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 Ways to introduce quotes

When (event in book) happened, (character) states, "..."

Ex: When Lady Macbeth kills herself, Macbeth states, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more (V.V.19-20).

(Character) explains: "..." (citation).

(Your own words) "direct quotes from book" ...

Ex: Macbeth pines over his miserable fate, calling life a "walking shadow" (citation).

Ways to paraphrase

Directly look at quote and replace the text with your words. It is vitally important to maintain the same meaning:

Ex: In other words, Macbeth compares his existence to the condition of being a mere ghost. He goes on to compare people to actors who worry about their brief moment in the spotlight only to cease to exist before he realizes his life is over.

Ways to analyze

Look at the subtle parts of the quote, and explain why the author used them in his writing--Tone, diction, mood, figurative language (metaphors, similes, imagery, alliteration, onomatopoeia, personification...there are A LOT).

Ex: The metaphors Shakespeare uses, comparing life to a "walking shadow" and man to "a poor player" emphasize the fleeting nature of life. Shadows are gone as soon as they appear, and actors only assume their character: the people they represent have no true meaning.

Ways to evaluate

Show the importance of the quote with respect to your argument and your thesis. Explain the significance...Tell the reader why they bothered to read your essay. This is where you tie your thoughts together in a nice bow.

Ex: Here, Macbeth realizes that his pitiful existence, from the moment he decided to kill King Duncan to the moment when his beloved wife killed herself, has been consumed by his reckless ambition. This directly shows the damaging power of ambition. If Macbeth had been content with his previous title, which was prestigious enough, a host of tragedy would have been avoided.

When Lady Macbeth kills herself, Macbeth states, "Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more" (V.V.19-28). In other words, Macbeth compares his existence to the condition of being a mere ghost. He goes on to compare people to actors who worry about their brief moment in the spotlight only to cease to exist before they realize it is over. The metaphors Shakespeare uses, comparing life to a "walking shadow" and man to "a poor player" emphasize the fleeting nature of life. Shadows are gone as soon as they appear, and actors only assume their character: the people they represent have no true meaning. Here, Macbeth realizes that his pitiful existence, from the moment he decided to kill King Duncan to the moment when his beloved wife killed herself, has been destroyed by his reckless ambition. This directly shows the damaging power of ambition, a major theme of the play. If Macbeth had been content with his previous title, which was prestigious enough, a wealth of tragedy would have been avoided.

Write your thesis here for reference:

1. Write the quote here, with a way to introduce it:

2. Write a paraphrase here (remember to keep the same meaning):

3. Write your analysis here (look for the subtle, key parts of the quote):

4. Write your evaluation here (prove why the quote is important in relation to your thesis):

5. Repeat for the rest of your text-based essay!!!

Sarah Cohen

Student Learning Center, University of California, Berkeley

©2009 UC Regents

  This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

How can I analyse a quote in depth?

For exam and coursework answers, one thing that will consistently be asked of you is to provide in-depth analysis of a quote. However this is often easier said than done, especially if you’re unsure of where to begin, so I’d recommend using a simple step-by-step process:

Step 1- Select your quote carefully

Make sure your quote is relevant: think about who or what it is referring to, where it comes from in the text and how this relates to the question.

Consider the length of the quotation: I suggest opting for a shorter one so that you don’t waste valuable time writing and/or memorising the quote. This allows for more time spent actually analysing the quote and showing off the skills that the examiner actually wants to see (contrary to popular belief, English Literature is a lot more than a memory test!) It is possible to get an A* using just quotes that are made up of three or less words!

Step 2- Identify literary techniques

Although you can analyse a quote in depth just focusing on word choices, examiners LOVE it when you identify and name literary techniques in your essay.

Think about things like:

Alliteration

Emotive language

Personification

Line length (in verse)

Stage directions (in plays)

Sounds in words (plosive or sibilant)

Step 3- What effects do these techniques have? What effects does this quote have overall?

By this point, you will have provided some analysis, however you need to go further to show that you have analysed in depth. To do this, think about what effect individual techniques have and how this may alter the impact of the quote as a whole.

Do your best to include alternative interpretations: the sibilance in ‘she is silent’ could create a soothing, peaceful effect, but it could alternatively be interpreted as eerie or sinister. To take your work to the next level, you might want to consider which interpretation you think is most convincing and why you think this is the case.

