How to Cite a Quote in Standard American English
When you are writing a paper or giving a presentation, you may need to include a quote from another source. It is important to cite your sources correctly to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author.
There are two main styles of citation in Standard American English: the Modern Language Association (MLA) style and the American Psychological Association (APA) style. The MLA style is most commonly used in the humanities, while the APA style is most commonly used in the social sciences.
MLA Style
In MLA style, a quote is cited in parentheses after the quoted material. The citation includes the author’s last name and the page number of the source. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith 12).
If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, only the page number is needed in the citation. For example:
Smith writes, "The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (12).
If you are quoting a long passage (more than four lines of poetry or more than 100 words of prose), you should indent the passage and omit the quotation marks. The citation should be placed after the last line of the passage. For example:
The sky was a mass of clouds,
Dark and threatening,
A harbinger of the storm to come.(Smith 12)
APA Style
In APA style, a quote is cited in parentheses after the quoted material. The citation includes the author’s last name, the year of publication, and the page number. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith, 2020, p. 12).
If the author’s name is mentioned in the text, only the year of publication and the page number are needed in the citation. For example:
Smith (2020) writes, "The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (p. 12).
If you are quoting a long passage, you should indent the passage and omit the quotation marks. The citation should be placed on a new line after the last line of the passage. For example:
The sky was a mass of clouds,
Dark and threatening,
A harbinger of the storm to come.Smith, 2020, p. 12
Other Citation Styles
There are other citation styles besides MLA and APA, such as the Chicago Manual of Style and the Turabian style. The specific style you use will depend on the requirements of your instructor or publisher.
When to Cite a Quote
You should cite a quote whenever you use someone else’s words or ideas in your own writing. This includes direct quotes, paraphrases, and summaries.
How to Avoid Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s work without giving credit to the original author. This can be a serious academic offense, and it can have serious consequences, such as failing a class or being expelled from school.
To avoid plagiarism, always cite your sources correctly. This means giving credit to the original author every time you use their words or ideas. You can do this by using a citation style such as MLA or APA.
FAQ
How do I cite a quote from a website?
To cite a quote from a website, include the author’s name, the title of the article or page, the name of the website, and the date you accessed the website. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith, "The Storm," weather.com, March 8, 2020).
How do I cite a quote from a book that has multiple authors?
If the book has two authors, list both authors’ last names in the citation. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith and Jones, 2020, p. 12).
If the book has more than two authors, list the first author’s last name followed by "et al." For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith et al., 2020, p. 12).
How do I cite a quote from a book that has no page numbers?
If the book has no page numbers, you can cite the chapter or section instead. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith, 2020, Chapter 3).
How do I cite a quote from a poem?
To cite a quote from a poem, include the author’s name, the title of the poem, and the line numbers of the quote. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith, "The Storm," lines 1-2).
How do I cite a quote that is not in English?
If the quote is not in English, you should translate it into English and then cite the translation. In the citation, you should include the original language of the quote and the name of the translator. For example:
"The sky was a mass of clouds, dark and threatening" (Smith, "The Storm," translated by Jones).
