How to Quote – Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

Quoting involves directly copying a portion of text from another source and attributing it to the original author. When quoting, it’s crucial to:

1. Enclose the quoted text in quotation marks or present it as a block quote, depending on its length
2. Properly credit the original author through in-text citations and a reference list entry
3. Ensure the quoted text is identical to the original, without any alterations

The specific format for quoting varies based on the citation style you are using (APA, MLA, or Chicago) and the length of the quoted passage. Accurate quoting and citing are crucial to avoid plagiarism, which can be easily detected using reliable plagiarism detection tools.

How to cite a quote in APA, MLA and Chicago

Properly citing a quote is crucial to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author. The format of the citation varies depending on the style guide you are using. Here’s how to cite quotes in APA, MLA, and Chicago styles:

Citing a quote in APA Style

In APA style, when quoting directly from a source, include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number (or paragraph number for web sources) in the in-text citation. APA in-text citations can take two forms: parenthetical or narrative. 

Parenthetical citations include all the necessary information within parentheses after the quote, while narrative citations integrate the author’s name into the sentence, followed by the year, and place the page number after the quote.

When using quotation marks, ensure that punctuation marks such as periods and commas are placed outside the closing quotation mark, not within it. The citation itself comes after the punctuation.

Examples: APA in-text citation

1. “The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success” (Nichols, 2009, p. 15).
2. Nichols (2009) emphasizes that “the art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success” (p. 15).
3. “In a world that is constantly changing, it is to our advantage to learn how to adapt and enjoy something better,” argues Tracy (2011, p. 37).
4. According to Tracy (2011), “In a world that is constantly changing, it is to our advantage to learn how to adapt and enjoy something better” (p. 37).

Citing a quote in MLA style

In MLA style, when quoting directly from a source, include the author’s last name and the page number in the in-text citation. The citation can be parenthetical or narrative. Place the period or other punctuation after the citation.

Examples: MLA in-text citation

1. “The art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success” (Nichols 15).
2. According to Nichols, “the art of effective listening is essential to clear communication, and clear communication is necessary to management success” (15).
3. “In a world that is constantly changing, it is to our advantage to learn how to adapt and enjoy something better” (Tracy 37).
4. Tracy argues that “in a world that is constantly changing, it is to our advantage to learn how to adapt and enjoy something better” (37).

Citing a quote in Chicago style

In Chicago style, sources are cited using footnotes or endnotes. A superscript number is placed directly after the quote, and a corresponding note at the bottom of the page or end of the document provides the author, title, and page number, along with other relevant information.

Contrary to parenthetical citation styles, in Chicago style, the period or other punctuation mark should be placed within the quotation marks, and the footnote number follows the closing punctuation.

Example: Chicago footnote citation

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”¹

---

Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (London: Chapman & Hall, 1859), 1.

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Introducing quotes

To smoothly incorporate quotes into your writing, it’s important to introduce them in your own words, providing context and explaining their relevance to your argument. Avoid presenting quotes as standalone sentences without any introduction.

Example: Quote not properly introduced

“The study found that 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated to exercise when they had a workout partner” (Johnson, 2021, p. 45).

To introduce quotes correctly and grammatically, you can employ one of three main strategies:

1. Provide an introductory sentence before the quote
2. Use a signal phrase to lead into the quote
3. Integrate the quote seamlessly into your own sentence structure

Although the following examples demonstrate APA Style citations, these strategies apply to all citation styles.

Introductory sentence

One way to introduce a quote is by preceding it with a complete sentence that provides context and ends with a colon. However, if the text before the quote is not a full sentence, refrain from using a colon.

When mentioning the author in your introductory sentence, you can use present-tense verbs to characterize the content of the quote.

Example

• Wrong: According to recent research on exercise motivation: “The study found that 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated to exercise when they had a workout partner” (Johnson, 2021, p. 45).
• Correct: A new study reveals that social support is crucial in encouraging physical activity: “The study found that 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated to exercise when they had a workout partner” (Johnson, 2021, p. 45).
• Correct: Johnson (2021) reports that having a workout partner significantly impacts exercise motivation: “The study found that 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated to exercise when they had a workout partner” (p. 45).

Introductory signal phrase

Another option for introducing a quote is to use a signal phrase that refers to the author or source but does not constitute a complete sentence on its own. When using this approach, place a comma after the signal phrase instead of a colon.

Example

• Correct: According to the study, “The study found that 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated to exercise when they had a workout partner” (Johnson, 2021, p. 45).
• Correct: As Johnson (2021) reports, “The study found that 78% of participants reported feeling more motivated to exercise when they had a workout partner” (p. 45).

Integrated into your own sentence

When quoting a phrase that is not a complete sentence, you can smoothly incorporate it into your own sentence structure without the need for additional punctuation.

Example

• Correct: A recent study suggests that having a workout partner “significantly impacts exercise motivation” among participants (Johnson, 2021, p. 45).
• Correct: Johnson (2021) reports that having a workout partner “significantly impacts exercise motivation” among participants (p. 45).

Quotes within quotes

Nested quotations, also known as quotes within quotes, occur when you quote a passage that includes another quotation. This scenario often arises when quoting dialogue from a novel or other literary work.

To differentiate the nested quote from the surrounding text, enclose it in single quotation marks instead of double quotation marks, even if this requires altering the original punctuation. Be careful to close the single and double quotation marks at the appropriate points.

It’s important to note that if you are only quoting the nested quotation and not the surrounding text, you can simply use double quotation marks without requiring single quotation marks.

Examples: Punctuation mistakes with nested quotations

In her study on patient-provider communication, Dr. Smith notes: “”When asked about their experience, one patient stated, ‘I felt like the doctor wasn’t really listening to me,’ highlighting the importance of active listening skills in healthcare”” (Smith 45).

