Ever find the perfect sentence in an article, the one that perfectly encapsulates your argument, and think, “I have to use this!”? We all do! Using direct quotes from sources strengthens your writing, adds credibility, and allows you to build upon the ideas of others. However, incorrectly quoting can lead to plagiarism or misrepresentation of the original author’s intent, undermining your own authority and potentially damaging your academic or professional reputation. Mastering the art of quoting accurately and effectively is a crucial skill for students, researchers, and anyone who wants to engage with information responsibly.
Knowing how to properly quote not only avoids ethical pitfalls but also elevates the quality of your work. Correct attribution gives credit where it’s due, showcasing your respect for intellectual property. Furthermore, skillful integration of quotes can seamlessly weave external voices into your own narrative, creating a more compelling and persuasive argument. A well-placed quote can add weight and nuance, making your writing more engaging and insightful.
What are the common rules and best practices for quoting articles?
How do I cite a quote within a quote from an article?
When you need to cite a quote that already contains another quote from the original source, acknowledge both sources. The standard approach involves using single quotation marks for the quote within the quote, and double quotation marks for the main quote you’re using. In your citation, make it clear you are citing the original source of the embedded quote.
To illustrate, imagine you’re quoting an article by Smith (2023) that quotes Jones (2020). Smith writes, “Jones (2020) argued that ’the sky is not always blue.’” Your citation should accurately reflect that Jones is the originator of the inner quote. The exact format will vary based on the citation style (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.), but the principle remains the same: attribute both Smith and Jones appropriately.
Here’s how it might look in MLA style: “Smith (2023) argues that Jones (2020) claimed ’the sky is not always blue’ (Smith, 2023, p. X).” In APA style, you could write: Smith (2023) stated that Jones (2020) argued, “the sky is not always blue” (as cited in Smith, 2023, p. X). Note that you only include Jones in the *body* of your writing; Jones will not appear in your reference list unless you have consulted Jones’ original work. If you *have* consulted Jones’ original work, then you would cite Jones directly and would no longer need to quote Smith’s article.
What punctuation should I use when quoting a quote in an article?
When quoting a quote within your article, you’ll primarily use single quotation marks to denote the inner quote, while the overall passage being quoted retains double quotation marks. This helps distinguish between your direct quotation from the article and the quote that was already present within that article.
The basic structure is: Double quotation marks enclose the entire excerpt you’re taking from the original article. Within that excerpt, if you encounter a quotation, you replace the original double quotation marks with single quotation marks. This nesting of quotations clarifies for the reader which words are directly from your source and which words were already being quoted by your source.
For example, imagine your article uses the following excerpt from a news report: “The mayor stated, ‘We must address this issue immediately,’ during the press conference.” In your article, you would present it as: According to the report, “The mayor stated, ‘We must address this issue immediately,’ during the press conference.” Notice how the mayor’s original words are now enclosed in single quotation marks. Consistent application of this rule ensures clarity and prevents confusion for your audience.
How do I handle changes or omissions within a quoted quote from an article?
When quoting material from an article, you need to accurately represent the original author’s intent, even if you need to make minor adjustments for clarity or conciseness. To handle omissions, use ellipses (…). To indicate changes or additions for grammatical correctness or clarity, use square brackets [ ].
When you omit words from a quotation to make it shorter or more relevant, replace the omitted text with an ellipsis (…). Be careful not to distort the original meaning by removing text. The ellipsis indicates to the reader that something has been left out. For example, if the original sentence is “The study found that participants who exercised regularly, ate a healthy diet, and maintained social connections reported higher levels of happiness,” you could quote it as: “The study found that participants who exercised regularly… reported higher levels of happiness.” Square brackets are used to insert words or make alterations to the original quote for clarity or grammatical correctness within your own sentence. For example, if the original sentence is: “He said it was a great experience,” and you need to clarify who “he” is, you might write: “[John Doe] said it was a great experience.” Similarly, if the original quote has a grammatical error or doesn’t fit grammatically within your sentence, you can correct it using square brackets. For instance, if the original quote is, “The dog were happy,” you might write: “The dog [was] happy.” Always strive to keep alterations minimal and preserve the original meaning as closely as possible.
Should I cite the original source of the quote within the article or just the article itself?
Generally, you should cite the original source of the quote, *if* you have accessed and verified that original source. Citing only the article where you *found* the quote is acceptable, and sometimes unavoidable, but it’s best practice to track down and cite the primary source whenever possible for accuracy and academic rigor.
