How to Insert Quotations in Writing
There are three main types of ways to insert quotations:
Method
Examples
1. State the context – set the basic scene for
To illustrate, when Josephine and her
mother discuss Michael, Josephine
when, possibly where, and under what
exclaims, “If you want to know what I
circumstances the quotation was spoken or
think of Michael Andretti, I think he’s a
written.
lovely man” (Marchetta 70).
There are two ways to do:
a.
Introduce the quotation with a
complete sentence and a colon.
b.
Use an introductory or explanatory
phrase, but not a complete sentence,
separated from the quotation with a
comma.
In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For,"
Thoreau states directly his purpose for going
into the woods: "I went to the woods because I
wished to live deliberately, to front only the
essential facts of life, and see if I could not
learn what it had to teach, and not, when I
came to die, discover that I had not lived."
In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For,"
Thoreau states directly his purpose for going
into the woods when he says, "I went to the
woods because I wished to live deliberately, to
front only the essential facts of life, and see if I
could not learn what it had to teach, and not,
when I came to die, discover that I had not
lived."
2. Embed the quotation - Embedding
quotations involves paraphrasing half of the
original but mixing in a few direct selections
from the author. When you embed a
quotation, be sure to blend in the quotation
with the grammar of your own sentence. The
sentence as a whole must flow smoothly.
After Josephine is hurt by the lies her
grandmother used to tell her “that [she] did
not have a father who had died [and she
realizes that her] mother never lied to [her]
that way” she starts to distance herself from
her Nonna (Marchetta 35).
3. Paraphrasing – If you do not plan on
speaking directly about certain diction or
device used in a particular quote, you may
choose to simply paraphrase an example.
In one instance, Romeo kills Tybalt to avenge
his Benvolio’s death.
In "Where I Lived, and What I Lived For,"
Thoreau states that his retreat to the woods
around Walden Pond was motivated by his
desire "to live deliberately" and to face only
"the essential facts of life."
Synonyms for the word “says”
adds
remarks
exclaims
announces
replies
states
comments
responds
estimates
writes
suggests
predicts
argues
criticizes
proposes
declares
complains
proclaims
notes
asserts
opines
observes
thinks
notes
Modifying Quotations
1. If the quotation is very long, you can shorten it by replacing unnecessary words or phrases with
three periods, known as ellipsis (…)
Example: While reflecting on the state of America, Nick Carraway ponders, “As the moon rose higher I
became aware… of the new world” (Fitzgerald 182).
2. Sometimes when you quote, you must insert a word or two to clarify the quotation or to make it
grammatically correct. You may also need to change the tense of certain words to “fit” into your
writing.
Example: For example, Josephine is hurt because her grandmother used to tell her “that [she] did not
have a father who had died. [Her] mother never lied to [her] that way” (Marchetta 35).
Formatting Quotations
1. Quotations that are 3 or less in length, typed, are not indented. These are double spaced.
Example: After he murders King Duncan, Macbeth is shocked at the destructiveness of his own actions
and laments, “I am afraid to think what I have done;/Look on’t again I dare not” (Shakespeare 2.2.50-51).
2. Quotations that are 4 or more lines are indented one inch from the body of your work, from both
margins. These are also single-spaced. A long quotation is introduced with a colon. The punctuation
for long quotations appears BEFORE the citation.
Example:
Nick Carraway reflects on America, A once unspoiled continent:
As the moon rose higher I became aware of the old island
here that flowered once for Dutch sailors’ eyes – a fresh,
green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees
that had made way for Gatsby’s house, had once pandered
in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams;
for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his
breath. (Fitzgerald 182)