 136).

Citing a Quote in MLA Style – Include Page Numbers

• Incorrect: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler).
• Correct: “Gender is a fluid concept” (Butler 136).

Including a page number in your quotation makes a huge difference when a marker is trying to determine how high your grade should be.

This is especially true when you’re already up in the higher marks range. These little editing points can mean the difference between placing first in the class and third. Don’t underestimate the importance of attention to detail.

6. Don’t Italicize Quotes

For some reason, students love to use italics for quotes. This is wrong in absolutely every major referencing format, yet it happens all the time.

I don’t know where this started, but please don’t do it. It looks sloppy, and teachers notice. A nice, clean, well-formatted essay should not contain these minor but not insignificant errors. If you want to be a top student, you need to pay attention to minor details.

7. Avoid quotes inside quotes

Have you ever found a great quote and thought, “I want to quote that quote!” Quoting a quote is a tempting thing to do, but not worth your while.

I’ll often see students write something like this:

Poor Quotation Example: Quotes Inside Quotes Rousseau “favored a civil religion because it would be more tolerant of diversity than Christianity. Indeed ‘no state has ever been founded without religion as its base’ (Rousseau, 1913: 180).” (Durkheim, 1947, p. 19).

Here, there are quotes on top of quotes. The student has quoted Durkheim quoting Rousseau. This quote has become a complete mess and hard to read. The minute something’s hard to read, it loses marks.

Here are two solutions:

• Cite the original source. If you really want the Rousseau quote, just cite Rousseau. Stop messing around with quotes on top of quotes.
• Learn the ‘as cited in’ method. Frankly, that method’s too complicated to discuss here. But if you google it, you’ll be able to teach yourself.

When Should I use Quotes in Essays?

1. to highlight an important statement.

One main reason to use quotes in essays is to emphasize a famous statement by a top thinker in your field.

The statement must be  important. It can’t be just any random comment.

Here are some examples of when to use quotes in essays to emphasize the words of top thinkers:

• The words of Stephen Hawking go a long way in Physics ;
• The words of JK Rowling go a long way in Creative Writing ;
• The words of Michel Foucault go a long way in Cultural Studies ;
• The words of Jean Piaget go a long way in Education Studies .

2. To analyze an Important Statement.

Another reason to use quotes in essays is when you want to analyze a statement by a specific author. This author might not be famous, but they might have said something that requires unpacking and analyzing. You can provide a quote, then unpack it by explaining your interpretation of it in the following sentences.

Quotes usually need an explanation and example. You can unpack the quote by asking:

• What did they mean,
• Why is it relevant, and
• Why did they say this?

You want to always follow up quotes by top thinkers or specific authors with discussion and analysis.

Quotes should be accompanied by:

• Explanations of the quote;
• Analysis of the ideas presented in the quote; or
• Real-world examples that show you understand what the quote means.

Remember: A quote should be a stimulus for a discussion, not a replacement for discussion.

What Bad Quotes Look Like

Many teachers I have worked with don’t like when students use quotes in essays. In fact, some teachers absolutely hate essay quotes. The teachers I have met tend to hate these sorts of quotes:

• When you use too many quotes.
• When you use the wrong citation format.
• When you don’t provide follow-up explanations of quotes.
• When you used quotes because you don’t know how to paraphrase .

Be a minimalist when it comes to using quotes. Here are the seven approaches I recommend for using quotes in essays:

• Avoid Long Quotes in Essays
• Do not use a Quote that takes up a full Sentence, Starts a Sentence, or Ends a Paragraph
• Match Quotes with Explanations and Examples
• Use a Maximum of 2 Quotes for every 1500 words
• Always use page numbers when Citing Quotes in Essays
• Don’t Italicize Quotes
• Avoid quotes inside quotes

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Social-Emotional Learning (Definition, Examples, Pros & Cons)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is Educational Psychology?
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ What is IQ? (Intelligence Quotient)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 5 Top Tips for Succeeding at University

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• How to Quote | Citing Quotes in Harvard & APA

How to Quote | Citing Quotes in Harvard & APA

Published on 15 April 2022 by Shona McCombes and Jack Caulfield. Revised on 3 September 2022.

Quoting means copying a passage of someone else’s words and crediting the source. To quote a source, you must ensure:

• The quoted text is enclosed in quotation marks (usually single quotation marks in UK English, though double is acceptable as long as you’re consistent) or formatted as a block quote
• The original author is correctly cited
• The text is identical to the original

The exact format of a quote depends on its length and on which citation style you are using. Quoting and citing correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism , which is easy to detect with a good plagiarism checker .

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Table of contents

How to cite a quote in harvard and apa style, introducing quotes, quotes within quotes, shortening or altering a quote, block quotes, when should i use quotes, frequently asked questions about quoting sources.

Every time you quote, you must cite the source correctly . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style you’re using.

Citing a quote in Harvard style

When you include a quote in Harvard style, you must add a Harvard in-text citation giving the author’s last name, the year of publication, and a page number if available. Any full stop or comma appears after the citation, not within the quotation marks.

Citations can be parenthetical or narrative. In a parenthetical citation , you place all the information in brackets after the quote. In a narrative citation , you name the author in your sentence (followed by the year), and place the page number after the quote.

• Evolution is a gradual process that ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (Darwin, 1859, p. 510) . Darwin (1859) explains that evolution ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (p. 510) .

Complete guide to Harvard style

Citing a quote in APA Style

To cite a direct quote in APA , you must include the author’s last name, the year, and a page number, all separated by commas. If the quote appears on a single page, use ‘p.’; if it spans a page range, use ‘pp.’

An APA in-text citation can be parenthetical or narrative. In a parenthetical citation , you place all the information in parentheses after the quote. In a narrative citation , you name the author in your sentence (followed by the year), and place the page number after the quote.

Punctuation marks such as full stops and commas are placed after the citation, not within the quotation marks.

• Evolution is a gradual process that ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (Darwin, 1859, p. 510) .
• Darwin (1859) explains that evolution ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (p. 510) .

Complete guide to APA

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Make sure you integrate quotes properly into your text by introducing them in your own words, showing the reader why you’re including the quote and providing any context necessary to understand it.  Don’t  present quotations as stand-alone sentences.

There are three main strategies you can use to introduce quotes in a grammatically correct way:

• Add an introductory sentence
• Use an introductory signal phrase
• Integrate the quote into your own sentence

The following examples use APA Style citations, but these strategies can be used in all styles.

Introductory sentence

Introduce the quote with a full sentence ending in a colon . Don’t use a colon if the text before the quote isn’t a full sentence.

If you name the author in your sentence, you may use present-tense verbs, such as “states’, ‘argues’, ‘explains’, ‘writes’, or ‘reports’, to describe the content of the quote.

• In Denmark, a recent poll shows that: ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• In Denmark, a recent poll shows that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• Levring (2018) reports that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (p. 3).

Introductory signal phrase

You can also use a signal phrase that mentions the author or source but doesn’t form a full sentence. In this case, you follow the phrase with a comma instead of a colon.

• According to a recent poll, ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• As Levring (2018) explains, ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (p. 3).

Integrated into your own sentence

To quote a phrase that doesn’t form a full sentence, you can also integrate it as part of your sentence, without any extra punctuation.

• A recent poll suggests that EU membership ‘would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ in a referendum (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• Levring (2018) reports that EU membership ‘would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ in a referendum (p. 3).

When you quote text that itself contains another quote, this is called a nested quotation or a quote within a quote. It may occur, for example, when quoting dialogue from a novel.

To distinguish this quote from the surrounding quote, you enclose it in double (instead of single) quotation marks (even if this involves changing the punctuation from the original text). Make sure to close both sets of quotation marks at the appropriate moments.

Note that if you only quote the nested quotation itself, and not the surrounding text, you can just use single quotation marks.

• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: ‘ ‘ Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, ‘ he told me, ‘ just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had ‘ ‘ (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: ‘”Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had “  (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: ‘“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had”’ (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway begins by quoting his father’s invocation to ‘remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had’ (Fitzgerald 1).

Note:  When the quoted text in the source comes from another source, it’s best to just find that original source in order to quote it directly. If you can’t find the original source, you can instead cite it indirectly .

Often, incorporating a quote smoothly into your text requires you to make some changes to the original text. It’s fine to do this, as long as you clearly mark the changes you’ve made to the quote.

Shortening a quote

If some parts of a passage are redundant or irrelevant, you can shorten the quote by removing words, phrases, or sentences and replacing them with an ellipsis (…). Put a space before and after the ellipsis.

Be careful that removing the words doesn’t change the meaning. The ellipsis indicates that some text has been removed, but the shortened quote should still accurately represent the author’s point.

Altering a quote

You can add or replace words in a quote when necessary. This might be because the original text doesn’t fit grammatically with your sentence (e.g., it’s in a different tense), or because extra information is needed to clarify the quote’s meaning.

Use brackets to distinguish words that you have added from words that were present in the original text.

The Latin term ‘ sic ‘ is used to indicate a (factual or grammatical) mistake in a quotation. It shows the reader that the mistake is from the quoted material, not a typo of your own.

In some cases, it can be useful to italicise part of a quotation to add emphasis, showing the reader that this is the key part to pay attention to. Use the phrase ’emphasis added’ to show that the italics were not part of the original text.

You usually don’t need to use brackets to indicate minor changes to punctuation or capitalisation made to ensure the quote fits the style of your text.

If you quote more than a few lines from a source, you must format it as a block quote . Instead of using quotation marks, you set the quote on a new line and indent it so that it forms a separate block of text.

Block quotes are cited just like regular quotes, except that if the quote ends with a full stop, the citation appears after the full stop.

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hands, and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more. (16)

Avoid relying too heavily on quotes in academic writing . To integrate a source , it’s often best to paraphrase , which means putting the passage into your own words. This helps you integrate information smoothly and keeps your own voice dominant.

However, there are some situations in which quotes are more appropriate.

When focusing on language

If you want to comment on how the author uses language (for example, in literary analysis ), it’s necessary to quote so that the reader can see the exact passage you are referring to.

When giving evidence

To convince the reader of your argument, interpretation or position on a topic, it’s often helpful to include quotes that support your point. Quotes from primary sources (for example, interview transcripts or historical documents) are especially credible as evidence.

When presenting an author’s position or definition

When you’re referring to secondary sources such as scholarly books and journal articles, try to put others’ ideas in your own words when possible.

But if a passage does a great job at expressing, explaining, or defining something, and it would be very difficult to paraphrase without changing the meaning or losing the weakening the idea’s impact, it’s worth quoting directly.

A quote is an exact copy of someone else’s words, usually enclosed in quotation marks and credited to the original author or speaker.

To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It’s appropriate to quote when:

• Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text
• You want to discuss the author’s language choices (e.g., in literary analysis )
• You’re presenting a precise definition
• You’re looking in depth at a specific claim

Every time you quote a source , you must include a correctly formatted in-text citation . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style .

For example, a direct quote in APA is cited like this: ‘This is a quote’ (Streefkerk, 2020, p. 5).

Every in-text citation should also correspond to a full reference at the end of your paper.

In scientific subjects, the information itself is more important than how it was expressed, so quoting should generally be kept to a minimum. In the arts and humanities, however, well-chosen quotes are often essential to a good paper.

In social sciences, it varies. If your research is mainly quantitative , you won’t include many quotes, but if it’s more qualitative , you may need to quote from the data you collected .

As a general guideline, quotes should take up no more than 5–10% of your paper. If in doubt, check with your instructor or supervisor how much quoting is appropriate in your field.

If you’re quoting from a text that paraphrases or summarises other sources and cites them in parentheses , APA  recommends retaining the citations as part of the quote:

• Smith states that ‘the literature on this topic (Jones, 2015; Sill, 2019; Paulson, 2020) shows no clear consensus’ (Smith, 2019, p. 4).

Footnote or endnote numbers that appear within quoted text should be omitted.

If you want to cite an indirect source (one you’ve only seen quoted in another source), either locate the original source or use the phrase ‘as cited in’ in your citation.

A block quote is a long quote formatted as a separate ‘block’ of text. Instead of using quotation marks , you place the quote on a new line, and indent the entire quote to mark it apart from your own words.

APA uses block quotes for quotes that are 40 words or longer.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the ‘Cite this Scribbr article’ button to automatically add the citation to our free Reference Generator.

McCombes, S. & Caulfield, J. (2022, September 03). How to Quote | Citing Quotes in Harvard & APA. Scribbr. Retrieved 13 May 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/working-sources/quoting/

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Writing Studio

Quotation basics: grammar, punctuation, and style, some general quotation guidelines.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Quotation Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Return to Writing Studio Handouts

When writing a formal essay, you will often need to use quotes from a text or texts as evidence to prove your point or to make an argument. Below are grammar and punctuation guidelines to help you integrate those quotes into your essay successfully.

We recommend consulting a style manual or your instructor for specific queries.

Periods and Commas

• You do not need to use any punctuation before a quotation if it forms part of your own sentence.

Example: Dennis cries that he is “being repressed!”

• Use a comma when introducing a quote with a phrase such as ‘he said.’

Example: The old man protests, “I don’t want to go on the cart.”

• Place parenthetical citations outside the end quotation mark, but before the punctuation.

Example: King Arthur declares, “Let’s not go to Camelot. It is a silly place” (13).

Colons and Ellipses

• Use a colon when introducing a quotation with a full independent clause (one that can stand on its own).

Example: Emily feels frustrated by his response: “Is there someone else that we can talk to?”

• Use an ellipsis (three periods, sometimes with spaces between: ‘…’ ) to indicate an omission in a quotation (Exception: it is not necessary to use an ellipsis when omitting words at the beginning of a quote unless you are using a block quote format).

Example: “The kind of intelligence a genius has … leaps with ellipses.”

• When you want to omit one or more full sentences, use a period and a space before the three ellipsis dots.

Example: “Hatred paralyzes life. … Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

Slashes and Brackets

• When you are quoting poetry, use a slash ( / ) to mark a line break.

Example: “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments” (1-2).

• Use square brackets to add a word, change a pronoun, or change a verb tense in the quote.

Original quote: “It’s my duty as a knight to sample all the peril I can.”

In your essay: Sir Galahad thinks “it’s [his] duty as a knight to sample all the peril [he] can.”

Question Marks and Exclamation Points

• With a question mark or exclamation point, there is no need to use a comma or a period.

Example: The interested observer wonders, “Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?”

• If the mark is part of your sentence and not part of the quote, it goes outside the last quotation mark.

Example: I don’t think we can ever understand the “ineluctable modality of the visual”!

Block Quotes

• MLA style calls for use of a block quote (indent 10 spaces, or 2 tabs) when citing five or more lines of typed prose or four or more lines of verse. APA style calls for block quotes when citing forty words or more.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate. / Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, / And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. (1-4)

Quote Within a Quote

• When using a quote within a quote, single quotation marks are used for the inner quote.

Example: Josh laments, “Every time I try to talk to someone it’s ‘sorry this’ and ‘forgive me that.’”

Last revised: 08/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 05/2021

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Using Evidence: Quotation

Basics of quoting other writing.

In most social science disciplines, you will use direct quotations only sparingly. Use a direct quotation only if the exact phrasing of the original material is crucial to your point. If you can paraphrase the idea in your own words, do so.

Use quotation marks around the words you are borrowing directly from another source. For longer passages, use block quotations .

Example: Samson (2010) stated, “Mirror neurons allow for imitation and empathy” (p. 214).

