How to Quote

1. How to Quote

2. Direct Quotations: a Whole Sentence • When quoting a whole sentence, you still need to include an introductory phrase. • Example: In the introduction, the authors argue that “Such claims simply do not hold water” (Kerrigan 3). • Be sure to capitalize the first word when you quote an entire sentence.

3. Direct Quotations: Part of a Sentence • When quoting part of a sentence, do not capitalize the first word. • Example: Many considered Milton “a bulwark of traditional Christianity” (Kerrigan 2).

4. Direct Quotations: Ensuring Flow • Be sure to insert your quotations so that they flow with the rest of your sentence. • Incorrect: In his argument, Kerrigan “indicating that such complaints were fairly common” (3). • You may need to use brackets to indicate an added or altered word. • Correct: In his argument, Kerrigan “[indicates] that such complaints were fairly common” (3).

5. Direct Quotations: Editing What’s Not Needed • Sometimes you will want to omit unnecessary parts of what you’re quoting. You can do this by three periods (an ellipsis). If your omission enters a new sentence, then use four periods. • Kerrigan argues that “The challenge to this commonsense observation mounted by W.B. Hunter, C.A. Patrides, and J.H. Abramson was complicated, recondite, and, to the embarrassment of Milton scholarship, highly successful” (4). • Shortened: “The challenge to this commonsense observation…was complicated, recondite, and, to the embarrassment of Milton scholarship, highly successful” (4).

6. Direct Quotations: Interrupted Quotations • “This emphasis on pragmatism over idealism,” the article notes, “has left Mr. Obama vulnerable to criticism that he is losing the battle for the hearts and minds of the Arab street protesters” (Lander and Looper).

7. Indirect Quotation/Paraphrase • Original Quote: “In the Middle East crisis, as on other issues, there are two Barack Obamas: the transformative historical figure and the pragmatic American president. Three months after a Tunisian fruit vendor set himself aflame and ignited a political firestorm across the Arab world, the president is trumping the trailblazer” (Cooper 3). • Your paraphrase needs to use both new words and new sentence structure—otherwise, even if you cite your source, you could be considered to be plagiarizing. • Incorrect: Cooper argues that there are two Obamas (3). • Correct: Cooper argues that “there are two…Obamas” (3). • Incorrect: Cooper says that Obama is either a revolutionary public politician and a practical American leader (3). • Correct: Mr. Obama has not exploited his full potential as a symbol for change but is hiding behind his conservative presidential role (Cooper 3). • Correct: Cooper argues that President Obama isn’t being nearly as revolutionary as he could be (3).

8. Block Quote Cooper’s article discusses how Obama’s own administration sees him: A senior administration official acknowledged the irony of Mr. Obama’s dilemma; he is, after all, the first black president, whose election was hailed on the Arab street, where many protesters identify their own struggles with the civil rights movement. “There is a desire for Obama — not the American president, but Obama — to speak to their aspirations,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. But, he added, “his first job is to be the American president.” (3)