Ever stumble upon the perfect phrase, the exact words that capture your idea with unparalleled precision? We all have. Whether you're writing a research paper, a blog post, or even a social media update, effectively using quotations can add authority, depth, and nuance to your communication. However, improperly quoted material can weaken your argument, damage your credibility, and even lead to accusations of plagiarism. Mastering the art of quoting accurately and ethically is a critical skill for anyone who wants to communicate clearly and convincingly.
The ability to seamlessly integrate quotations into your writing is essential for academic integrity and effective communication. Using quotes demonstrates that you've consulted credible sources, understood their arguments, and can synthesize them with your own thoughts. It allows you to build upon existing knowledge, support your claims with evidence, and engage in meaningful intellectual conversations. Knowing the rules and best practices for quoting ensures that you are giving proper credit where it's due, while also enhancing the overall quality and impact of your writing.
What are the most common questions about quoting sources?
When quoting a quote, how do I handle the punctuation?
When quoting a quote, maintain the original punctuation within the inner quotation marks. The placement of the outer quotation marks' punctuation depends on whether the quoted material is a full sentence or a fragment, and on the grammatical function of the quote within your own sentence. Place periods and commas inside the outer quotation marks for complete sentences, but place colons and semicolons outside. Question marks and exclamation points go inside if they are part of the quoted material and outside if they apply to the entire sentence.
When dealing with a quote within a quote, you'll use single quotation marks to denote the inner quote. For example: Professor Hill stated, "The student argued, 'But the data contradicts your hypothesis!'" Here, the student's direct words are enclosed in single quotation marks within Professor Hill's quote, which is enclosed in double quotation marks. It is crucial to ensure that all punctuation originally present in each level of the quote is preserved within its respective set of quotation marks. The placement of end punctuation relative to the outer (double) quotation marks is governed by standard American English usage. If the entire quoted sentence is integrated into your own sentence and requires punctuation such as a comma or period for grammatical correctness, that punctuation goes inside the closing quotation mark. However, if the quoted material requires a question mark or exclamation point because *it* is a question or exclamation, that punctuation goes inside, regardless of the surrounding sentence structure. If *your* sentence asks a question about the quoted material, the question mark goes outside.What's the correct way to cite the original source when quoting a quote?
The correct way to cite the original source when quoting a quote is to attribute the words to the original speaker and then cite the source *where you found the quote*, not necessarily the original source the speaker used. This involves using "quoted in" or "cited in" to indicate that you encountered the quote within another author's work.
When you come across a compelling quote within a secondary source (like a book or article), and you want to use that quote in your own work, you need to acknowledge both the original speaker/writer and the source where you actually *found* the quote. This is because you haven't independently verified the original source; you're relying on the secondary source's accuracy. Using "quoted in" clarifies this and gives credit where it's due. For example: As Albert Einstein famously said, "The important thing is not to stop questioning" (quoted in Hawking, 2001, p. 5). Properly attributing the quote this way avoids plagiarism and demonstrates academic honesty. It also allows your readers to easily locate the source you consulted, should they wish to examine the context surrounding the quote. Always include the full citation of the secondary source (Hawking, in the example above) in your bibliography or works cited list, providing complete details such as author, publication year, title, and page number.How does the length of the quoted quote affect the formatting?
The length of a quoted quote directly impacts the formatting. Short quotes (typically under four lines of prose or three lines of verse) are incorporated directly into the text using quotation marks, while longer quotes are typically set off in a block quote, indented from the main text without quotation marks.
Using quotation marks for short quotes maintains the flow of the writing and integrates the source material seamlessly. The quotation marks signal that the enclosed words are not the writer's own. This method is preferred when the quote is a succinct and relevant excerpt that directly supports the argument or adds emphasis. Conversely, longer quotes are formatted as block quotes to visually distinguish them from the writer’s own text. This formatting choice signals to the reader that an extended passage from another source is being presented, allowing for more in-depth analysis or commentary.
Block quotes, also sometimes referred to as extracts or excerpts, remove the need for excessive quotation marks and make it easier to read and digest the longer passage. Different style guides (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) may have specific requirements for the indentation, font size, and spacing of block quotes. For instance, some styles may require the block quote to be single-spaced, while the surrounding text is double-spaced. Always consult the relevant style guide to ensure proper formatting based on the length of the quoted material. Ignoring these formatting conventions can lead to confusion and can undermine the credibility of your writing.
What's the difference between single and double quotation marks when quoting a quote?
