How to introduce quotes

There are more descriptive verbs that can introduce a quotation. See the chart below for other words you can use to introduce a quotation. As in the example above, a comma is used before quotation marks to introduce a direct quote. If the description of the quote’s speaker is placed after the quotation, a comma is always placed within the quotation marks.

Show the importance of the quote with respect to your argument and your thesis. Explain the significance…Tell the reader why they bothered to read your essay. This is where you tie your thoughts together in a nice bow. If you enjoy this article, check out our most popular quote article, a list of short inspirational quotes for daily motivation. Incorporate phrases and pieces of quotations into your own sentence.

Introduce, Give, Explain Example 2 longer block quotation

In addition, the introduction, also called an attribution, can come after the quotation. If the sentence would normally end in a period, replace the period with a comma; don’t replace question marks or exclamation marks. Whether you are writing an article, a blog post, or a report, quotations can add depth and authenticity to your content. (And, you can quote me on that!) Here is a quick overview on how to introduce run-in quotations, which are short quotations integrated into sentences. Readers should be able to move from your own words to the words you quote without feeling an abrupt shift. Signal phrases provide clear signals to prepare the readers for the quotation. In this passage, the quotation is well-introduced.

• Try using paraphrases in addition to direct quotations.
• Do not open a quotation and fail to close it at the end of the quoted material.
• He said he was more concerned about doing what God wanted him to do.
• This tells your instructors where your information comes from, and demonstrates that you are not trying to cheat.
• Place the citation at the end of the quote, if you are using in quote citations.

Note that in the second example below, a slash with a space on either side ( / ) marks a line break in the original poem. Skilled writers are in demand across all industries. Learn the tips, techniques and strategies to effectively communicate your thoughts and ideas on paper. Apply today to get a comprehensive liberal arts education that will improve your writing abilities. Avoid using long quotations merely as space-fillers. While this is an attractive option when faced with a ten-page paper, the overuse of long quotations gives the reader the impression you are not thinking for yourself. You may drop words from a quotation, but you must indicate that you did so by inserting three spaced dots called an ellipsis.

What is the proper way to embed a quote?

In the example above, the writer is referring to a research article, so when he introduces the quotation, he uses present tense . There are two rules about verb tense when introducing quotations. One of the most effective ways to start a speech is using a relatable quotation from a famous leader. This can get the audience’s attention instantly and give direction to the rest of the speech. Pause slightly after the introductory phrase, then read the quote expressively so that the quote sounds like a second voice. Begin a sentence with your own words, then complete it with quoted words. And remember that a semicolon (;) never is used to introduce quotations.

We can help make sure your quotations are fully integrated into the rest of your text. A signal phrase is a short introduction phrase that indicates that a quote or paraphrase is coming.

Provide Context and Introduce Quotations

When you restate the information from a source in your own words instead of citing a quote from an article, you don’t need to put quotation marks. But don’t forget to specify all the necessary details after the passage and to provide the analysis of the paraphrase or summary. Block quote introduction quotations are double spaced like the rest of your essay and not surrounded by quotation marks. With a block quotation, put the period before the parenthetical citation instead of after. Direct quotations involve incorporating another person’s exact words into your own writing.

Hamlet denies Rosencrantz’s claim that thwarted ambition caused his depression. He states, “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2). Introduce or conclude the quote by attributing it to the speaker. If your attribution precedes the quote, you will need to use a comma after the verb. “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2). In this particular example, Jacobs is providing a crucial first-hand perspective on slavery. Thus, her words deserve more exposure than a paraphrase could provide.

Suggested Ways To Introduce Quotes

Goeff then relatesthat his childhood was “the time he learned to live on less than bread alone” (p. ##). Burdowbelievesthat being able to write using proper English grammar is an important skill (author’s last name p.##). Dr. Billowsaysthat being exposed to television violence at a young age desensitizes children to violence in real life (author’s last name p.##). Introductions are an essential part of life, they mark the beginning of new relationships, journeys and experiences. There may not be one “best” way to introduce yourself or start a speech, but there are some things you can do to help yourself.

Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, ‘this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!!!! ’ But in this exclamation, I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in public company—I mean hell. Note that when you use “that” after the verb that introduces the quote, you no longer need a comma.

Methods to Introduce Quotes

For example, if you take material from the end of a sentence, keep the period in as usual. The reader’s understanding of the Writing Center’s mission to serve the UNC community is not affected by omitting the information about its location. The Pirate King sees an element of regality in their impoverished and dishonest life. “It is, it is a glorious thing/To be a pirate king,” he declares . With that message of hope and confidence, the new president set the stage for his next one-hundred days in office and helped restore the faith of the American people in their government. At his last speech, Martin Luther King, Jr. stated that he wanted to live for a long time, but that he was not worried about that. He said he was more concerned about doing what God wanted him to do.

This handout will help you decide when and how to quote like a pro. In the example above, the writer first provides his own idea about employee-supervisor relationships.

Quote Analysis

When you are given a research writing assignment, get started right away—do not procrastinate. Study the instructions for the assignment and write out possible ideas for your essay. If a quotation begins the sentence, set it off with a comma from the unquoted part of the sentence unless it ends with a question mark or exclamation point. Because the explanatory words simply continue the sentence, do not begin them with a capital letter. It is usually best not to begin or end your introductory paragraph with a quotation. You weaken your argument by relying on someone else’s words so early on in the paper. If you do quote in the first paragraph, make sure it is short and to the point.

• Indentation and spacing guidelines vary depending on the formatting style you are using .
• To create the assertion, try putting the quote in your own words.
• You will also enjoy our article on superhero quotes.
• Don’t always rely on stock verbs such as “states” or “says.” Think for a little while about the purpose of your quotation and then choose a context-appropriate verb.

It doesn’t deal with the way you need to cite them, which requires the author’s name, the year of publication, the page number, etc. To introduce a quote in an essay, don’t forget to include author’s last name and page number or author, date, and page number in your citation. Another way to use ellipses is to shorten a longer quote that includes multiple words to introduce quotes sentences. There are therefore four periods in a row, which indicate an end of a sentence and an ellipsis. You should also use a block quote when your quoted passage contains more than one paragraph and any quoted material that requires special formatting, such as lists and lines of poetry. There is no firm rule on when to use an indented block quote.

Keep periods and commas within quotation marks

Dividing the quote may highlight a particular nuance of the quote’s meaning. In the first example, the division calls attention to the two parts of Hamlet’s claim. The first phrase states that nothing is inherently good or bad; the second phrase suggests that our perspective causes things to become good or bad. In the second example, the isolation of “Death thou shalt die” at the end of the sentence draws a reader’s attention to that phrase in particular. As you decide whether or not you want to break up a quote, you should consider the shift in emphasis that the division might create. In order to lend variety to your prose, you may wish to quote a source with particularly vivid language.

In the first example, the author placed the exclamation point outside the quotation mark because she added it herself to emphasize the outrageous nature of the parking price change. The original note had not included an exclamation mark. In the second example, the exclamation mark remains within the quotation mark because it is indicating the excited tone in which the coach yelled the command. Thus, the exclamation mark is considered to be part of the original quotation.