For more examples of integrating quotations into your own sentences along with guidance on punctuation and capitalization of quotations, please visit our page on Quotation Marks .

In order for a reader to understand the impact of a direct quotation or paraphrased source material, you should work to integrate your evidence into your paragraph's overall discussion. A strong way to integrate source material is to use transitions . As you integrate sources, you will also often begin analyzing the evidence

Citations for Direct Quotations

Every direct quotation citation should be incorporated into the paragraph with quotation marks. This means every direct quotation should have the following:

• Year of publication
• Page (p.) or paragraph (para.) number—for more of APA's guidance on citing a specific part of a work without page numbers, see our Citations Overview page
• Quotation marks

In APA, in order to best incorporate your direct quotations, pay close attention the punctuation:

• Your page or paragraph number should always have a period, with no space between the p. or para. and the period.
• The cited page or paragraph number for direct quotations should always come directly after the quotation marks end.

Correct citation: Christensen (2010) regarded the "infiltration of only red light" (p. 32) as a success in the experiment.

Incorrect citation: Christensen (2010) regarded the "infiltration of only red light" as a success in the experiment (p. 32).

Integrating Direct Quotations Into Your Paragraphs

Paragraph with direct quotations not integrated.

Teachers in ESL classrooms need more access to professional development. According to Grant (2009), "The percentage of ESL students in high schools has gone up 75% in the last ten years" (p. 338). Gramber (2010) said, "The scope of ESL education is changing rapidly" (p. 2834). Judes (2008) suggested, "ESL teachers often do not have updated certification." A study found that "Non-native English speakers require a different pedagogy than native speakers" (Bartlett, 2004, p. 97).

In this paragraph, there are several excellent direct quotations. However, readers cannot determine why the author chose to list each of these ideas or how they are connected. This paragraph feels a bit choppy because the author is jumping from one idea to another. By using transitions, though, the author can identify the relationships among the ideas.

Paragraph With Direct Quotations, Revised (Revisions in Bold)

Teachers in ESL classrooms need more access to professional development. According to Grant (2009), "The percentage of ESL students in high schools has gone up 75% in the last ten years" (p. 338). This increase has caused a shift in the tradition training of ESL educators. Speaking of this shift, Gramber (2010) wrote, "The scope of ESL education is changing rapidly" (p. 2834). With such a fast change in training and requirements, districts often neglect to keep their teachers up to date. Judes (2010) suggested, "ESL teachers often do not have updated certification" (p. 33). However, teachers must have up-to-date techniques and be familiar with the most recent theories in the field of ESL education. A recent study found that "Non-native English speakers require a different pedagogy than native speakers" (Bartlett, 2011, p. 97), thus showing the need for teachers to be current in their training and pedagogy. One of the best ways to accomplish this update and keep educators aware of currents trends and theories in their fields is through professional development.

Note that all the transitions and connecting sentences are in bold. These sentences help to move the reader along from one quotation to another while also connecting the quotations.

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• Writing Tips

How to Introduce Quotes in Academic Writing

3-minute read

• 17th October 2019

It would be hard to write a good essay  without quoting sources. And as well as using quote marks , this means working quotations into your own writing. But how can you do this? In this post, we provide a few helpful tips on how to introduce quotes (short and long) in academic writing.

Introducing Short Quotations

The easiest way to quote a source is to work a short passage (sometimes just a single word) into your own sentence. For example:

The tomb was one of archaeology’s “most intriguing discoveries” (Andronicus, 1978, p. 55) and has fascinated researchers ever since.

Here, the only requirements placing the quoted text within quotation marks and making sure the quote follows grammatically from the surrounding text.

Quoting After a Colon

If you need to quote a source after a full sentence, introduce it with a colon:

On the basis of Philip II’s estimated date of death, Andronicus (1978) draws a conclusion :  “This, in all probability, must be his tomb” (p. 76).

When using a colon to introduce a quotation, the text before the colon must be a full sentence. The text after the colon, however, can be just a few words.

Quoting After a Comma

Alternatively, you can use a comma to introduce a quote. When doing this, the quoted text should follow from the preceding sentence (usually after a word like “says” or “argues”):

Andronicus (1978) says ,  “The weapons bore witness that the tomb could not have belonged to a commoner” (p. 73).

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However, when a quote follows the word “that,” no comma is needed:

Andronicus (1978) says  that “The weapons bore witness that the tomb could not have belonged to a commoner” (p. 73).

Block Quotes

Finally, for longer quotations, use a  block quote . These are also introduced with a colon, but they don’t have to follow a full sentence. Furthermore, quoted text should be indented and the block quote should begin on a new line. For example, we could introduce a block quote as follows:

Andronicus (1978) describes the fresco in the following terms:

The barely visible painting depicts three hunters with spears and five horsemen with dogs pursuing their prey, wild boars and lions. This and three other paintings discovered in the adjacent tomb are among the few extant examples of fourth-century BC Greek frescoes. (p. 72)

This emphasizes how important the discovery was for understanding…

Usually, you’ll only need block quotes for passages with more than 40 words (or four lines). The exact rules depend on the reference system you’re using, though, so be sure to check your style guide. And, when in doubt, you can always submit a document for proofreading . We can help make sure your quotations are fully integrated into the rest of your text.

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Quoting Directly

by jleemcga | Aug 18, 2023 | Resources for Students , Writing Resources

What is quoting?

A direct quotation (often referred to as “quotes”) is the exact language taken from source material. Direct quotations match the source material word-for-word and must be contained within quotation marks, usually introduced with a “says” verb or integrated into your own sentence structure.

When should I quote?

It’s best to directly quote when you’re referencing an idea or example in a text that would lose meaning or impact if you were to change the wording. For example, if there is a certain vocabulary that feels necessary to accurately capture the text’s meaning, you should directly quote it. Or, if the author writes the idea in a particularly striking way that would lose affect if you were to reword it, you should directly quote it. Directly quoting other sources in your paper allows you to:

• Present especially compelling ideas in the author’s own language
• Underscore key words or phrases relevant to your topic
• Make more specific connections between your evidence and analysis by examining exact language from the text

  How do I directly quote?

To approach directly quoting a source, try the following steps:

• Decide which quotations from the text are relevant, important, and/or helpful to your paper and why (writing notes for yourself about why you’re choosing these quotations will help you with developing your analysis for them later! 😊 It’s also helpful to note citation information as you go!)
• Think about how you want to integrate your direct quotation into your writing— there’s a variety of ways to do this. You might use a classic TAG line, like “According to,” or you might bring quoted material into your own sentence structure. There are many ways to integrate quotations effectively, and it’s ideal to use variety to keep your writing fresh and interesting. For more guidance on how you can integrate direct quotations into your writing, view our handout on Integrating Direct Quotations Into Writing.
• Be sure to use quotation marks around the exact passage you’re referencing from the text
• Always cite at the end of the sentence containing the quoted material!

Examples of directly quoting

Here is an example of a writer directly quoting an excerpt of a passage from the source “Enter the Avatar: The Phenomenology of Prosthetic Telepresence in Computer Games” by Rune Klevjer in their essay about player participation and embodied experience in video games:

Klevjer addresses a tension that exists within the question of the avatar as either utilitarian or persona with the cursor analogy. According to Klevjer, the cursor analogy suggests that “the avatar is no more than a tool, a capacity for action, an instrument” that is often found in fighting games or franchises like Mario 64 (18).

