Using Quotations
ENGLISH 1101
First things first…
 A citation is where you tell the author and page
number of the source. You are citing the information.
 Example
 The author says, “Florida State students are always successful
after graduation” (Smith 45).
This is the citation. It is in
parenthesis, after the end of the
quote. It includes the author’s
last name and the page number.
There are NO COMMAS used. A
period goes outside of the
parenthesis.
Quotes are used as SUPPORT.
 When should you quote?
• When you use more than 3 words in a row from a source

Example
• Comparing the two women’s background shows the
“generational differences in the experiences of African
American women” (Hartmann 182).
• When you use an unusual or significant word
•Example
•In a TV interview, Jackson showed off his “slam jam”
dance move (Miller 55).
 When should you NOT quote?
 To fill space
 As a substitute for your own thinking

Use quotes ONLY as support for your own ideas
Always SANDWICH your quotes with your words
 Your words introducing the quote  Quote  Your
words explaining the quote

Your words = The top bread
The quote = The meat
Your words = The bottom bread

Example:



The author believes the group had flaws. She writes, “The agency
was an imperfect example of how a group should function” (King
3). Some of the imperfections listed by King include lack of
membership and dishonest principles.
There are 2 types of quotes
 Type #1: Block quotes
 If a quote is more than 4 typed lines of your paper, you should
use a block quote format.
 Set off with 10 spaces or 2 tab marks.
 Introduce block quote with your own complete sentence and a
colon.
 Pay attention to how to cite a block quote.
Each line of
quote is
indented 10
spaces.
In the book, the author argues that the
environment is more responsible for crime:
A five-minute visit to your local
underclass neighborhood will leave you
with no shortage of non-genetic
explanations for the crime rate. (Link 35)
Changes in society, not in biology, are responsible
for the rise in crime.
 Type #2: Integrated quotes (more common than block quotes)
 This type of quote is integrated into your own writing. It is part
of your paragraph, not separate like a block quote.
 The citation for an integrated quote is different than a block
quote.
 Always introduce integrated quotes with your own words.

There are 4 different ways to do this.
 Introduce with a verb and a comma
 Introduce with a complete sentence and a colon
 Run your sentence and your quotation together
 Quote only certain words
Introducing a quote with a verb and a comma
claim is the verb
and it is followed
by a comma
 The editors claim, “Given the family structures and
role models, society should take responsibility for the
crime” (Mills 45).
Citation includes the author’s
last name in parenthesis and
the page number. There are
NO COMMAS. A period goes
outside of the parenthesis.
No period or comma at the end of
the quote. Only include the
punctuation if it is a question mark
or exclamation point.
Introducing a quote with
a complete sentence and a colon
Complete sentence followed by a colon
COLON
 The editors claim that social factors are to blame:
“Given the family structures and role models, society
should take responsibility for the crime” (Mills 45).
Citation
Running your sentence and quotation together
The quote and your own writing come together to form
one complete sentence. There is no punctuation used
between your introduction and the quote.
 The editors claim that “society should take
responsibility for the crime” (Mills 45).
citation
Quoting only certain words
Use your own words to
sandwich the quoted words.
 The editors claim that based upon “family
structures and role models,” influences from
society are to blame (Mills 45).
citation
Two special cases…
 What if you want to leave words out of a quote?
 Use an ellipsis (3 periods in a row) surrounded by brackets

Based upon “family structures […] society should take
responsibility for the crime” (Mills 45).
• What if you want to add words to a quote? (Do this if
you need to explain something further or give an example)
• Mark the added words with brackets
•The editors claim, “Given the family structures [such as high
divorce rates] and role models, society should take
responsibility for the crime” (Mills 45).
USING THE FOLLOWING QUOTE,
PRACTICE THE INTRODUCING
A QUOTE WITH A VERB…
“I’M A MAN WHO DISCOVERED THE WHEEL AND
BUILT THE EIFFEL TOWER OUT OF METAL AND
BRAWN. THAT ’S WHAT KIND OF MAN I AM. YOU’RE
JUST A WOMAN WITH A SMALL BRAIN. WITH A
BRAIN A THIRD THE SIZE OF US. IT ’S SCIENCE.”
– R O N B U R G U N DY, PA G E 2 0
Example of a quote introduced with a verb…
Burgundy explains, “You’re just a woman
with a small brain” (20).
USING THE FOLLOWING QUOTE,
PRACTICE INTRODUCING A QUOTE
WITH A COMPLETE SENTENCE
AND A COLON…
“I’M A MAN WHO DISCOVERED THE WHEEL AND
BUILT THE EIFFEL TOWER OUT OF METAL AND
BRAWN. THAT ’S WHAT KIND OF MAN I AM. YOU’RE
JUST A WOMAN WITH A SMALL BRAIN. WITH A
BRAIN A THIRD THE SIZE OF US. IT ’S SCIENCE.”
– R O N B U R G U N DY, PA G E 2 0
Example of introducing a quote with a
complete sentence and a colon…
Burgundy looks down upon women:
“You’re just a woman with a small brain.
With a brain the third the size of us. It’s
science” (20).
USING THE FOLLOWING QUOTE,
PRACTICE RUNNING THE QUOTE
TOGETHER WITH YOUR
SENTENCE…
“I’M A MAN WHO DISCOVERED THE WHEEL AND
BUILT THE EIFFEL TOWER OUT OF METAL AND
BRAWN. THAT ’S WHAT KIND OF MAN I AM. YOU’RE
JUST A WOMAN WITH A SMALL BRAIN. WITH A
BRAIN A THIRD THE SIZE OF US. IT ’S SCIENCE.”
– R O N B U R G U N DY, PA G E 2 0
Example of introducing a quote by running
the quote together with your sentence…
Burgundy believes that he “built the Eiffel
Tower out of metal and brawn” (20).
USING THE FOLLOWING QUOTE,
PRACTICE QUOTING ONLY
CERTAIN WORDS…
“I’M A MAN WHO DISCOVERED THE WHEEL AND
BUILT THE EIFFEL TOWER OUT OF METAL AND
BRAWN. THAT ’S WHAT KIND OF MAN I AM. YOU’RE
JUST A WOMAN WITH A SMALL BRAIN. WITH A
BRAIN A THIRD THE SIZE OF US. IT ’S SCIENCE.”
– R O N B U R G U N DY, PA G E 2 0
Example of quoting only certain words…
Burgundy claims that it is “science” that a
man’s brain is three times as large as the
brain of a woman (20).