The reason for prioritizing the original source is threefold: accuracy, attribution, and credibility. First, relying solely on the article quoting the original can introduce errors. The article might have misquoted, paraphrased inaccurately, or taken the quote out of context. By going back to the original, you ensure you’re presenting the information correctly. Second, proper attribution means giving credit where it’s due. The original author deserves the recognition for their words and ideas, not just the author who happened to quote them. Finally, citing the primary source strengthens your own credibility. It demonstrates that you’ve done your due diligence in researching and verifying your information, signaling to your readers that your work is trustworthy.
However, there are times when accessing the original source is impractical or impossible. Perhaps the original source is obscure, out of print, or in a language you don’t understand. In these cases, you can cite the article where you found the quote, but you should clearly indicate that you are citing the quote *as it appears in* that secondary source. For example: “As John Smith argued, ‘…’ (as cited in Doe, 2023).” This acknowledges that you haven’t independently verified the quote’s accuracy and alerts the reader that the quote is from a secondary source. Always strive for the original, but be transparent when you rely on a secondary source for a quote.
What are the differences in quoting a quote in MLA vs. APA style?
The primary differences between quoting a quote (a secondary source quote) in MLA and APA styles lie in how the original source is acknowledged and the overall emphasis placed on attribution. MLA prioritizes clarity and brevity, often requiring only a mention of the original source if relevant to the argument, while APA emphasizes complete and direct citation of both the original and secondary sources within the parenthetical citation.
In MLA style, when you quote a quote from a secondary source, you should generally cite only the source you consulted (the secondary source). If it’s crucial to acknowledge the original source, you can integrate it smoothly into your sentence. For example: According to Smith, as cited in Jones (2023), “the data was inconclusive” (p. 45). Here, the parenthetical citation refers only to Jones, the source you read. MLA prioritizes the reader’s understanding of where you directly obtained the information.
APA style, on the other hand, requires you to acknowledge both the original source and the secondary source where you found the quote. This is usually done using “as cited in.” For example: (Smith, as cited in Jones, 2023, p. 45). This indicates that you are quoting Smith’s words, but you encountered them in Jones’s work. In your reference list, you would only include the details for Jones (the source you actually read). APA’s emphasis is on transparently tracing the origin of the idea and acknowledging the work of both authors involved.
If the original quote has a typo, do I correct it when quoting it from the article?
Generally, you should reproduce the original quote *exactly* as it appears in the source, including any typos, grammatical errors, or unconventional spellings. However, you must also signal to the reader that the error exists in the original and is not your own.
There are two common methods for indicating an error in the original source. The first and most widely accepted is to insert “[sic]” immediately after the error. “Sic” is a Latin word meaning “thus” or “so,” and its inclusion indicates that the preceding text is reproduced faithfully, even though it may appear incorrect. For instance, if the original quote reads, “Their [sic] going to be late,” you would include “[sic]” after “Their” to show you know it should be “They’re” and that you are not introducing the error yourself. The second method, used less often, involves correcting the typo within the quote and placing the corrected word in brackets, such as “[They’re]” in our example.
Choosing between using “[sic]” and correcting within brackets often depends on the style guide you are following (MLA, APA, Chicago, etc.) or the preferences of your instructor or editor. In academic writing, “[sic]” is usually preferred as it maintains a higher degree of fidelity to the original source and avoids potentially altering the author’s intended meaning (however unlikely). While brackets offer clarity, they might be viewed as editorializing. Always consult the appropriate style guide for specific instructions. If the original source contains numerous errors that would make your writing awkward or difficult to understand, consider paraphrasing the relevant section instead of directly quoting it.
How long does a quote within a quote have to be before it needs a block quote?
Generally, a quote within a quote doesn’t trigger the need for a block quote unless the *entire* passage you are quoting (including both the outer and inner quote) exceeds the standard length threshold for requiring a block quote in your citation style. This threshold is typically four lines for MLA and APA, or more than 40 words for APA. Therefore, even if the inner quote is several lines long, if the entire quotation you’re using is shorter than the style guide’s limit, it should be integrated into your paragraph with quotation marks.
The decision to use a block quote hinges on the length of the passage *you* are directly quoting from the source material, not the length of the quote embedded within that passage. If the overall quote is concise enough to be smoothly incorporated into your writing without disrupting the flow, it remains an inline quote. Focus on maintaining readability and clarity. Consider whether breaking up the quote with a block quote enhances understanding or unnecessarily fragments your argument. If the passage, with its internal quote, makes sense and integrates well inline, that’s usually preferable. However, if the entire quote *including* the inner quote surpasses your style guide’s length limitations, then format the entire thing as a block quote, and manage the inner quote’s quotation marks according to the style’s rules for block quotes containing quotations (typically single quotation marks for the inner quote).
And that’s it! You’re now armed with the knowledge to properly and effectively quote from articles. Go forth and cite responsibly! Thanks for stopping by, and we hope you’ll come back soon for more writing tips and tricks.