Step 4- What effect do you think the writer intended this quote to have? To what extent do you think they achieved this intention?

In order to get the top levels for English literature, you really need to add some evaluation, so think about why the writer may have chosen to use the literary techniques and words that they did; if you found the quote could be interpreted in multiple ways, which way do you think the writer wanted it to be interpreted? Do you think any ambiguity in the quote was intended?

Once you have stated what you believe the writer wanted to achieve through their choice of words and literary techniques, you can even go so far as to think about to what extent you believe the writer was successful. Remember that you do not have to like the writing that you are being asked to analyse, as long as you can explain why you do not think it was effective!

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How to analyze quotes in essays: A step-by-step guide

Katie October 24, 2022 communication , study skills , writing tips

By Katie Azevedo, M.Ed.

You need to know how to analyze quotes in essays for high school, college, and beyond. Finding and including quotes to support your argument is an important first step, but the real skill is in how you analyze the quotes to thoroughly convince the reader of your essay’s thesis. (Need to write an essay in a week or less? Here’s your roadmap .)

How to analyze quotes in essays at 3 levels

Good quote analysis has three parts. The sequence of each level is important because each level builds off the one before it. Below are the three levels of properly analyzing textual evidence (quotes) you include in your essays:

• Level 1: Explanation
• Level 2: Connection to paragraph claim
• Level 3: Connection to essay thesis and larger ideas/themes

In the following sections, I will explain exactly how to analyze quotes at all three levels. To better illustrate how to do this, I will use a quote from John Knowles’s novel A Separate Peace. If you have not read this book, you’ll still be able to follow along.

Here’s a quote from A Separate Peace that I will refer to throughout this blog post. This is the quote we will analyze at all 3 levels:   “Although they were old stairs, the worn moons in the middle of each step were not very deep. The marble must be unusually hard. That seemed very likely, only too likely, although with all my thought about these stairs this exceptional hardness had not occurred to me. It was surprising that I had overlooked that, that crucial fact” (Knowles, 10).

Context of the quote (to help you better understand, in case you haven’t read the book): Gene Forrester is returning to the campus of his former boarding high school. As he’s touring the campus as an adult, he comes to a large marble staircase and stops to reflect on its appearance. This is the staircase his childhood best friend Phineas fell down, leading to his death. Gene is partly responsible for Phineas’s death.

Quote analysis Level 1: Explanation

At this level, the goal is to ensure the reader fully understands the meaning of the quote and the purpose of the author’s language. Here, we analyze the quote for:

• Word choice
• Literal meaning
• Connotation
• Figurative language

Example quote analysis at Level 1 (explanation):

Analysis: When the author describes the stairs with “worn moons” in the middle, he’s indicating that Gene has repetitively replayed the staircase incident in his memory over the years. In other words, while the stairs are literally worn, the memory of the staircase incident has “worn moons” in his ruminations.

Quote analysis Level 2: Connection to paragraph claim

Every body paragraph in your essay should begin with a claim (topic sentence). This sentence should connect back to the essay’s thesis statement and introduce the idea forthcoming in the paragraph. Once you insert your quotation and analyze it for explanation (level #1), we must connect the quote to your claim. 

To show you what this looks like in real life, I wrote a sample claim statement (topic sentence). I want you to imagine it is the opening line of a body paragraph. Then we will analyze the same staircase quote as before, but this time we will connect it to the claim.

Sample claim statement: Gene’s teenage insecurity and anxiety cloud his judgment, alter his reality and prevent him from forming meaningful connections to the truth.

Example quote analysis at Level 2 (connection to claim):

Analysis: When the author describes the stairs with “worn moons” in the middle, he’s indicating that Gene has repetitively replayed the staircase incident in his memory over the years. In other words, while the stairs are literally worn, the memory of the staircase incident has “worn moons” in his ruminations (analysis from level one). Even while attending the school, Gene’s excessive ruminations and insecurities prevent him from seeing the truth of what’s right in front of him, including the love that Phineus extends to Gene, without reciprocation, throughout the novel (connection to claim).

Quote analysis Level 3: Connection to essay thesis and larger ideas

Level 3 quote analysis drives home the connection between your chosen quote and the whole argument of your essay. In other words, you need to prove to the reader exactly why this quote validates your thesis.

A tip for this type of quote analysis is to think of the following sentence starters:

• This quote* validates the idea that [thesis statement] because _____.
• This quote* is critical to proving [thesis statement] because _____.

