How to Quote in an Essay
Overview
To quote in an essay, use the sandwich method: introduce the quote with a signal phrase, insert the exact words in quotation marks with a citation, then explain what the quote means for your argument. Short quotes go inline; quotes over 4 lines (MLA) or 40 words (APA) become indented block quotes.
Short Quotes: Inline Integration
Short quotes blend directly into your sentence. Wrap the borrowed words in double quotation marks and follow them with a parenthetical citation.
Signal phrase + quote:
As Orwell argues, "Political language is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable" (156).
Blended quote:
Orwell claims that political rhetoric exists to make "lies sound truthful and murder respectable" (156).
Both approaches are correct. The blended version is often smoother because the quote finishes a grammatical structure you started. Whichever you choose, the sentence must read as grammatically complete if you removed the quotation marks.
Block Quotes: When and How
Block quotes are reserved for longer passages that merit extended attention. The thresholds differ by style:
| Style | Block quote threshold |
|-------|----------------------|
| MLA | 4+ lines of prose, 3+ lines of poetry |
| APA | 40+ words |
| Chicago | 100+ words or 2+ paragraphs |
Formatting rules:
- Start the block quote on a new line, indented 0.5 inches from the left margin
- Do not use quotation marks around the passage
- Keep double spacing
- Place the parenthetical citation after the closing period
Use block quotes sparingly. If you are quoting more than once per page, you are likely over-relying on source material.
The Sandwich Method: Introduce, Quote, Explain
Every quote needs three layers:
- Introduce - Give the reader context. Who is speaking? Why does this source matter?
- Quote - Present the exact language with correct formatting and citation.
- Explain - Analyze the quote. Connect it to your thesis or the paragraph's main idea.
Example (complete sandwich):
Historian Eric Foner highlights the lasting impact of Reconstruction on American democracy. He writes, "The laws and amendments of Reconstruction reflected a radical new vision of the national state" (Foner 124). This "radical new vision" laid the legal groundwork for civil rights legislation a century later, demonstrating that the period was far from the failure it is often called.
Without the explanation layer, quotes float without purpose. Without the introduction, they appear out of nowhere.
Punctuation Rules by Citation Style
Period placement is the most common quoting error. The rules differ between MLA and APA.
MLA (author page):
- Inline: "quoted text" (Author Page).
- The period follows the parenthetical citation.
- Block quote: the period comes before the citation.
APA (author, year, page):
- Inline: "quoted text" (Author, Year, p. Page).
- Same rule: period after the citation for inline quotes.
- Block quote: period before the citation.
Commas and colons before quotes:
- Use a comma after a signal phrase: According to Smith, "..."
- Use a colon when the introduction is a complete sentence: Smith makes the point directly: "..."
When to Quote vs. When to Paraphrase
Quote when:
- The original wording is distinctive, memorable, or technically precise
- You plan to analyze the specific language
- The source is a primary text you are interpreting (a novel, speech, or legal document)
Paraphrase when:
- You need the idea but not the exact words
- The original is overly technical or dense for your audience
- You want to maintain your voice throughout a paragraph
As a guideline, paraphrasing should make up the bulk of your source use. Direct quotes are strategic punctuation marks in your argument, not the argument itself.
Common Quoting Mistakes
Dropped quotes: Inserting a quote with no introduction or follow-up. The reader has no idea why it is there.
Over-quoting: Stringing multiple quotes back to back. Your essay should be your argument, supported by evidence, not a patchwork of other people's words.
Misplaced periods: Putting the period inside the quotation marks before the parenthetical citation. In both MLA and APA, the period follows the citation for inline quotes.
Altering meaning: Cutting words from a quote in a way that changes the author's original intent. Always use ellipses to mark omissions and brackets for insertions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use a block quote when the passage exceeds 4 lines of prose in MLA or 40 words in APA. Block quotes are indented 0.5 inches from the left margin, have no quotation marks, and place the citation after the closing period.
In MLA, the period goes after the parenthetical citation, not inside the quotation marks. For example: "the world changed" (Smith 17). For block quotes, the period goes before the parenthetical citation.
There is no fixed number, but a strong rule of thumb is no more than 10-15% of your essay should be direct quotation. Your own analysis and argument should make up the vast majority of the writing.
Yes, but you must signal the change. Use square brackets to alter or add words for clarity: "They [the colonists] resisted." Use an ellipsis (...) to omit words, but never in a way that changes the original meaning.
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