The researchers found that “”Participants expressed frustration with the lack of clarity in the instructions, with one stating, ‘I couldn’t understand what I was supposed to do next,’ emphasizing the need for clear communication in health interventions”” (Johnson et al. 287).

Examples: Correctly formatted nested quotations

Dr. Johnson emphasizes the importance of patient-centered care, stating: “‘The patient should always be at the center of our decision-making process,’ she explained, ‘and we must strive to understand their unique needs and preferences'” (Johnson 23).

The researchers found that “participants valued the opportunity to share their experiences, with one stating, ‘I felt heard and understood for the first time in a long time'” (Patel and Gupta 67).

Shortening or altering a quote

When integrating quotes into your writing, it is often necessary to make adjustments to the original text to ensure a seamless fit within your own work. These changes are acceptable as long as you clearly indicate any modifications made to the quoted material.

Shortening a quote

When a quote is too long or contains irrelevant information, you can shorten it by omitting words, phrases, or sentences. To indicate that you have removed material from the original quote, use an ellipsis (…) in place of the omitted text.

Example: Shortening a quote

“The study found that patients who received the intervention showed significant improvements in their symptoms, … suggesting that the intervention may be an effective treatment option for individuals with chronic pain” (Johnson et al. 245).

Altering a quote

Sometimes, you may need to alter a quote slightly to ensure it fits grammatically within your own sentence structure or to clarify the meaning. When making such changes, use square brackets [ ] to indicate any words you have added or changed.

Example: Adding words to a quote

“The participants reported a significant reduction in [their] anxiety levels after completing the mindfulness program” (Smith 78).

If the original quote contains a mistake, such as a spelling or grammatical error, you can include the Latin word “sic” in square brackets immediately after the error to indicate that it appears in the original source.

Example: Marking a mistake with “sic“

“The patient’s blood pressure was 140/90 mmHg, which is considered high according to the current guidlines [sic]” (Davis 14).

If you want to emphasize a particular word or phrase within a quote, you can add italics. However, you must indicate that the emphasis is your own by including the phrase “emphasis added” in parentheses after the citation.

Example: Adding emphasis with italics

“The study found that regular exercise was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (emphasis added)” (Patel et al. 369).

Minor changes to punctuation or capitalization to ensure a quote fits your text’s style generally do not require the use of brackets.

Block quotes

When quoting a lengthy passage (usually more than three or four lines), use a block quote to set the quote apart from your own text. Block quotes are typically indented from the left margin, do not include quotation marks, and may use a slightly smaller font size. The exact formatting requirements for block quotes vary depending on the citation style you are using.

Example: MLA block quote

ADD QUOTE FORMAT HERE

In “The Epidemic of Mental Illness: Why?” by Marcia Angell, the author discusses the overdiagnosis of mental disorders:

It seems that Americans are in the midst of a raging epidemic of mental illness, at least as judged by the increase in the numbers treated for it. The tally of those who are so disabled by mental disorders that they qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) increased nearly two and a half times between 1987 and 2007—from 1 in 184 Americans to 1 in 76. For children, the rise is even more startling—a thirty-five-fold increase in the same two decades. (Angell)

When should I use quotes?

Quoting sources can be an effective way to support your arguments and lend credibility to your writing. However, it’s important to use quotes strategically and not to overuse them. Here are some situations where quoting is appropriate:

When focusing on language

When your analysis focuses on the specific wording, phrasing, or literary devices used in a text, quoting is essential to provide the reader with the necessary context to understand your interpretation.

Example: Using quotes to analyze language

In “Hills Like White Elephants,” Hemingway uses dialogue to reveal the underlying tension between the characters:

• “It’s really an awfully simple operation, Jig,” the man said. “It’s not really an operation at all.”

The girl looked at the ground the table legs rested on.

• “I know you wouldn’t mind it, Jig. It’s really not anything. It’s just to let the air in.”

The man’s repeated assurances that the operation is “awfully simple” and “not anything” suggest his attempts to persuade Jig, while her silent response and averted gaze indicate her discomfort and reluctance to engage with the topic.

When giving evidence

Incorporating quotes as evidence can be a powerful way to support your arguments, interpretations, or positions on a topic. Quotes from primary sources, such as research findings, data, or expert opinions, are particularly effective in lending credibility to your claims.

Example: Using quotes as evidence

In a paper discussing the benefits of mindfulness meditation, you might use quotes from research studies to support your points:

• A recent study by Smith et al. found that “participants who engaged in daily mindfulness meditation for eight weeks reported significant reductions in stress levels and improvements in overall well-being” (Smith et al. 1243). 

These findings suggest that regular mindfulness practice can have a positive impact on mental health and stress management.

When presenting an author’s position or definition

When discussing complex ideas or concepts from secondary sources like academic books or journal articles, it’s generally best to paraphrase the author’s thoughts in your own words. However, if you come across a passage that eloquently encapsulates an idea, provides a powerful explanation, or defines a key concept, and paraphrasing would risk altering the meaning or diluting the impact, it’s appropriate to use a direct quote.

Example: Quoting to present a theory

In a paper exploring the concept of emotional intelligence, you might quote a definition from a renowned psychologist:

• According to Daniel Goleman, emotional intelligence is defined as “the capacity for recognizing our own feelings and those of others, for motivating ourselves, and for managing emotions well in ourselves and in our relationships” (Goleman 317). 

This definition highlights the multifaceted nature of emotional intelligence, encompassing self-awareness, empathy, self-motivation, and effective emotion management in personal and interpersonal contexts.