Ever read a fascinating research paper or an insightful article and wanted to use a powerful quote to bolster your own argument? Properly citing your sources is essential in academic writing, not just to avoid plagiarism, but also to give credit where it’s due and demonstrate the credibility of your work. Citing quotes accurately, especially using a specific style like APA, ensures clarity, allows readers to verify your sources, and strengthens the overall impact of your writing.
In APA style, the way you cite a quote varies slightly depending on factors like the length of the quote and its placement within your text. Mastering these nuances ensures that your research is not only well-supported but also presented professionally. Understanding the rules of APA citation is crucial for students, researchers, and anyone engaging in formal writing. It helps you maintain academic integrity and build a strong foundation for your arguments.
Frequently Asked Questions About APA Quote Citation:
How do I cite a direct quote in APA format within the text?
To cite a direct quote in APA format within the text, you need to include the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number (or paragraph number if page numbers are unavailable) within parentheses after the quote. The format is: (Author, Year, p. Page Number) or (Author, Year, para. Paragraph Number).
The placement of the parenthetical citation depends on how you introduce the quote. If you introduce the quote with the author’s name, include only the year and page number in the parentheses. For example: According to Smith (2020), “the study revealed significant correlations” (p. 25). Alternatively, if the author’s name is not part of your sentence, include it within the parentheses. For example: “The study revealed significant correlations” (Smith, 2020, p. 25). Remember to use double quotation marks around the direct quote. For quotes longer than 40 words, use a block quote. Start the quote on a new line, indent the entire block half an inch from the left margin, and omit quotation marks. The parenthetical citation follows the last sentence of the block quote and is placed outside the final punctuation mark. For example: > Smith (2020) found the following: > > The effects of this intervention were widespread and affected multiple aspects of the participants’ lives. These effects included improved mental health, increased social interaction, and enhanced overall well-being. (p. 42)
What’s the correct APA citation format for block quotes longer than 40 words?
For quotations exceeding 40 words in APA style, use a block quote. Indent the entire block half an inch (0.5 inch or 1.27 cm) from the left margin. Double-space the entire block quote. Omit quotation marks. Place the parenthetical citation after the closing punctuation of the block quote.
When incorporating lengthy passages from sources, APA style uses block quotations to visually distinguish the borrowed material from your own analysis. The indentation serves as a clear signal that the entire paragraph is directly taken from another source. This formatting helps avoid plagiarism and ensures proper attribution. Consider this example:
Researchers have examined the impact of social media on adolescent mental health and well-being. These studies indicate a complex relationship, with both positive and negative outcomes observed. For instance, increased social connectivity can provide support and reduce feelings of isolation, while excessive social comparison and exposure to cyberbullying can contribute to anxiety and depression. (Smith, 2023, p. 45)
Note that the citation (Smith, 2023, p. 45) appears *after* the period ending the block quote. This is a critical aspect of APA’s block quote format. Always double-space block quotes, just like the rest of your paper.
How do I cite a quote from a source that I found within another source (secondary source)?
When you want to use a quote that you found cited in another author’s work, you should cite the original source as it was cited in the secondary source, making it clear that you did not read the original source yourself. This is known as a secondary source citation. In your text, name the original source and use “as cited in” followed by the secondary source’s author and year of publication. In your reference list, only include the secondary source that you actually read.
Expanding on this, it’s crucial to understand why we handle secondary sources this way. Ideally, you should always try to locate and read the original source to ensure accuracy and proper context. However, sometimes the original source is inaccessible, out of print, or in a language you don’t understand. In such cases, citing the secondary source is acceptable, but it’s vital to acknowledge that your knowledge of the original source comes from the secondary source’s interpretation. Here’s an example: Suppose you’re reading a book by Smith (2023) and he quotes Jones (1995). You haven’t read Jones (1995) yourself. In your text, you would write: “Jones (1995) argued that ’the sky is blue’ (as cited in Smith, 2023, p. 45).” Your reference list would only contain the entry for Smith (2023), not Jones (1995). Remember to include the page number in Smith (2023) where you found the quote from Jones. It’s important to use secondary sources sparingly. Relying too heavily on them can weaken your argument and suggest a lack of thorough research. Always strive to find and cite the original source whenever possible, but when it’s truly unavoidable, the “as cited in” format allows you to accurately and ethically represent your sources.
What if a quote spans multiple paragraphs, how do I cite it in APA?
When quoting a passage that extends across multiple paragraphs in APA style, introduce the quote with a signal phrase and include the page number (or other location identifier) in the first citation. For subsequent paragraphs within the same quote, you only need to include the page number (or location identifier) in parentheses after each paragraph. No quotation marks are needed at the beginning of subsequent paragraphs, but quotation marks are needed to close the entire quoted material.
