Quotations

=**CHAPTER 10** **: QUOTATIONS** =

10.1 Introduction 10.2 Use and Accuracy 10.2.1 Academic Integrity 10.2.2 Paraphrasing 10.3 Relation to Text 10.3.1 Run-in 10.3.2 Block 10.4 Deletions or Omissions 10.4.1 Omissions within a Sentence 10.4.2 Omissions at the end of a Sentence 10.4.3 Omissions at the Beginning of a Sentence 10.5 Insertions or Alterations 10.5.1 Brackets 10.5.2 Parentheses 10.5.3 Sic 10.6 Punctuation 10.6.1 Colon 10.6.2 Comma 10.6.3 Quotation Marks


 * 10.1 INTRODUCTION**

Quotations may be used to expand an idea or clarify a statement. This section will cover when and how to use quotations as well as when not to use quotations. A general discussion of the punctuation of quotations and the use of quotation marks is also included. Since slight variations occur from one style guide to another, please reference the style guide that is appropriate to the specific area for which you are writing.

Back to Top

= **10.2 USE AND ACCURACY** =

Direct and indirect quotations are effective in research papers when used selectively to make or support a point. A direct quotation is a word-for-word text copy of the original source. An indirect quotation is a paraphrased version of the original text. Care should be taken not to use too many quotes. Some readers may skim over quotes and inadvertently miss an important contextual reference.

**TABLE 10.1**
 * **Example of a Direct Quotation** || **Example of an Indirect Quotation** ||
 * As McLuhan recognized in //The Gutenberg Galaxy// (1972), “The invention of typography … provid[ed] the first uniformly repeatable commodity, the first assembly line, and the first mass-production” (p. 124). || Mcluhan (1972) called printing the first example of the assembly line and mass production (p.124). ||

10.2.1 Academic Integrity
 When using a quotation, sources should be cited properly. If they are not, you may be guilty of plagiarism, which is a moral and ethical offense. Plagiarism should be taken very seriously; those found guilty of it may experience a loss of respect from their peers, or even worse, a loss of employment.

The need for academic integrity is now greater than ever, with new technologies making it increasingly easier to access and plagiarize others' material. As such, a commitment to academic integrity in both the academic and professional worlds must remain strong. According to the Center for Academic Integrity (CAI), there are five fundamental values from which the principles of behavior should flow: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. When all members of a community are committed to these five fundamental values, an environment of integrity will be enabled and sustained.

For additional information about academic integrity, see chapter 13 of this guide (Legal and Ethical Issues); //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 4.66 and 4.83; and the //MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing//, Section 6.2.

10.2.2 Paraphrasing
Direct quotations must reproduce the original source exactly. Unless indicated in brackets or parentheses, changes should not be made in the spelling, capitalization, or interior punctuation of the quoted material (for exceptions to this rule, see Chicago 11.8). Any changes in the quotation must be made clear to the reader (see section 10.5 below for examples of how to mark changes in quoted material).

For additional information about paraphrasing, see //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 4.80, 11.3, and 11.48.

Back to Top

= **10.3 RELATION TO TEXT** =

Quotations may either be run in (integrated into the text) or set off from the text as block quotations. Generally, the length of the quoted material determines its relation to the text.

**10.3.1 Run-in**
Short quotations, especially incomplete sentences, are run in. Quotation marks are used around the quoted material (see section 10.6 below for more information about punctuating quotations). According to MLA guidelines, quotations should be incorporated into the text if they are no more than four lines and do not require special emphasis. Care should be taken to construct clear, grammatically correct sentences when incorporating run-in quotations. Run-in quotations may be placed at the beginning, middle or end of your sentence, and it is acceptable to quote only a word or phrase.


 * TABLE 10.2**
 * **Example of a Run-in Quotation** ||
 * Benjamin Franklin admonishes us to “plough deep while sluggards sleep.” ||

**10.3.2 Block**

According to MLA guidelines, quotations running more than four lines are set off from the text in block format. A colon generally introduces a block quotation, but quotation marks are not used to set off the quoted material. Instead, the quotation begins on a new line and is indented one inch (or ten spaces) from the left margin. The first line is not indented more than the rest except when quoting two or more paragraphs. In these cases, the first line of each paragraph is indented an additional quarter inch. However, if it does not begin a paragraph in the original source, the first sentence of the quotation is not indented; only the first lines of the successive paragraphs are. In MLA style, a parenthetical reference to a prose quotation set off in block text follows the last line of the quotation.

> At some point in the 17th [//sic//] century, however, printers started to intrude an apostrophe before the “s” in singular possessive cases (“the girl’s dress”), and from then on quite frankly the whole thing has spiraled into madness. In the 18th [//sic//] century, printers started to put it after plural possessives as well (“the girls’ dresses”). (38) || // Note // : When writing research papers in MLA format, body text is double-spaced—including the set off block text.
 * TABLE 10.3**
 * **Example of a Block Quotation** ||
 * In __Eats, Shoots, & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation__, Lynne Truss talks about the origin of the use of the apostrophe:

For information on quoting more than one paragraph, see the //MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing//, Section 3.9.2 and //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 11.23–26.

For information on MLA documentation style, see the //MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing//, Section 7.1-5.

Back to Top

= **10.4 DELETIONS OR OMISSIONS** =

If it is necessary to omit a word, phrase, sentence or more from quoted material, ellipsis points (spaced periods) are used at the point of omission. These points can be preceded or followed by other punctuation, but they must always appear together on the same line.

Care should be exercised not to misrepresent the quoted material; accuracy of sense and emphasis must always be maintained. Any likelihood of the reader misunderstanding the sentence structure of the original source should be avoided.

