Examples
All examples on this page are in APA Style unless stated otherwise.
A quotation is an exact copy of the words that someone else has written or said. Place quoted words within quotation marks, also known as speech marks (" ") to indicate a direct quotation, not a summary or paraphrase.
Quotes are formatted differently for different referencing styles.
A quotation can be a full sentence from another source, part of a sentence or several sentences.
Example
When gathering demographic data it is important to remember that “only relevant types of demographic information should be requested” (Lazar, 2006, p. 52).
Source: Web usability: A user-centered design approach (Massey Library login required)
Quotations must always be cited, depending on the referencing system that you are using. In most referencing styles, quotation citations must always include the page number for the quotation location.
When to use quotations
While quotations indicate you have read the literature and identified points of interest, quotations can distract from your writing. Usually, it is best to use quotations rarely and selectively. There are exceptions, such as when engaging in textual analysis.
Demonstrate, to the assignment marker, in the word length available, your understanding of the author's words rather than relying on the words of others. A quotation does not demonstrate that you fully understand what you are quoting. It only shows you can find a relevant quotation, and that you can copy and paste.
Summarise or paraphrase to show you understand the source (because it demonstrates your understanding) and retain a consistent writing style throughout your assignment.
At times, quotations may be the best option.
- Does the quotation express an important idea in a way that you could not write more simply in your own words?
- Does the quotation express an important idea in an authoritative way that you could not write more dramatically or powerfully?
- Is the exact wording necessary for a particular purpose, for example, definitions, literary analysis, or legislation and legal documents?
As a rule of thumb, 1 quotation is a fair number for an average 2,000-word assignment – this allows enough space for your understanding to shine through beyond the words of others.
Integrating quotations with your writing
Integrate quotations into your text – they should never stand alone.
You must show that the quotation relates to the assignment topic. This will often involve deciding whether or not the quotation supports the points you want to make in your assignment.
Irrespective of the direction, introduce and comment on the quotation by linking it immediately to the assignment or paragraph topic. Examples 1 and 2 demonstrate how to integrate quotations that support a particular point of view in an assignment.
Example 1
Example 1
The essay question is “Discuss whether social psychology is a science or an art.”
Quotation example in APA Style 7th edition format
“Social psychologists study behavior because it is behavior that can be observed” (Vaughan & Hogg, 1995, p. 2).
In the essay, the quotation is integrated as follows:
One of the central characteristics of science is its method of demonstrating knowledge through clearly observable events. According to Vaughan and Hogg (1995), "social psychologists study behavior because it is behavior that can be observed" (p. 2). This gives strength to the claim that psychology is a science rather than an art because the scientific method constructs knowledge from observable data.
Source: Introduction to social psychology (4th Ed) (Massey Library login required)
The first sentence (the topic sentence) introduces the topic of observable events, which directs to the quotation.
The final sentence links the quotation back to the essay topic by including it within the essay context of psychology being a science rather than an art.
Example 2
Example 2
The essay question is “Businesses should embrace the information age. Discuss.”
Quotation example in APA Style 7th edition format
“Such … change cannot help but have a fundamental, permanent effect upon the world's industries and the people who work in them” (Davidow & Malone, 1992, p. 2).
In the essay, the quotation is integrated as follows:
The information age is a significant technological force, and "such … change cannot help but have a fundamental, permanent effect upon the world's industries and the people who work in them" (Davidow & Malone, 1992, p. 2). This suggests that if businesses fail to recognise the impact of this technological change, they may be left behind. Consequently, this gives credence to the view that businesses should embrace the information age.
Source: The virtual corporation: Structuring and revitalizing the corporation for the 21st century (Massey Library login required)
The first sentence (the topic sentence) provides a general statement about the issue, which functions to help clarify the change referred to in the upcoming quotation.
The final 2 sentences link the quotation back to the essay topic. The first sentence connects the quotation focus of businesses being left behind if they do not change. The second sentence takes this idea further and explicitly links it back to the essay topic concerning the need for businesses to embrace the information age.