To elaborate, the core principle is to make it clear to the reader that all the paragraphs are part of one extended quote. The initial citation sets the stage, telling the reader where the quoted material originates. The subsequent citations at the end of each additional paragraph reinforce that connection without being overly repetitive. This approach ensures clarity and avoids any confusion about whether the paragraphs are your own words or still part of the original source’s text. Importantly, indentation is crucial. When the quoted material spans multiple paragraphs, each paragraph should be indented half an inch (0.5 inches) from the left margin. This visual cue immediately signals to the reader that they are encountering a lengthy excerpt from another source. This, along with the citations following each paragraph, maintains academic integrity and prevents plagiarism. Remember to conclude the final paragraph with a closing quotation mark and the final citation.
How do I handle missing information (like page numbers) when citing a quote in APA?
When a direct quote lacks page numbers, use alternative location markers if available, such as paragraph numbers (para. X), section headings (e.g., “Introduction” section), chapter numbers, or timestamps (for audio/video). If none of these are present, you can omit the location information entirely, prioritizing accuracy and source identification over forcing a potentially misleading citation.
The goal of location information in APA citations is to guide readers to the precise spot where you found the quote. If a print source truly lacks page numbers (which is rare but can happen with older documents or certain types of publications), omitting the information is preferable to guessing. In online sources without pagination, consider whether the text is divided into sections or paragraphs. For example, you might cite a quote from an online article as (Author, Year, para. 3) if it’s the third paragraph. When citing from websites, be aware that paragraph numbers can shift if the content is updated, so using a section heading might be more stable in the long term.
For audio or video materials, provide a timestamp to indicate where the quote appears (e.g., Author, Year, 00:12:34). If the source is a complete website or webpage where specific location markers are impossible to determine, you can cite the author and year without additional information. Remember that accessibility is key; choose the method that best helps your reader find the quoted material in the most efficient and accurate manner possible. Always err on the side of clarity and provide as much specific information as is reasonably available without inventing it.
Is the punctuation placement (periods, commas) different when citing a quote in APA?
Yes, the placement of periods and commas differs in APA style when you incorporate a direct quote into your writing. The key difference lies in whether the citation is placed within the sentence or at the end, and how the quote is grammatically integrated.
When the citation appears *within* the sentence (i.e., the author’s name is part of your sentence’s structure), the period goes *after* the closing parenthesis of the citation. For example: According to Smith (2020), “the results were significant” (p. 45). The comma setting off the attributive phrase “According to Smith (2020)” still follows standard grammatical rules. This allows the reader to smoothly follow the flow of your argument without being disrupted by the citation.
However, when the citation appears at the *end* of the sentence, enclosed in parentheses, the period goes *before* the closing parenthesis. For example: “The results were significant” (Smith, 2020, p. 45). Notice that the period ends the *entire* sentence, including the quoted material. This is a crucial distinction and a very common error for those new to APA style. In both cases, other punctuation within the quote itself (e.g., question marks, exclamation points) is retained.
How does citing a quote from an online source (like a website) differ in APA?
Citing a quote from an online source in APA Style largely follows the same principles as citing quotes from print sources, with a key difference emerging when page numbers are absent: you must then provide alternative location information like paragraph numbers, section headings and paragraph numbers within that section, or a timestamp (for audio/video content) to help the reader locate the quote within the original source.
The core of any APA citation, regardless of the source, is to provide enough information so that the reader can easily find the original material. When quoting directly, this includes the author (or organization if no author is listed), year of publication, and specific location of the quote. For websites without page numbers, identifying a specific paragraph helps achieve this. You can count paragraphs sequentially from the beginning of the document or, if the website utilizes clear section headings, identify the section and then the paragraph number within that section. For instance, “(Author, Year, para. 4)” or “(Author, Year, Section Heading section, para. 2)” are acceptable formats.
When citing audio or video content from a website, timestamps become crucial. Instead of page or paragraph numbers, you’d provide the specific time in the audio or video where the quote begins. For example, “(Author, Year, 00:02:15)” indicates the quote starts at 2 minutes and 15 seconds into the recording. If the source is a direct quote from social media, include the user’s name (or handle) as the author, the date of the post, and consider including the first 20 words of the post in the reference list entry to make it easily identifiable.
And there you have it! Citing quotes in APA style doesn’t have to be intimidating. Hopefully, this guide has helped clear things up for you. Thanks for taking the time to read through it, and we hope you’ll come back again for more helpful writing tips!