Quotations

Direct Quotations

 

Use quotation marks to indicate the exact language of a speaker or writer.

 

Benjamin Franklin once said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain— and most fools do.”

 

Do not use quotation marks for indirect quotations or paraphrasing (restating it in your own words).

 

Benjamin Franklin said that most fools tend to criticize and condemn others. Dialogue

When indicating dialogue between two or more individuals, create a new paragraph each time the speaker changes. (Go to a new line and indent.)

 

“Why is it such a big deal?” said John. Jenny looked hurt. She had been looking forward to this trip for a long time.

 

“It’s a big deal to me,” she said.

 

“Let’s talk about this tomorrow.”

 

They didn’t discuss it again.

 

Generally, the first letter in a quotation is capitalized. However, if the quotation is a con-tinuation of your sentence, it should be used without capitalization. Also, if the quotation is interrupted and then continued, there is no need to capitalize the second part.

 

Smith argues that “the end of global hunger is in sight.”

 

“Can you imagine,” Sue said, “that happening in front of dad?”

Quotations within quotations

 

Use single quotation marks to indicate a quotation within a quotation.

 

Mark said, “My teacher told me that Ben Franklin once said ‘Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain.’ I wonder if he was trying to drop a hint.”

 

Uncommon or colloquial expressions

 

Quotation marks sometimes indicate a word or phrase that someone else uses, not what the author would normally use.

 

My daughter gave me a handful of weeds and told me to put these “flowers” in water so they wouldn’t die.

 

Titles of Short Works

 

Place quotation marks around the titles of short works such as poems, short stories, articles, songs, and TV programs.

 

In English 101 we read George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant.”

 

I find the story “A Rose for Emily” quite disturbing.

 

We sang “America the Beautiful” at the parade.

 

Quotation Marks with Other Punctuation

 

Place commas and periods inside the quotation marks.

 

“I can’t accept your apology,” she said.

 

Einstein once said that “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” This idea has comforted artsy slackers for years.

 

Question marks and exclamation points are placed inside the quotation marks if the ques-tion or exclamation is part of the original quote. If not part of the original quote, they are placed outside the quotation marks.

 

He looked at me and said, “Do you have a problem?”

 

Can you believe Einstein said “Imagination is more important than knowledge”?

 

Integrating Quotations

 

In academic writing, never plop a quotation in the middle of your writing without prop-erly introducing it and then following it with further commentary or explanation.

Notice how the correct version sets up the context for the quote, introduces the author, and then follows the quote with additional, related commentary.

 

Incorrect: In this paper I will explore attitudes toward nature in ancient times. “Forty-four of the sixty-six meanings of nature listed by Arthur Lovejoy and George Boas were already current in classical times” (Coates 23). Ancient Greeks and Romans had a sophisticated concept of the meaning of nature.

 

Better: The idea of nature was a complicated category in classical Greece and Rome, as it is today. In an impressive survey of Western attitudes toward nature, historian Peter Coates notes that “Forty-four of the sixty-six meanings of nature listed by Arthur Lovejoy and George Boas were already current in classical times” (23). Those definitions, however, had little to do with modern ideas of finding en-joyment in unspoiled wilderness.

 

Introducing a quotation really just means introducing the speaker by last name. If it is the first mention of that speaker, credentials are also appropriate. Many different phrases work; here are a few:

 

•        According to one researcher, John Smith, “___.”

 

•        Smith argues that “___.”

 

When you are choosing a verb tense for your quotation introduction, remember that dis-cussion of books and articles is in present tense (i.e. Ophelia says [not said]). When you are discussing historical events, use past tense (i.e. Martin Luther King, Jr. said [not says]). In all of your writing, make sure to be consistent in tense.

 

Tip: Avoid “connect the quotes” essays.

 

Some essays appear to be a string of extended quotations only loosely connected with original commentary or analysis. Avoid this mistake by only using quotations that direct-ly support your argument and paraphrasing sources when possible. Most of the writing in even heavily researched papers should be original content from the writer.