Things to keep in mind when directly quoting

Some important things to remain mindful of while quoting in your assignments are:

• Direct quotations should appear in your writing exactly as they do in the original source material— including capitalization, punctuation, and spelling
• Remember to check if you’ve sandwiched your quoted material inside two quotation marks! It’s easy to forget to close the quotation when we’re in drafting mode, so it can be helpful to make this a part of your check list 😊
• If you need to mark a misspelling or grammatical error in the original source material within your quotation, you can use [sic] beside the text to indicate you intentionally wrote it this way to match the source material. For example, if in the source material the author wrote, “The manuvers produced no results,” you can write: “The manuvers [sic] produced no results.”
• Generally, it’s best to keep your quotations 1-2 lines at a time so that you don’t overwhelm your readers with a lot of quoted text. If your quotation is longer than 4 lines of text, you’ll need to use block quotation formatting
• You can modify direct quotations as needed to omit irrelevant information (using ellipses) or clarify information by adding words (using square brackets). Your modifications should not change the original meaning of the author’s passage
• Be judicious with your direct quotations! Your quotations should not be the star of your show; if your essay is a concert, you’re the headliner and your direct quotations are just your back-up singers; don’t let them outshine you— your readers will want to hear your voice the most throughout your paper 😊

Practice in the Writing Center

For more support and guidance on paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting, make an appointment with us here at the Writing Center! We’ll work with you on effectively integrating a variety of material into your writing and help you feel more confident pulling up a chair to the scholarly conversation 😊

For further reading:

• Paraphrasing, Summarizing, and Quoting, from UNSW Sydney

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Definition and Examples of Direct Quotations

When and How Should Direct Quotes Be Used?

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

A direct quotation is a report of the exact words of an author or speaker and is placed inside quotation marks  in a written work. For example, Dr. King said, " I have a dream ."

Comparing Types of Quotations

Direct quotations are commonly introduced by a signal phrase (also called a quotative frame), such as Dr. King said or Abigail Adams wrote , and are used in written and audio or visual media, especially if an anchor or reporter is giving someone's exact words without having a recording of the person actually saying it. For example, a newscaster would say, "Dr. King said, and I quote, 'I have a dream' unquote."  

By contrast, indirect quotations may also have signal phrases leading into them, but the words are not what the person said or wrote word for word, just a paraphrase or a summary of what the words were, such as, At the March on Washington, Dr. King spoke of the dreams that he had for the nation.

A  mixed quotation  is an indirect quotation that includes a directly quoted expression (in many cases just a single word or brief phrase): ​ King melodiously praised the "veterans of creative suffering," urging them to continue the struggle.

When you have a long direct quotation in a written work, more than 60 or 100 words or more than four or five lines, instead of using quotation marks around it, you may be told by your style guide or assignment parameters to set it off with indents on either side and to put the text in italics or make some other typographical change. This is a block quotation . (See the long quote in the next section for an example, though this site's style is to retain quote marks, even around block quotes.)

When to Use Direct Quotes

When you're writing, use direct quotes sparingly, because the essay or article is supposed to be your original work. Use them for emphasis when the reader needs to see the exact words for analysis and evidence or when the exact quote encapsulates the topic at hand more succinctly or better than you could.

Author Becky Reed Rosenberg discusses using direct quotes when writing in the sciences versus the humanities.

"In the first place, the general convention in the sciences and social sciences is that we use direct quotations as little as possible. Whenever possible,  paraphrase  your source. The exception is when the source is so eloquent or so peculiar that you really need to share the original language with your readers. (In the humanities, direct quoting is more important—certainly where you are talking about a literary source. There the original language IS the object of study very often.)" ("Using Direct Quotation." Writing Center at the University of Washington, Bothell)

In news writing, don't be tempted to correct grammar or other errors when you're directly quoting your source—though you would want to comment in your text about factual errors the speaker made at the time of the statement. You can use ellipses to cut some things out of a direct quote, but even that should be done sparingly. In news, accuracy and proper context are paramount, and you don't want to look like you're doctoring the source's words.

In essays and reports, anytime you use someone else's ideas in your work, either by direct or indirect quotations, that person needs attribution or credit, or else you are committing plagiarism.

• How to Use Indirect Quotations in Writing for Complete Clarity
• Indirect Speech Definition and Examples
• Quotation and Quote
• Definition and Examples of Quotation in English Grammar
• Direct Speech Definition and Examples
• Guidelines for Using Quotation Marks Correctly
• How and When to Paraphrase Quotations
• How to Use Block Quotations in Writing
• Difference Between "Quote" and "Quotation": What Is the Right Word?
• How to Use Attribution Correctly in Journalism
• Dialogue Guide Definition and Examples
• A Guide to Using Quotations in Essays
• French Grammar: Direct and Indirect Speech
• Reported Speech
• What Is Attribution in Writing?

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MLA Formatting Quotations

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When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .

Short quotations

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).

Long quotations

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2   inch  from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come  after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.

In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:

The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)

When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:

In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,

Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .

From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)

Adding or omitting words in quotations

If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:

Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.

When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:

How to Quote Definitions in an Essay: Expert Tips for Proper Use and Clarity

Quoting definitions in an essay may seem like a simple task, but it requires proper use and clarity to effectively convey the intended meaning. Definitions play a crucial role in providing context and supporting arguments, making it vital for writers to understand how to quote them accurately. This article aims to provide expert tips on the proper use of definitions in essays, ensuring that readers grasp the intended concepts without any confusion.

When incorporating definitions into an essay, writers must strike a balance between providing enough clarity and avoiding excessive reliance on these quotes. By understanding the significance of definitions and mastering their proper incorporation, essayists can elevate the overall quality and credibility of their writing. This article explores techniques, tips, and best practices for effectively quoting definitions in essays, guiding writers to enhance their work’s clarity and persuasiveness. With these expert insights, readers can equip themselves with the knowledge necessary to quote definitions accurately and proficiently in their own essays.

Table of Contents

Understanding Definitions

Definition as a central element in academic writing.

In academic writing, definitions play a crucial role in establishing clarity and coherence. A definition provides a clear explanation of a term or concept, ensuring that readers understand the precise meaning intended by the author. Without a solid understanding of key terms, the essay may lose its purpose and fail to convey the intended message. Therefore, it is essential for essay writers to have a strong grasp of definitions and how to incorporate them effectively.

Different types of definitions (lexical, contextual, etc.)

When using definitions in an essay, writers may encounter various types of definitions that serve different purposes. One common type is the lexical definition, which provides the dictionary meaning of a word or phrase. Lexical definitions can be useful for establishing a basic understanding of a term, especially when dealing with complex or technical vocabulary.

Contextual definitions, on the other hand, go beyond the dictionary meaning and consider the specific context in which a term is used. These definitions may take into account cultural, historical, or disciplinary factors that influence the understanding of a concept. Contextual definitions allow writers to provide a more nuanced explanation, helping readers grasp the intended meaning within the context of the essay.

Furthermore, operational definitions are often used when discussing scientific or technical subjects. These definitions clarify how a term is measured or observed, providing a precise and standardized interpretation. Operational definitions are particularly important when conducting research or discussing empirical data.

Overall, understanding the different types of definitions allows essay writers to choose the most appropriate approach for their specific topic and argument. By selecting the right type of definition, writers can ensure that their readers comprehend and engage with the ideas being presented.

Evaluating the Source

Importance of using reliable sources for definition quotes.

When including a definition quote in an essay, it is crucial to use reliable sources. Utilizing credible sources not only enhances the credibility of the essay but also ensures the accuracy of the definitions being quoted. A reliable source is one that comes from a reputable publication, such as academic journals, authoritative websites, or books that have been peer-reviewed. By using trustworthy sources, writers can avoid the risk of including inaccurate or misleading definitions in their essays.

Ways to determine the credibility of a source

To evaluate the credibility of a source, there are several factors that writers must consider. Firstly, they should check the credentials of the author or organization responsible for the source. Is the author an expert in the field? Does the organization have a recognized expertise? Additionally, writers should assess the publication itself. Is it a scholarly journal or a well-known reputable website? Is the information within the source well-supported with evidence and references? These questions help writers determine whether the source is trustworthy and can be relied upon for accurate definitions.