When quoting a quote, you use double quotation marks to enclose the main quote and single quotation marks to enclose the quote *within* that quote. This nesting distinguishes the original speaker's words within your own quotation.
Think of it like this: the double quotation marks are the outermost layer, indicating that you, the writer, are borrowing someone else's words. Inside those double quotation marks, if the person you are quoting *also* used quotation marks, you switch to single quotation marks to show that those are the original speaker's *own* direct words. This visual distinction helps readers understand the levels of attribution and who said what.
For example, imagine someone said, "The professor emphasized, 'Accuracy is paramount in research.'" If you were to write this in your own text, you would write: "According to John, 'The professor emphasized, \'Accuracy is paramount in research.\''" Here, the double quotes signal the beginning and end of John's statement. The single quotes within John's statement, surround the professor's exact words.
If I need to change a word in the original quoted quote, how do I indicate that?
When you need to alter a word within a quoted passage to maintain grammatical correctness or clarity in your own writing, you should use square brackets to enclose the altered word. This signals to the reader that the change was not present in the original source and was implemented by you for stylistic or grammatical purposes.
Square brackets serve as a visual cue that you are making a deliberate alteration to the original text. This is crucial for maintaining academic honesty and accurately representing the source material. Without this indication, the reader might assume the altered word was part of the original quote, which could misrepresent the author's intended meaning. For example, imagine the original quote is: "The dog wagged its tail excitedly." If you need to fit this into a sentence like, "The researcher noted that the dogs "[dog's]" tail wagged excitedly," you would use brackets to alter 'dog' to 'dog's' to fit your grammar. Another common scenario where brackets are necessary is when replacing a pronoun with the proper noun it refers to. This helps avoid ambiguity, especially if the quote is taken out of its original context. Furthermore, if the original quote contains a typo or grammatical error, you can insert "[*sic*]" immediately after the error to indicate that the error was present in the original and not a mistake on your part. This prevents you from being perceived as the one making the mistake while still accurately presenting the quote.How do I format a quoted quote that spans multiple paragraphs?
When quoting a source across multiple paragraphs, use block quotes, indenting the entire passage and omitting quotation marks at the beginning and end of each paragraph. Introduce the quote with a colon and cite the source appropriately at the end, usually after the final paragraph of the block quote.
The standard way to format a long quotation spanning multiple paragraphs is to use a block quotation. This visually separates the quoted material from your own writing, making it clear that you are presenting someone else's words. Indentation is crucial; it should be consistent throughout the entire quoted section. In academic writing, the indentation is typically half an inch from the left margin.
Do *not* place quotation marks at the beginning of each paragraph within the block quote. Only the surrounding text that introduces or comments on the block quote requires quotation marks, if any. The citation typically follows the final paragraph of the quoted material, often placed in parentheses after the final period. This ensures that the reader knows the precise origin of the entire extended quotation.
Is there a different rule for quoting a quote in different citation styles (MLA, APA, Chicago)?
Yes, the rules for quoting a quote, also known as an indirect quotation or a secondary source quotation, differ slightly between MLA, APA, and Chicago citation styles, primarily concerning how to attribute both the original source and the source where you found the quote.
While all three styles require acknowledging that you're quoting someone else's quotation, they handle the specifics differently. MLA generally favors brevity. You would typically introduce the original speaker, then indicate where you found the quote. APA is more rigid, requiring "as cited in" within the parenthetical citation to clearly indicate the secondary source. Chicago provides the most flexibility, allowing for footnotes or endnotes to detail the full citation of both the original source and the secondary source. The core difference lies in how directly and prominently the secondary source (the one you actually consulted) is acknowledged within the text or citation.
Here’s a simplified example illustrating the core difference (assuming you found a quote by Albert Einstein in a book by Walter Isaacson):
- **MLA:** Einstein argued that "imagination is more important than knowledge" (qtd. in Isaacson 45).
- **APA:** "Imagination is more important than knowledge" (Einstein, as cited in Isaacson, 2007, p. 45).
- **Chicago (Note):** 1. Albert Einstein, quoted in Walter Isaacson, *Einstein: His Life and Universe* (New York: Simon & Schuster, 2007), 45.
Each style prioritizes slightly different aspects of source attribution. MLA emphasizes a smooth reading experience, APA emphasizes clarity and directness in its source indication and Chicago offers a more elaborate means of source citation with footnotes or endnotes, allowing for comprehensive citation information without disrupting the flow of the main text.
And that's the long and short of quoting quotes! Hopefully, this has cleared things up and you're ready to tackle any nested quote situation. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you back here soon for more writing tips and tricks!