In both examples, the quotation is part of a sentence, which is an effective way of ensuring that it fits your own writing. The most common method of doing this is to use phrases like 'according to' or 'states that'.
Examples of 'according to' and 'state that'
Examples of 'according to' and 'state that'
According to Vaughan and Hogg (1995), “social psychologists …” (p. 2).
Vaughan and Hogg (1995) state that “social psychologists …” (p. 2).
Source: Introduction to social psychology (4th Ed) (Massey Library login required)
Effective substitutes for the phrase 'states that'
Effective substitutes for the phrase 'states that'
Verbs to introduce authors
agrees
asserts
believes
claims
comments
concedes that
challenges
concludes
compares
defines
describes
examines
explains
explores
focuses on
goes further
holds that
insists
identifies
is clear that
maintains
notes
observes
points out
points to
prefers
refers to
responds
reports
says
shows
states
suggests
summarises
touches on
writes that
Highlighting areas of contention or debate
When you bring in opposing points of view and then contest or argue against them, this can make your writing more convincing and stronger to the reader. This is because not only have you provided supportive evidence, but you have also brought in contrary views and then argued against them by bringing in better and stronger evidence. Ultimately, this shows you have read widely, and, more importantly, you have been able to integrate diverging points of view into your assignment.
You may not agree with the quotation, but you can still use it to open up debate:.
Example 3
Example 3
Quotation example in APA Style 7th edition format
In contrast to demonstrating the advances in employment relations, “Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) in New Zealand is at a crossroads” (Sayers & Tremaine, 1994, p. 11).
Snook’s (1996) contention, that “bulk funding, management models of school governance and the promotion of so-called ‘choice’ will do more to destroy decent education than any defective curricula” (p. 55) is open to debate.
Source: The vision and the reality: Equal employment opportunities in the New Zealand workplace (Massey Library login required)
Formatting and changing quotations
With only a few exceptions, quotations should be written word for word, exactly as they are in the original source – this includes punctuation, wording, spelling and American or British spelling.
The exceptions to this rule will depend on the referencing style used but commonly include the following:
Punctuation
Punctuation
If the in-text citation in brackets follows the quotation, the full stop should come after the closing bracket instead of at the end of the quotation.
Example
When gathering demographic data it is important to remember that “only relevant types of demographic information should be requested” (Lazar, 2006, p. 52).
Source: Web usability: A user-centered design approach (Massey Library login required)
First letter
First letter
When a quotation is part of a larger sentence (see the examples in Integrating Quotations above), change the first letter of the quotation from upper-case to lower-case or vice versa. APA allows for this change, but MLA retains the original capitalisation.
Quotation marks
Quotation marks
If the quotation contains quotation marks (" ") inside it, change to single quotation marks (' ') to avoid confusion.
Mistakes
Mistakes
If there is a spelling or grammar error in the original, do not correct it, but insert '[sic]' after the mistake.
Removed words
Removed words
If you have removed words to make the quotation fit better in the document, indicate the removal with an ellipsis (…). Note: you do not need to include an ellipsis at the beginning or end of a quotation unless not doing so would confuse the meaning of the quotation.
Example
The information age is a significant technological force, and “such … change cannot help but have a fundamental, permanent effect upon the world's industries and the people who work in them” (Davidow & Malone, 1992, p. 2).
Source: The virtual corporation: Structuring and revitalizing the corporation for the 21st century (Massey Library login required)
Added words
Added words
If you have added words to make the quotation fit better in the document, put them in square brackets [ ].
Formatting
Formatting
If you have changed the formatting, for example, putting a section in italics, note the change in square brackets.
Example
The information age is a significant technological force, and “such … change cannot help but have a fundamental, permanent [italics added] effect upon the world's industries and the people who work in them” (Davidow & Malone, 1992, p. 2).
Source: The virtual corporation: Structuring and revitalizing the corporation for the 21st century (Massey Library login required)
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