10.4.1 Omissions within a Sentence
 When an omission occurs within a sentence, three ellipsis points (. . .) are used, with a space before each point and a space after the last one. For quotations of more than one sentence, ellipsis points can indicate the omission of any amount of text.


 * TABLE 10.4**
 * **Example within a Sentence** ||
 * In discussing the apostrophe**,** Lynne Truss states, “At some point . . . printers started to intrude an apostrophe before the 's' in singular possessive cases ('the girl’s dress'), and from then on . . . the whole thing has spiraled into madness.” ||

10.4.2 Omissions at the end of a Sentence
 When the omission occurs at the end of a sentence, a period plus three ellipsis points (. . . .) are used , with no space before the first point or after the last one.


 * TABLE 10.5**
 * **Example at the end of a Sentence** ||
 * In discussing the apostrophe, Lynne Truss states, “At some point in the 17th (//sic//) century, however, printers started to intrude an apostrophe before the 's' in singular possessive cases. . . .” ||

10.4.3 Omissions at the Beginning of a Sentence
 When an omission occurs at the beginning of a sentence of quoted material, the first letter of the word that begins the quotation is simply made lower case. No ellipsis points are needed in this case.

 For additional information about ellipsis points, see //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 11.51–65; the //MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing//, Section 3.9.5; and Chapter 5 (Punctuation) of this Guide.
 * TABLE 10.6**
 * **Example at the Beginning of a Sentence** ||
 * In discussing the apostrophe, Lynne Truss states that “printers started to intrude an apostrophe before the 's' in singular possessive cases ('the girl’s dress'), and from then on quite frankly the whole thing has spiraled into madness.” ||

Back to Top

= **10.5 INSERTIONS OR ALTERATIONS** =

If a quotation will be unclear to the reader, it may be necessary to insert material missing from the original, comment on the accuracy of incorrect-looking spelling or logic, or underline a word for emphasis. The author's contributions are distinguished from the original by enclosing them either in parentheses after the quotation or in square brackets within the quotation, as illustrated below.

10.5.1 Brackets
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Brackets are used to insert a clarifying comment or to add missing information within quoted material.

**TABLE 10.7**
 * **Example of Brackets to Insert a Clarifying Comment** ||
 * Milton’s Satan speaks of his “study [pursuit] of revenge.” ||

10.5.2 Parentheses
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Parentheses are used to insert a clarifying comment or explanation immediately following the closing quotation mark of the quotation.

**TABLE 10.8**
 * **Example of Parentheses to Insert a Clarifying Comment** ||
 * Lincoln specifically advocated a government “//for// the people” (emphasis added). ||

10.5.3 Sic
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The expression //sic// (Latin for “thus”) is inserted in italic type and enclosed in either brackets or parentheses as appropriate, following the questionable material.
 * TABLE 10.9**
 * **Example of Using Sic** ||
 * The company considers the Baker Foundation to be a “guilt-edged [//sic//] investment.” ||

For additional information about alteration of sources, see the //MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing//, Section 3.9.6 and //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 11.68–71.

Back to Top

= **<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">10.6 PUNCTUATION ** =

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The punctuation of quotations depends upon the syntax and content of the general surrounding statement.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">10.6.1 Colon **
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Generally a quotation is preceded by a colon if it is formally introduced. Introductory phrases such as //thus// or //the following// are usually followed by a colon.

> When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the [|Laws of Nature] and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. ||
 * TABLE 10.10**
 * **Example of Using a Colon** ||
 * The introduction of the United States Declaration of Independence reads as follows:

10.6.2 Comma
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If it is an integral part of the sentence structure, the quotation is preceded with either a comma or no punctuation. A comma is generally used after //said//, //replied//, //asked//, and similar verbs.


 * TABLE 10.11**
 * **Example of Using a Comma** ||
 * The Queen of Hearts said, “Off with their heads!” ||

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">**10.6.3 Quotation Marks**
Double quotation marks are used to enclose quotations run into the text. Single quotation marks are used around quotations within those quotations. Commas and periods always go inside closing quotation marks, but semicolons always go outside the closing quotation marks. All other punctuation marks go outside closing quotation marks, except when the punctuation marks are part of the quoted material. If a parenthetical reference is required after a quote, it is located between the quotation and the required punctuation, except if the quotation ends with a question mark or exclamation point. In that case, the original punctuation is retained within the quotation mark and followed with the reference and the sentence period outside the quotation mark.


 * TABLE 10.12**
 * **Example with Double and Single Quotations** || **Example with Commas and Periods** || **Example with a Semicolon** || **Example with a Parenthetical Reference** ||
 * John said, “Jane told me that she was going to ‘stay with the project if it takes all year.’” || We are very proud of our employees,” said Jane Ortiz, president of ABC, Inc., adding, “They strive to exceed customer expectations on every project.” || Aunt Su-rin said, “I will pay for the entire vacation”; this remark left us speechless. || In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the doctor wonders, “How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavored to form?” (42). ||

For additional information about parenthetical references and citing work in text, see the //MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing//, Sections 7.1–5 and //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 11.72–84. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">

For additional information about quotation marks, see //The Chicago Manual of Style//, Sections 11.33//–//42; as well as Chapter 5 (Punctuation) of this Guide.

Back to Top

<span style="display: block; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> Alfred, Gerald J., Brusaw, Charles T., Oliu, Walter E., //Handbook of Technical Writing//. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford, 2006.
 * WORKS CITED**

// The Chicago Manual of Style //. 15th ed. Chicago: U of Chicago P, 2003.

//MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing.// 3rd Ed. New York: MLA, 2008. Print. Truss, Lynne. //Eats, Shoots, & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation//. 2003. New York: Gotham, 2004.