* Using “this quote” isn’t the best way to introduce analysis, but you get the idea. What I want you to focus on is filling in the BECAUSE statement: that’s critical.

To show you how to analyze quotes in essays at Level 3, I wrote a sample thesis statement that I want you to imagine is the introduction paragraph of your essay. Then we will analyze the same staircase quote as before, but this time we will connect it to the thesis.

Sample thesis statement: Gene’s teenage insecurity and anxiety are the root causes of his toxic interactions with himself and those closest to him, eventually leading him to choose either acceptance of or rejection of responsibility for his role in the tragedies that surround him.

Example quote analysis at Level 3 (connection to thesis):

Analysis: When the author describes the stairs with “worn moons” in the middle, he’s indicating that Gene has repetitively replayed the staircase incident in his memory over the years. In other words, while the stairs are literally worn, the memory of the staircase incident has “worn moons” in his ruminations (analysis from level one). Even while attending the school, Gene’s excessive ruminations and insecurities prevent him from seeing what’s right in front of him, including the love that Phineus extends to Gene, without reciprocation, throughout the novel (connection to claim). Because Gene’s cognitive capacities are impeded by his anxiety, his ability to create and maintain relationships is null. As a result, his relationship with Phineus is superficial and one-sided, leading him indirectly to contribute to Phineus’s death. Only after Phineus’s death is Gene able to confront the choice to accept or deny responsibility for his role. His genuine reflection at the staircase, years later, reveals that he is finally capable of acknowledging and accepting the truth (connection to thesis).

Final notes about analyzing quotes for essays

Knowing how to analyze quotes in essays is literally the golden key to writing strong literary analysis papers. It’s never enough to say, “This quote proves the thesis.” You have to show why and how it proves the thesis. And just when you think you’ve made your point, go one level deeper and challenge yourself to analyze why the analysis matters. THAT’S the golden nugget of analyzing quotes right there.

If you struggle to edit your own essays, here’s my ultimate guide for editing your own papers .

You might also be interested in my FREE essay editing checklist . It’s kind of awesome.

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How to Analyze a Quote

Last Updated: December 9, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 97,289 times.

Being thoughtful and accurate is the secret to a good analysis of a quote. Present the quote factually and be mindful of its broader context. Paraphrase the quote, which will convey your understanding of it. Break down elements of the writing style, and consider the importance of the quote to its audience.

Analyzing the Linguistic Style

• As an example, you could write, “Hemingway used a blunt and dark metaphor when he said, 'Writing is easy. You just open a vein and bleed.'”

• You could also describe an author's tone as macabre, reverent, jaded, nostalgic, critical, arrogant, ironic, evasive, bitter, humble, caustic, earnest, whimsical, assertive, derisive, formal, impartial, enthusiastic, or patronizing, to name a few.
• For instance, you might identify the tone of a Dorothy Parker quote by saying, "With her typical tongue-in-cheek defeatism, Dorothy Parker wrote, 'Take me or leave me; or, as is the usual order of things, both'."

• For instance, an analysis of a famous line from Romeo and Juliet might note that, "Shakespeare used alliteration in a memorable line that reads like a song: 'From forth the fatal loins of these two foes; a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.'"

Introducing the Quote

• For instance, set up a negative quote by saying something like, "Critics of the group were vocal about their dismay."
• Situate a quote within a theme or phenomenon by saying something like, "The anti-vaccine movement has swept across the country in recent years."

• For instance: "In his 1975 publication, 'Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison', Michel Foucault had this to say about power, knowledge, and sexuality : [...]"

Explaining the Meaning

• For example, say, "In other words, when Aristotle said, 'It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it', he meant that it is important to know what other people's beliefs are, even if you don't agree with them."

• For instance, write something like, “This quote from Churchill, as part of a stirring speech that inspired Britain, encapsulates his role in boosting morale during the war.”

• For example, you might connect the Winston Churchill quote, "Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have", to current-day debates about healthcare.

Expert Q&A

Video . by using this service, some information may be shared with youtube..

