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Quoting Sources-MLA

How to Quote

When deciding what to quote, select passages that either seem especially well phrased or are unique to the author and/or subject matter. Be selective in your quotations and make sure to properly integrate quotes into your writing.

Tips

  • Choose passages that seem especially well phrased or are unique to the author or subject matter.
  • Be selective in your quotations. Avoid over-quoting.
  • You don’t have to quote an entire passage. Use ellipses (. . .) to indicate omitted words.
  • It's okay (and sometimes advisable) to introduce the author’s name before the quotation.
  • Before or after quoting a passage, include an explanation in which you interpret the significance of the quote for the reader.
  • If you are having trouble paraphrasing (putting something into your own words), that may be a sign that you should quote it.
  • Shorter quotes are generally incorporated into the flow of a sentence while longer quotes may be set off in “blocks.” Check your citation handbook for quoting guidelines.

Take a look at the examples of poor and high quality quoting.

Source

Brown, Stuart L. Play: How it Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination, and Invigorates the Soul. Avery, 2009, New

York.

Original passage (page 134): “By far the biggest reason that companies want to talk to me about play is its role in creativity and innovation. They want to talk about this because many corporations rightly identify play as their most precious commodity. Production matters now, but creativity is the source of all growth—the new products, new techniques, new services, and new solutions to old problems that mark the difference between a company that will thrive and one that will soon be deader than the eight-track tape.”

Quoting examples

  • Poor quality quoting: In an article about play, the author states that “They want to talk about this because many corporations rightly identify play as their most precious commodity” (Brown). This quote pretty much sums up the main point of the article.
    • Explanation: The above example of quoting is vague and the meaning of the quotation could easily be misconstrued. The meaning and purpose of any quote in your paper should be clear to readers of your paper. Always take the time to introduce and properly integrate any quotes in your paper. The quote should also include an accurate in-text citation for the source used, including the page number.
  • High quality quoting: As a corporate play consultant, Stuart Brown writes that the most common reason for companies requesting him to discuss play is due to its role in creativity and innovation: “Production matters now, but creativity is the source of all growth . . . the difference between a company that will thrive and one that will soon be deader than the eight-track tape” (134).
    • Explanation: The author’s name is used to introduce the quote, and the page number is cited at the end. Ellipses have been included to indicate omitted text and to avoid lengthy quotation. In addition, the author introduces the quote with an explanation of why it is important.