In addition to examining the author and publication, it is important to consider the date of publication. Depending on the topic, outdated definitions may not be relevant or may not reflect the current understanding of the concept. Therefore, writers should prioritize recent sources, particularly when dealing with rapidly evolving fields or subjects.

Moreover, peer-reviewed sources hold higher credibility as they have undergone a rigorous evaluation process by experts in the field. Peer review ensures that the information presented in the source is accurate and reliable. When possible, writers should prioritize using sources that have undergone this level of scrutiny.

Lastly, writers should be cautious when using online sources and must critically assess their reliability. Fact-checking information and cross-referencing with other reputable sources can help ensure the accuracy of the definitions being quoted.

By evaluating the source and utilizing reliable information, writers can enhance the credibility of their essays and provide accurate definitions that contribute to the clarity and coherence of their arguments.

IParaphrasing vs. Direct Quoting

Differentiating between paraphrasing and direct quoting.

When incorporating definitions into an essay, writers have the option to eTher paraphrase or directly quote the definition. Understanding the differences between these two methods is essential for maintaining clarity and properly using definition quotes.

Paraphrasing involves rephrasing the definition using your own words while still conveying the original meaning. This method allows you to seamlessly integrate the definition into your essay’s text and demonstrate your understanding of the concept. Paraphrasing is often preferred when the original definition is lengthy or complex, as it allows you to break down the information into more accessible language.

Direct quoting, on the other hand, involves reproducing the exact words of the definition. This method is useful when the wording of the definition is crucial to the argument or when the original source’s language adds credibility to your own writing. Direct quotes should be used sparingly and strategically, reserved for moments when the specific wording of the definition is essential.

When to use each method in an essay

The decision of whether to paraphrase or directly quote a definition depends on the context and purpose of your essay. Paraphrasing is generally preferred when the definition is common knowledge or widely accepted. In these cases, it is essential to demonstrate your understanding of the concept rather than rely on the authority of the source.

However, when presenting a less-known or controversial definition, direct quoting may be more appropriate. By reproducing the exact words of an expert or reputable source, you lend credibility to your argument and provide evidence of differing viewpoints. Direct quotes can also be useful for highlighting specific wording that supports or challenges your thesis statement.

While both paraphrasing and direct quoting have their merits, it is important to strike a balance between the two. Over-reliance on direct quotes can make an essay appear unoriginal or lacking critical thinking, while excessive paraphrasing may obscure the clarity and precision of the original definition. Consider the significance and impact of the definition in your essay to determine which method to use.

In the next section, we will explore the proper formatting of definition quotes to ensure they are presented accurately and effectively within the essay’s text.

Formatting Definition Quotes

Proper punctuation and capitalization of definition quotes.

When incorporating definition quotes into an essay, it is crucial to follow the proper rules of punctuation and capitalization. The way you format the definition quotes can greatly impact the clarity and professionalism of your writing.

Firstly, it is important to use quotation marks when presenting a definition quote. This helps to distinguish the quoted words from your own writing and indicates that you are presenting a specific term or concept defined by another source. For example, in an essay discussing the concept of “justice,” you may include a definition quote like this: According to Smith’s dictionary, “justice is the fair and impartial treatment of individuals in society.”

Additionally, it is essential to accurately capitalize the definition quote to maintain consistency and adhere to standard writing conventions. In most cases, you should retain the original capitalization used in the source from which you are quoting. However, if necessary, you may alter the capitalization for grammatical reasons or to fit the structure of your sentence. For instance, if you are quoting a definition that begins with a lowercase letter, but your sentence begins with the definition, you may capitalize the first letter of the quote to maintain sentence structure.

Integrating quotes smoothly into the essay’s text

To ensure a seamless integration of definition quotes into your essay, it is essential to provide a smooth transition between your own text and the quoted material. One effective way to achieve this is by using signal phrases to introduce the definition quotes. Signal phrases serve as a clear indication to the reader that you are incorporating a definition quote and help maintain the flow of your writing. For example, you might use phrases such as “According to,” “In the words of,” or “As defined by” before presenting the definition quote.

Furthermore, it is crucial to link the quote back to the main idea or argument of your essay. By providing a brief explanation or context before or after the quote, you can establish its relevance and demonstrate how it supports your thesis. This linking helps to develop a logical and coherent flow within your essay and avoids the inclusion of isolated quotes that lack purpose and clarity.

In conclusion, formatting definition quotes properly involves adhering to punctuation and capitalization rules, as well as seamlessly integrating the quotes into your essay’s text. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your definition quotes contribute to the clarity and overall effectiveness of your essay.

Indicating Definitions in the Text

Providing a clear signal phrase to introduce a definition quote.

In academic writing, it is crucial to provide a clear signal phrase in order to introduce a definition quote properly. This signal phrase is essential for indicating to the reader that a definition is about to be presented. It helps to create a smooth transition between the essay’s main text and the quote, ensuring clarity and understanding for the reader.

When introducing a definition quote, it is important to use words that clearly indicate that a definition is being provided. Examples of effective signal phrases for definition quotes include “According to”, “As defined by”, or “In the words of”. These phrases help to explicitly state that the following text is a definition.

Additionally, it is recommended to attribute the source of the definition within the signal phrase. This helps to establish the credibility of the source and gives proper credit to the original author or authority. For example, one could say “According to the Oxford English Dictionary, [quote definition here].”

Linking the quote to the main idea of the essay

When indicating definitions in the text, it is important to link the quote to the main idea or argument of the essay. This helps to maintain cohesiveness and relevance throughout the essay and ensures that the definition is not presented as an isolated piece of information.

To link the quote to the main idea, it is essential to provide context and explain how the definition supports or relates to the argument being made. This can be done by briefly summarizing the main idea before introducing the definition quote or by clearly stating the purpose of including the definition in relation to the essay’s thesis.

By linking the quote to the main idea, the writer can effectively present the definition as part of their argument and show its significance in supporting their claims.

In conclusion, indicating definitions in the text requires providing a clear signal phrase to introduce the quote and linking the definition to the main idea of the essay. These practices ensure that the quote is seamlessly integrated into the essay and contributes to the overall clarity and cohesiveness of the argument. By following these guidelines, writers can effectively use definition quotes in their essays to enhance their arguments and provide clarity to their readers.

Citation Styles for Definition Quotes

Understanding the preferred citation style for the essay (apa, mla, etc.).

When it comes to quoting definitions in an essay, it is crucial to understand and adhere to the preferred citation style of the essay. Different academic disciplines and institutions may have specific guidelines for citation styles, such as APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), Chicago, or Harvard. Familiarizing yourself with the required citation style is essential for proper attribution and avoiding plagiarism.

Each citation style has its own set of rules for formatting and documenting sources, including definition quotes. The preferred citation style should be determined by consulting the professor’s instructions or referencing the appropriate style guide. It is important to note that citation styles may vary in terms of in-text citations, reference lists, titles, punctuations, and the placement of quotation marks and parentheses.

Properly citing definition quotes according to the chosen style

Regardless of the citation style, there are general guidelines to follow when citing definition quotes in an essay:

1. Include the author or the title of the source: In some citation styles, the author’s name is mentioned before or after the definition quote. If no author is available, the title of the source or the organization responsible for it should be used.

2. Provide the year or date: Citing the year of publication is generally required in most citation styles. If the date is not available, use “n.d.” to indicate no date.

3. Use quotation marks: Enclose the definition quote within double quotation marks to indicate that it is a direct quote.

4. Include page numbers (if applicable): If the definition quote is taken from a specific page or range of pages, include the page number(s) in the citation.

5. Include an in-text citation: Depending on the chosen citation style, the in-text citation may be placed within parentheses after the quote or integrated into the sentence, with the author’s name and date, to acknowledge the source of the quote.

For example, in APA style, a definition quote from an online source would be cited as follows: (Author, Year, p. X). In MLA style, the citation may be formatted as: (Author X).