• Never begin or end a paragraph or paper with a quotation. A proper analysis should sandwich the actual quote between your introduction and concluding thoughts. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Avoid using overly long quotes, which can weigh down a paper and make your analysis sound scattered or imprecise. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://slc.berkeley.edu/quote-analysis-easy-way
• ↑ https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/what-alliteration
• ↑ https://www.antioch.edu/santa-barbara/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/12/WRITING-CENTER_1.-Tips-for-Integrating-Quotations-final.pdf
• ↑ https://poorvucenter.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/Working%20with%20Quotations%203%20-%20Analysis.pdf
• ↑ https://writingctr.rutgers.edu/blog/161-5-steps-to-quote-analysis
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/quotations/

About This Article

If you need to analyze a quote, start by introducing the context of the quote, including relevant information about the author, the historical period, and any other significant details, like whether the quote came from a book or a speech. Present the quote in its entirety, then restate it in your own words. Follow that by explaining why you think the quote is significant. Also, point out any figurative language in the quote that reinforce your interpretation, like metaphors, hyperbole, or idioms. Keep reading to learn tips from our Writing co-author on how to relate the quote to current events! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Free Quote Analysis Generator

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General Analysis

Analyzing quotes can be a challenging task. Sometimes it's nearly impossible to figure out the quoted person's idea, especially if you disagree with their sayings. What should you do?

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• ️🚀 How Our Tool Works
• ️🏆 Benefits of Our Generator
• ️💬 What Is a Quote Analysis?
• ️📜 Analyzing a Quote Step by Step
• ️🔗 References

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Here’s how you can use the power of ChatGPT's AI to analyze quotes via our generator:

• Copy the quotation into the empty field.
• Optionally, write the name of the quoted person.
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💬 What Is a Quote Analysis?

A quote analysis involves reviewing a quote to comprehend its meaning. The main goal of such analysis is to understand the value of the statement and its context. It can be achieved by examining the words, phrases, and structure of the saying. Quote analysis can also serve as a base for an argument because most sayings can be interpreted in various ways.

📜 Analyzing a Quote Step by Step

Don't know how to write a perfect quote analysis? Check out the helpful guide below!

Step 1. Choose the Quote to Analyze

If your teacher hasn’t assigned you a quote, you can pick one yourself. Here's how to do it:

• Consider who or what the chosen saying refers to , where it appears in the context , and why it is crucial to understand its main idea.
• It wouldn’t hurt to consider the chosen quote's length . We recommend picking a shorter one so that you don't spend too much time on it. Remember that you can get an A+ with any quote, and it doesn’t matter how many words it has.
• Finally, pay attention to the quote’s meaning . Overly specific statements are tough to understand, so be sure to pick something more universal and transparent.

Step 2. Identify the Speaker and the Audience

Identifying the author of a quote is the next crucial step in evaluating it. Just answer the following questions:

• Who said the quote?
• Is it a well-known individual or a fictional character from a book?
• Does the author provide any explanation for the quote?
• What’s the quoted person’s audience ?

The more you know about the speaker, the easier it will be for you to understand the quote and the setting in which it was spoken.

Step 3. Know the Context

Finding the quote's context is the next crucial step to understanding the statement’s value. To do it, find the answers to the following questions:

• What is the quote's historical, political, or cultural setting?
• What does the quote mean for the speaker and the audience?
• What was the speaker’s reason for saying this particular quote?

Step 4. Analyze the Literary Devices

A quote always has a specific style and structure, whether it is spoken or written. That’s why it requires you to locate the literary devices that may give the words more depth or a double meaning. Among those things are:

Step 5. Define the Tone of the Quote

Any comprehensive analysis needs to locate and demonstrate the quote's attitude. It must show the statement’s effect and relevance. To define the tone of the quote, try to feel the author’s emotions and the settings in which it was said. Also, pay attention to the quote’s contents.

For example, to describe the mood of Dorothy Parker’s saying, "Take me or leave me; or, as is the ordinary order of things, both," you can use the phrase: "With her trademark tongue-in-cheek defeatism, Dorothy Parker said..."

Step 6. Paraphrase the Quote

If you’re stuck with understanding the quote, try paraphrasing it in your own words. Use phrases like "In other words," and then write how you see the quoted person’s idea. Make sure to convey the intended message!

In addition, you can also try using our free quote analysis generator. It’ll explain the meaning of a saying you’re analyzing and allow you to take a fresh look at it.

Step 7. Describe the Meaning and Implications

A truly comprehensive analysis requires you to give a personal opinion on the quote. To do it effectively, we recommend you answer the following questions:

• Why might the author have chosen to employ the literary devices and words they did?
• What do you think were the quote’s goals and objectives?
• Was the quote intended to be ambiguous in any way?

