Proper Quotation Format
A Beginners Guide
Why Use Quotes?
Carefully selected quotations can illustrate and
reinforce your arguments effectively.
As a general rule, quote from your primary material
only.
However, excerpts from secondary sources can be
used to provide credibility and additional authority
for your arguments.
Short, single-sentence quotations should be incorporated
within the text of the essay and placed in double quotation
marks. The quoted material should be woven into your
writing.
The Alchemist advises Santiago that “it is not often that money
saves a person’s life” (Coelho 141).
If a quotation starts on one page of the original text and
carries over to the next, include all pages in the reference
at the end.
“None of what the old man was saying made much sense to the boy. But he
wanted to know what the ‘mysterious force’ was; the merchant’s
daughter would be impressed when he told her about that” (21-22).
Quotations more than three lines should be
separated from the text and commence on a new
line. Indent each line ten spaces from the left
margin, and omit quotation marks.
The Alchemist continued to provide Santiago with lessons:
[Destiny] is what you have always wanted to accomplish.
Everyone, when they are young, knows what their destiny is.
At that point in their lives, everything is clear and everything
is possible (21).
It is clear that Melchezidek’s message indicates that if Santiago delays
in searching for his personal legend, he may never achieve it.
If it is necessary to omit a part of the quotation, use three
spaced periods (…) ellipsis.
“The secret is here in the present. . . . Each day, in itself, brings
with it an eternity” (103).
If you have to insert a word for clarification, enclose the
word in square brackets. [ ].
Single quotation marks are used where a quotation occurs
within quoted material.
“ ‘[The sheep] are so used to me that they know my schedule’,
[Santiago] muttered.” (4).
If you have dialogue and narrated text that is less than three
lines, start with a double quotation mark, and then place
single quotation marks around the dialogue.
“‘Business has really improved,’ he said to the boy after the
customer left. ‘I am doing much better, and soon you will be able
to return to your sheep. Why ask more out of life”(52).
If you have dialogue and narrated text that is more than three
lines, indent the whole quotation and place single
quotation marks around the dialogue.
Santiago’s father plays a key role in putting in motion Santiago’s
travels.
His father said no more. The next day, he gave his son a
pouch that held three ancient Spanish coins.
‘I found these one day in the fields. I wanted them to
be a part of your inheritance’ (9).
Without his father’s help, the young shepherd would never have
been able to leave the fields of Andalusia.
If you have dialogue between two or more characters, indent
one tab at the beginning of each speaker and use single
quotation marks.
One of Santiago’s more significant character traits is his driving
curiosity.
‘But I’d like to see the castles in the towns where
they live,’ the boy explained.
‘Those people, when they see our land, say that they
would like to live forever,’ his father continued.
‘Well I’d like to see their land, and see how they
live,’ said his son (9).
Santiago is not content to learn from the experiences of others, he
want to see the world himself in order to form his own opinions.
Works Cited Page
At the end of your written work, you need to
include a properly formatted works cited
page.
Please see the separate handout for more
information.
Proper Format
Author’s last name, first name. Title of the Book. Place of publication:
Publisher, year of publication.
Example:
Bartlett, Sarah. The World of Myths and Mythology: A Source Book.
London: Blandford, 1998.