By following the appropriate citation style guidelines and properly documenting your definition quotes, you ensure academic integrity and provide readers with the necessary information to locate and verify your sources.

Overall, understanding and using the preferred citation style for definition quotes is essential for maintaining proper academic standards and avoiding plagiarism. Adhering to the citation style guidelines will enhance the clarity and credibility of the essay as a whole.

Maintaining Clarity in Definition Quotes

Avoiding ambiguity and vague language in definition quotes.

When incorporating definition quotes into an essay, it is crucial to ensure that the language used is clear and unambiguous. Ambiguity or vagueness can lead to confusion and misinterpretation of the intended meaning. To maintain clarity in definition quotes, consider the following tips:

1. Choose precise definitions: Select definitions that provide a concise and precise explanation of the term or concept you are discussing. Avoid using definitions that are overly broad or lack specificity, as they can lead to confusion.

2. Use reputable sources: Rely on reputable sources to obtain accurate and reliable definitions. Credible dictionaries, academic journals, and scholarly books are excellent sources for obtaining clear and well-defined explanations.

3. Verify the definition’s applicability: Ensure that the definition you are quoting accurately applies to the specific context of your essay. Sometimes, a definition may vary depending on the field of study or the particular angle you are exploring. Clarify any uncertainties or inconsistencies to align the definition with your argument.

Clarifying the meaning of the quoted definition within the essay’s context

When using a definition quote, it is essential to provide clarity by explaining its significance within the essay’s overall context. To achieve this, consider the following guidelines:

1. Provide a context: Before introducing the definition quote, establish the relevance and importance of the term being defined. Briefly explain why the definition is necessary to support your thesis or argument.

2. Interpret the definition: After quoting the definition, analyze and interpret it in relation to your essay’s thesis or argument. Discuss how the definition supports or challenges your ideas, providing insights and observations.

3. Offer examples or explanations: Include examples or explanations that illustrate how the definition applies in real-life situations or within the specific subject area you are discussing. This will help readers understand the practical implications of the quoted definition.

4. Connect to the main idea: Clearly link the quoted definition to the main idea or topic sentence of the paragraph in which it appears. This connection will reinforce the relevance of the definition and ensure that it contributes to the overall coherence of the essay.

By avoiding ambiguous language and providing clarity within the context of the essay, definition quotes can enhance the reader’s understanding of key terms and concepts. Remember to choose precise definitions and explain their significance, offering examples or explanations wherever necessary. Balancing clarity and conciseness will ensure that your definition quotes effectively reinforce your arguments while maintaining the coherence and flow of your essay.

Length of Definition Quotes

Determining the appropriate length of definition quotes based on their significance.

When incorporating definition quotes into an essay, it is crucial to consider the appropriate length for each quote. The length of a definition quote should be determined by its significance in supporting the essay’s main ideas or arguments.

Definition quotes that are essential to the overall understanding of the topic should be given more space and allowed to occupy a few sentences or even a whole paragraph. These longer quotes can provide a thorough explanation of complex terms or ideas and help the reader grasp the concept more effectively.

On the other hand, definition quotes that are less significant or serve a supporting role can be shorter and more succinct. These quotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary to reinforce a point or provide additional context. In such cases, a single sentence or a phrase may suffice.

Balancing between brief and lengthy quotes for clarity

Maintaining a balance between brief and lengthy definition quotes is crucial for clarity in an essay. While longer quotes can provide a comprehensive understanding of a term, they should not overwhelm the main body of the essay. The aim is to maintain a cohesive flow of ideas and avoid disrupting the overall structure.

To ensure clarity, it is advisable to use shorter quotes for commonly understood terms or those that do not require extensive explanation. This allows the writer to focus on more in-depth analysis and interpretation of the quote, rather than repeating information that is already understood.

Alternatively, lengthier quotes may be appropriate when introducing complex or technical terms that require detailed explanation or when presenting contrasting definitions to highlight a specific argument. However, it is essential to provide adequate analysis and commentary on these longer quotes to ensure their significance is fully justified within the context of the essay.

In summary, selecting the appropriate length of definition quotes should be based on the significance of the term or concept being defined. Striking a balance between brief and lengthy quotes helps maintain clarity and cohesion throughout the essay. By carefully considering the importance of each definition quote and its role within the essay’s overall structure, writers can effectively convey their arguments while providing clarity and understanding to their readers.

Altering Definition Quotes

Guidelines for altering definition quotes without distorting their meaning.

When incorporating definition quotes into an essay, there may be instances where it is necessary to alter the quote slightly. However, it is crucial to make these changes carefully so as not to distort the original meaning of the quote. Here are some guidelines to follow when altering definition quotes:

1. Maintain the Original Meaning: The primary goal when altering a definition quote is to preserve the original meaning as much as possible. Any changes made should be minimal and should not significantly change the author’s intended message.

2. Use Ellipses: If you need to omit certain parts of the definition quote that are not relevant to your essay or argument, use ellipses (…) to indicate the omission. Ensure that the omitted text does not alter the original meaning and that the remaining portion still makes sense in the context of your essay.

3. Add Clarification with Brackets: Sometimes, adding additional information or context can enhance the clarity of the definition. In such cases, use brackets [ ] to include the inserted words or phrases. This helps readers understand the altered quote within the broader context of your essay.

4. Maintain Proper Grammar: When altering a definition quote, ensure that the modified text adheres to the rules of grammar and punctuation. If necessary, make minor adjustments to maintain grammatical correctness while still preserving the original meaning.

5. Avoid Misrepresentation: It is crucial to avoid altering a definition quote in a way that misrepresents the author’s intended message or distorts the original meaning. Maintaining academic integrity and accurately representing the source’s ideas should always be a priority.

6. Provide an Explanation: After altering a definition quote, it is essential to provide an explanation or interpretation of why you made the changes. This helps readers understand your reasoning and ensures transparency in your use of the altered quote.

Using these guidelines, you can alter definition quotes effectively while maintaining clarity and accuracy within your essay.

Using ellipses and brackets to make changes when necessary

Ellipses (…) and brackets [ ] are valuable tools when altering definition quotes. Ellipses are used to indicate omissions within a quote, and brackets are used to insert additional information or clarification. Here’s how to use them effectively:

1. Ellipses: Use ellipses when you need to remove portions of a definition quote that are not relevant to your essay. Ensure that the omitted text does not alter the original meaning or context. Place three spaced periods (…) between the remaining words to indicate the omission. For example, “According to Smith, ‘a friend is…someone who is always there for you.'”

2. Brackets: Brackets are used when you need to add or alter specific words in a definition quote to provide further clarity or context. This is especially useful if the original definition is too generalized or vague. Place the added or modified text within brackets [ ] to differentiate it from the original quote. For example, “Smith’s definition of friendship is ‘a [true] friend is always there for you.'”

By understanding how to use ellipses and brackets appropriately, you can modify definition quotes effectively and ensure that they align with the context and purpose of your essay.

RecommendedAnalyzing Definition Quotes

Analyzing definition quotes, providing analysis and interpretation of definition quotes in the essay.

Analyzing definition quotes is a crucial aspect of using them effectively in an essay. Merely presenting a definition quote without further examination can make it seem like a random inclusion, lacking relevance to the essay’s main argument or thesis. To avoid this, it is important to analyze and interpret definition quotes, connecting them to the broader context of the essay.

When analyzing a definition quote, it is essential to consider its significance in relation to the essay’s topic. Ask yourself how the quote supports or challenges the arguments being made. Is it reinforcing a point or introducing a contrasting perspective? Analyzing the definition quote will help demonstrate its relevance and show the reader how it contributes to the overall argumentation.

Furthermore, it is important to consider the source of the definition quote. Is it from a well-known and respected expert in the field, or is it from an obscure and unreliable source? This evaluation of the source’s credibility will impact the strength of the analysis. A definition quote from a reputable source lends more weight to the essay’s argument, while a quote from an unreliable source may undermine its credibility.