Once you've answered these questions, you should now have an understanding of what the author intended to accomplish with their saying.

Interpreting the quote and defining its meaning is the hardest step of the analysis. Need some help with it? Then definitely try our generator! It can help break through this barrier. As a result, you won’t make mistakes, and your analysis will receive a higher grade.

Step 8. Establish the Relevance to Current Events

The best way to establish a quote's impact is to show how it still applies today, outside its original context. Try looking for similarities between the quote's historical period and the current days. Additionally, explain the phenomenon of the words' enduring impact.

For example, take Winston Churchill’s quote: "Healthy citizens are the greatest asset any country can have." This quote will always remain relevant to society because healthy citizens contribute the most to their country. That's why society must encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Just like that, you can analyze any quote that you like. We hope that our guide will help you as well as our generator. Feel free to try our app and see for yourself how the quality of your quote analysis will improve exponentially. Don’t believe us? Try it and see for yourself!

We also suggest using our mission statement and research hypothesis generators .

❓ Quotation Analysis Generator FAQ

❓ how to make a quote analysis.

To conduct a quote analysis, start by discussing the person behind it. Then, consider the quote's context and interpret its literal and implied meaning. Finally, connect it to the larger argument and analyze its significance in the text.

❓ How do you explain the significance of a quote?

You can explain the significance of a quote by considering its relevance to the larger context. You also need to mention its impact on the themes it discusses. Does it support or challenge existing viewpoints? Additionally, analyze the implications of the quote and its contribution to its topic's interpretation.

❓ How do you explain a quote in a presentation?

• Provide the necessary context.
• Briefly introduce the quote.
• Explain its relevance to the topic or argument.
• Provide your interpretation or analysis.
• Connect it to your presentation's theme.

❓ How to transition from quote to analysis?

To make a smooth transition from a quote to an analysis, provide a brief explanation of the quote's relevance. Then, connect it to the main argument you're discussing. Finally, start your analysis by delving deeper into the underlying meaning, implications, or evidence related to the quote.

❓ How to analyze a quote from poetry?

Here's how to analyze a quote from a poem:

• Examine the literary devices used in the quote.
• Consider the poem's language, rhythm, and structure.
• Interpret the quote's deeper meaning and analyze its emotional impact.
• Link it to the themes and motifs of the poem.

🔗 References

• Quotation Analysis for Source Use: Red Rocks Community College
• Quote Analysis—The Easy Way!: University of California, Berkeley
• 5 Steps to Quote Analysis: Rutgers University
• Working with Quotations 3: Analysis: Yale University
• Quotation, Paraphrase, Summary, and Analysis: George Mason University

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How To Analyze A Quote: A Detailed Guide

As a writer, you shouldn’t source for quotes to support your ideas after completing each paragraph. It makes it harder to use quotes that way. However, it would help if you have your quotes and examples ready before writing your paragraphs.

Furthermore, you should be able to analyze quotes, especially if you’re a non-fiction writer. For your paragraph to be strong, you should be able to analyze your quotes and examples.

In this post, we’ll highlight how you can analyze and format quotes in your work. But first, let’s answer the question.

Table of Contents

How Do You Analyze A Quote?

Analyzing a quote involves separating a whole quote into parts for your readers to understand the quote. You should be able to present and paraphrase it to make it easier to understand.

However, to analyze a quote properly, you should first understand what a quote is.

A quote refers to an act of repeating a phrase, sentence, or paragraph from a different source. It may be from a narrative, a speech, or even a poem. It’s also used as a means to illustrate or show a meaning.

Tips On Analyzing Quotes

Choose your quote carefully:.

Select a relevant quote. It should be written as it was originally. Show the spelling and punctuations within it exactly as it was, not minding the grammar. However, it’s better to use short quotes.

Furthermore, structure the quote regarding who said it, where it was said, and when. It would make sense if you also wrote down the name of the individual who said it, a little about them, and why they said it. Indicate how the quote was made (like as a speech or in a book).

For example, “In her 1998 publication , ‘Emotion and Decision Making,’ Maria Miguel had this to say about love and duty: […].”

Additionally, when presenting the quote, write one or two sentences that increase its importance. Also, you can show how the audience received the quote when it was first written or spoken.