Relating definition quotes to the essay’s thesis or argument

To effectively use definition quotes, they must be connected to the essay’s thesis or argument. The analysis should highlight the relationship between the definition quote and the main themes and ideas discussed throughout the essay.

One approach to relating definition quotes to the thesis or argument is to evaluate how the definition aligns with or challenges the main claims being made. Does it provide evidence that supports the thesis statement, or does it present a contrasting perspective that needs to be addressed and refuted? By linking definition quotes to the essay’s central argument, the writer can reinforce their position and strengthen the overall impact of the essay.

Additionally, it is important to consider the tone and language used in the definition quote. Does it reflect the tone of the essay? Is it consistent with the writer’s voice and style? Integrating a definition quote seamlessly into the essay’s text will enhance its clarity and engage the reader.

In conclusion, analyzing and interpreting definition quotes is pivotal to their effective use in an essay. By providing analysis, the writer can demonstrate the relevance and significance of the quote, connecting it to the broader argument being made. Relating definition quotes to the essay’s thesis or argument further strengthens their impact. By incorporating this analysis, writers can ensure that their definition quotes not only provide clarity and understanding, but also contribute to the overall strength and persuasiveness of their essays.

In conclusion, the proper use of definition quotes is crucial in academic writing to enhance clarity and provide support for arguments. Throughout this article, we have explored various aspects of quoting definitions in an essay and provided expert tips for their proper use.

Recap of the importance of properly using and clarifying definition quotes

Using definition quotes in an essay is important for several reasons. Firstly, definitions serve as a central element in academic writing, helping to provide a clear understanding of key terms and concepts. They also add credibility to arguments by referencing established sources. Properly using and clarifying these quotes ensures that their meaning is effectively conveyed to the reader, reducing ambiguity and promoting a deeper understanding of the topic.

Final tips for effectively quoting definitions in an essay

To ensure proper use and clarity when quoting definitions, it is essential to follow these final tips. Firstly, evaluate the reliability of your sources and choose reputable ones to support your arguments. Additionally, consider the preferred citation style for your essay, whether it be APA, MLA, or another format, and adhere to it when citing definition quotes. Maintaining clarity in definition quotes means avoiding ambiguity and providing adequate context within the essay to help readers understand the intended meaning.

Moreover, it is crucial to strike a balance between the length of definition quotes. While some quotes may require lengthier explanations, others can be kept brief, ensuring clarity and conciseness in the essay. If alterations need to be made to the definition quotes, use ellipses or brackets while preserving the original meaning. Finally, analyze and interpret the quoted definitions, relating them back to the essay’s thesis or argument to strengthen and validate your points.

By following these expert tips on how to quote definitions in an essay, writers can effectively enhance the quality and clarity of their academic work. Mastering the proper use and citation of definition quotes will not only impress professors and readers but also strengthen the overall argument and demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.

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How to Cite a Dictionary Meaning in MLA

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 80,636 times.

Citing a dictionary definition is a little different than referencing an authored book, but it’s easy to get the hang of. An MLA citation shows the reader exactly where to find the source you accessed, so you’ll need to provide specific information about the entry. Include an in-text citation in parentheses right after the sentence that referenced the term. On your works cited page, list the term, the dictionary's title, its edition, its date of publication, and the page number. For an online dictionary, include the URL and the date you accessed the site.

Making a Parenthetical Citation

• A basic parenthetical citation would be: (“Onomatopoeia”). Instead of placing the period after sentence, add it after the citation, like this: Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates or suggests the sound it describes (“Onomatopoeia”).

• For example, your in-text citation would look like this: (“Turn,” def. V. 2a). Note the “V.” stands for verb; use “Adj.” for adjectives and “N.” for nouns.
• Write the part of speech and definition number as it appears in the dictionary. A dictionary might organize entries with numbers and letters (such as 1a) or with numbers alone (such as 1.2).
• If the word has multiple entries but only a single part of speech, just include the entry number: (“Wonderful,” def. 2).

• An example would be: (“Emoticon,” [Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary]).
• Suppose your paper references the definition of “Emoticon” in both Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary and the Oxford English Dictionary . If your in-text citations were just (“Emoticon”) or (“Emoticon,” N.), the reader wouldn’t know which dictionary you were referencing.

Citing a Print Dictionary

• If you specified the part of speech and definition number, include them in your works cited entry: “Content,” def. N. 1c. [5] X Research source
• Since there’s no known author, use the first letter of the term when you alphabetize your works cited page. For instance, you’d list “Content” after an entry authored by “Butler, J.” and before one authored by “Darwin, C.”

• At this point, your entry would look like this: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary ,

• Now your entry would read: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed.,

• Add the date like this: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., 2003,

• Your finished entry would read: “Content,” def. N. 1c. Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary , 11th ed., 2003, p. 269.
• If your definition happens to appear on 2 pages, write “pp. 269-270.”

Citing an Online Dictionary

• The first part works cited entry for an online dictionary looks the same as a citation for printed source: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary ,

• Your entry at this point would read: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary , 2018,

• Add the URL like this: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary , 2018, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/content.

• Your completed entry would read: “Content,” def. N. 1.1. Oxford English Dictionary , 2018, en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/content. Accessed 23 September 2018.

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• Learn more about MLA style at https://style.mla.org . Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://style.mla.org/term-with-numbered-definitions/
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/distinguishing-dictionary-entries/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_page_books.html
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/when-citing-a-print-dictionary-in-mla-style-do-i-include-a-page-number/
• ↑ https://www.merriam-webster.com/help/citing-the-dictionary
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_works_cited_electronic_sources.html
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_and_style_guide.html?_ga=2.19623804.558179429.1522454400-1709346682.1522454400

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The Essence of Heroism: a Definition Explored

This essay about the multifaceted nature of heroism, explores the complexities of defining what it means to be a hero. It highlights that heroes are not solely defined by their actions but also by their motivations and impact. The essay emphasizes that heroism transcends time and culture, manifesting in various forms from ancient myths to modern-day acts of courage and selflessness. It concludes by stressing the importance of recognizing heroism in everyday life and aspiring to embody its virtues, ultimately celebrating the indomitable spirit of human resilience and compassion.

How it works

In the annals of human history and the narratives that shape our cultures, the concept of heroism stands as a timeless beacon, revered and celebrated across epochs and civilizations. Yet, defining what constitutes a hero is a task that eludes simple categorization. It transcends the boundaries of language, culture, and time, embodying a multifaceted essence that is as elusive as it is compelling.

At its core, a hero is an individual who rises above the ordinary to perform extraordinary acts of courage, selflessness, and virtue.

However, this definition merely scratches the surface of the complex tapestry that is heroism. Heroes are not solely defined by their deeds but by the motivations that drive them and the impact they have on the world around them.

One of the defining characteristics of a hero is their unwavering commitment to a cause greater than themselves. Whether it be fighting injustice, defending the weak, or sacrificing personal comfort for the betterment of others, heroes embody a sense of purpose that transcends their individual desires. This sense of duty often compels them to confront adversity head-on, displaying a resilience and fortitude that inspires those around them.

Furthermore, heroes are not confined to the realms of myth and legend; they walk among us in the guise of ordinary individuals thrust into extraordinary circumstances. From the first responders who rush into danger to save lives, to the activists who challenge the status quo in pursuit of social justice, heroism takes on many forms in the modern world. It is not defined by grand gestures alone but by the everyday acts of kindness, compassion, and empathy that shape the fabric of our society.

Moreover, heroism is not static but evolves in response to the challenges and complexities of the world around us. While the archetypal hero of ancient mythology may wield a sword and shield, today’s heroes harness the power of technology, innovation, and social change to make their mark on the world. They embody the spirit of progress and resilience, adapting to new challenges with creativity and determination.

In conclusion, the essence of heroism defies easy definition, encompassing a rich tapestry of virtues, motivations, and actions. From the legendary figures of myth and folklore to the unsung heroes of everyday life, heroes inspire us to aspire to greatness and remind us of the boundless potential of the human spirit. As we navigate the complexities of the modern world, let us strive to cultivate the qualities of heroism within ourselves and recognize the heroes among us who embody the very best of what it means to be human.

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Steve Albini, Studio Master of ’90s Rock and Beyond, Dies at 61

A musician and audio engineer, he helped define the sound of alternative rock while becoming an outspoken critic of the music industry.

By Ben Sisario

Steve Albini, a rock musician and revered studio engineer who played a singular role in the development of the sound of alternative music in the 1980s, ’90s and beyond — recording acclaimed albums by Nirvana, PJ Harvey and Pixies, along with hundreds of others — while becoming an outspoken critic of the music industry, died on Tuesday at his home in Chicago. He was 61.

The cause was a heart attack, said Taylor Hales of Electrical Audio, the Chicago studio that Mr. Albini founded in 1997.

With a sharp vision for how a band should be recorded — as raw as possible — and an even sharper tongue for anything he deemed mediocre or compromised, Mr. Albini was a visionary in the studio and one of rock’s most acerbic wits.

On his own, he led the bands Big Black and Shellac, both of which venerated loud, abrasive guitars and snarling vocals. In those groups, and in virtually every project he worked on, Mr. Albini clung to punk’s defiant do-it-yourself ethic with an almost religious tenacity.

He also long maintained an impish zeal to provoke and offend. Big Black’s last, most acclaimed album, from 1987, has a typically unprintable title, and he once dismissed Nirvana — the group that later hired him to record the album “In Utero” (1993), at the peak of their fame — as nothing but “R.E.M. with a fuzzbox.”

A withering and prolific critic of the music business’s exploitive extremes, Mr. Albini wrote a widely quoted 1993 article, “ The Problem With Music ,” describing in clinical detail how naïve bands are lured into major-label deals that, in most cases, leave them broke and in debt.

In that article, which was published in The Baffler, Mr. Albini laid out a hypothetical ledger for a rock group that had signed a $250,000 record deal, but whose work, according to his math, netted the label $710,000 and the producer $90,000 — and just $4,031.25 for each member.

“The band members have each earned about ⅓ as much as they would working at a 7-Eleven,” Mr. Albini wrote, “but they got to ride in a tour bus for a month.”

However, in the 1990s, when his work as a recording engineer — he scoffed at being called a producer, thinking that term implied control over an artist’s work — was in highest demand, Mr. Albini made no apology for accepting big checks for recording major-label acts.

His recording approach, for underground bands like the Jesus Lizard and Slint, captured their muscular power with clarity, and brought out a drum sound you could feel in your gut.

Those bands also worked with Mr. Albini at their own risk; in those days, he was known for ridiculing the bands he recorded after the fact.

“Never have I seen four cows more anxious to be led around by their nose rings,” he wrote after recording “Surfer Rosa,” the seminal 1988 album by the Boston-based quartet Pixies, which became one of the defining classics of 1980s alt-rock. (Even so, Mr. Albini remained a close friend of Kim Deal, the bassist in that band, and recorded her other project, the Breeders.)

But to those who followed Mr. Albini closely, he was far more than a two-dimensional character. He became a champion poker player — winning more than $196,000 at the World Series of Poker in 2022 — and embraced social media, answering questions at great length and often with eye-opening honesty.

In recent years he also surprised many of his followers and detractors alike by revisiting his often-obnoxious past persona with a sense of contrition.

“A lot of things I said and did from an ignorant position of comfort and privilege are clearly awful and I regret them,” he wrote on Twitter , the platform now called X, in 2021.

Steve Albini was born in Pasadena, Calif., on July 22, 1962, and grew up in Missoula, Mont., where his father, Frank, worked as a wildfire research scientist.

He has described his young life in Montana as unremarkable until, as a teenager, he heard the Ramones’ first album, a blueprint of punk rock that was released in 1976. Its aggression, simplicity and puerile sense of humor opened up a new world for him.

“It was the first time I felt like there was any part of culture that represented the irreverence and goofiness and kind of mania that my friends and I were displaying,” Mr. Albini told The Guardian in an interview last year.

He enrolled at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., near Chicago, and began to develop his approach as a provocateur and a self-reliant musician. As an art project, he once stood behind a pane of plexiglass and taunted the audience to throw whatever they wanted at the barrier.

While at Northwestern, he recorded the first Big Black EP, “Lungs” (1982), almost entirely by himself on a borrowed reel-to-reel tape machine. It had cold, echoey, synthetic rhythms, and it sketched out a dark, nihilistic worldview in its opening lines: “The only good policeman is a dead one/The only good laws aren’t enforced.”

Big Black soon became a full band — though it continued to use drum machines — and the group’s output came to define a particularly raw form of the post-punk vanguard. At its best, on songs like “Kerosene” and “Jordan, Minnesota,” the band presented a nightmarish view of America, populated by arsonists, killers and child abusers, set to an impossibly intense, screeching soundtrack.

At the same time, Mr. Albini made a name for himself as a splenetic commentator on music. His written work, published in various fanzines, could seem like a form of insult comedy. He dismissed the Replacements’ beloved 1984 album, “Let It Be,” for example, as “a sad, pathetic end to a long downhill slide.”

In the late 1980s, he reached perhaps the height of his provocation with a new band he called Rapeman; the name, he said, was borrowed from a Japanese comic book, though he never denied it was meant to goad the audience. At some shows, the band faced protests. “The really annoying thing,” he once said, “was that the majority of the people on the picket line were precisely the kind of people that we would have liked at the gig.”

After making “Surfer Rosa,” which brought Pixies to wide attention, Mr. Albini became an in-demand producer for underground acts like Boss Hog, Superchunk and Urge Overkill. He recorded PJ Harvey’s “Rid of Me” (1993) with serrated guitars and — unorthodox for a major album — vocals set notably low in the mix.

He was soon courted by Nirvana for its follow-up to “Nevermind,” the album that became a global smash and ignited a revolution in the music business. Before agreeing to work with the group, he sent its three members a letter giving advice and laying out his terms.

“Bang out a record in a couple of days, with high quality but minimal ‘production,’” he wrote, “and no interference from the front office bulletheads.” He also told them, “I would like to be paid like a plumber” — meaning that he wanted a flat fee and not “points,” or a percentage of sales, a common practice among top record producers that Mr. Albini disdained as unethical.

But when the album was completed, the band’s record label, DGC, pushed for changes, and several of its tracks were remixed by Scott Litt, who had worked with R.E.M. “They waged a publicity campaign to try to shame the band into doing the record again,” Mr. Albini once told Tape Op , a magazine about audio recording.

He said his reputation had been damaged by the incident, though it was resuscitated when Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin recruited him for their 1998 album, “Walking Into Clarksdale.”

Since then, he had continued to work as an engineer and producer for countless bands, often at Electrical Audio, his studio; in a 2018 interview , he estimated that he had recorded “probably a couple thousand” albums to that point. Among the most acclaimed of them are records by Joanna Newsom, Nina Nastasia, Neurosis and Will Oldham.

His survivors include his wife, the filmmaker Heather Whinna, and his mother, Gina. Complete information on survivors was not immediately available.

When asked by The Guardian last year how he would like his career to be seen if he were to retire then, Mr. Albini answered: “I’m doing it, and that’s what matters to me — the fact that I get to keep doing it. That’s the whole basis of it. I was doing it yesterday, and I’m gonna do it tomorrow, and I’m gonna carry on doing it.”

He added, with an expletive, that he didn’t care.

Ben Sisario covers the music industry. He has been writing for The Times since 1998. More about Ben Sisario