Identify the literary styles: 

A quote contains a literary technique or style. Literary devices add depth and meaning it. So you can easily identify them. Such literary devices include simile, metaphor, personification, irony, hyperbole, and so on.

For instance, you can write, “Jennifer Skye used a metaphor when she said, ‘The words were touching. They cut deep into our hearts”.

Additionally, you should spot the use of alliteration. It’s called a literary device that creates a repetition of words that start with similar consonant sounds in a sentence. It makes a sentence easy to memorize. So, you should state this when you analyze the quote.

For example, analyzing a quote from Romeo and Juliet, you may write, “Shakespeare made use of alliteration to make a line memorable: ‘from forth the fatal loins of these two foes.’”

Also, point out the tone. Indicate the mood or state of mind in which the quote was written or spoken. And show if it represents the person who gave the quote. You can identify the tone as jaded, critical, ironic, bitter, assertive, formal, and so on.

For instance, you can identify the tone of an Allen Brown quote by saying, “With his normal casual tone, Allen brown wrote, ‘Someone else has to do something about it. What’s the big deal? It’s making everyone waste a lot of time’.”

Describe the meaning of the quote: 

You should explain what the quote means. You can start by rewriting it in your own words. Write it in ways that will show the meaning of what the author wrote or said.

For instance, you can write,” In other words, when Brown said, ‘A wise man knows when to say something, but a foolish man says anything he wants, he meant that it’s important to know the right time to say your view.”

Also, show the effect the quote has on its audience, such as creating an emotional response. Add a theme or significance to it as a reason for analyzing it. It shouldn’t be too long. So, use two or three sentences to describe it.

For instance, you can write something like, “This quote from Brown, as a part of population moderation, shows his role in encouraging right family planning.”

Furthermore, evaluate what the author might have intended the quote to achieve. You can do it by relating it to recent events or ideas that are relevant today. Look beyond its immediate setting.

For example, you might connect Brown’s quote, “Reducing pollutions creates a better environment,” to current-day debates on pollution.

How To Format A Quote

To quote other works in your book , you have to format them properly.

How to format a quote using MLA : 

When you want to show a quote in your book, close it with double quotation marks. Write the author and the exact page number in an in-text citation. Also, add it to the reference list at the end of the book.

Furthermore, when there are exclamation and question marks in the quoted passage or sentences, place them within the quotation marks. But if they’re not a part of the quoted sentences, place them after the citation.

It also applies to other punctuation marks like comma, semicolons, and periods. They should be placed after the citation.

For instance, according to it, manuals should give “specific directions for different aspects of a product” (Brown 207).

Is it possible that they will give “specific directions for different aspects of a product” (Brown 207)?

Additionally, when you’re using short quotes from poetry, signify the break at the end of each line with a slash (/). But if it’s a stanza break, use double slash (//).

Here’s an example. Allen concludes, “Whatever was meant to be / That’s what I surely saw” (5-6).

Also, if it’s a long quotation (more than three lines of a poem or four lines of prose), don’t use quotation marks. Instead, write the quote on a new line as a free-standing text block. It should be an inch from the left margin (indention) and maintain double spacing.

When you quote more than one paragraph, add an extra ¼ inch indention in the next paragraph. It’ll indicate that it’s a new paragraph within the quote. For instance,

To the end of the festival, John could never remember how he found himself at the edge, without any money in his wallet or the credit card he usually took when he went out. He stopped a cab as he hurried back home.

When he returned, he couldn’t find the food truck. Feeling defeated, he went back to where his friends were sitting. (Arthur 24)

But when you’re quoting a verse, write it just as the exact line breaks, and it should be double spaced.

Furthermore, if you add a word that is not part of the original quote, use a bracket to show it. Also, if you don’t add a word or some words within the original quote, use ellipses to indicate it. However, you don’t need to add brackets around the ellipses, except to make it clear.

For poetry, when you don’t add words within the quote, use ellipses to indicate it. However, if it’s a whole line of a poem, use periods like a line in the poem. For example,

Mahon’s poem opens with a series of images of eerily deserted spaces:

Even now, there are places where a thought might grow

……………………………………………….

To a slow clock of condensation,

An echo trapped forever, and a flutter of wildflowers in the lift-shaft

How to format a quote using APA:

When you format a quote using APA , you’ll have to follow the specified guideline. For short quotes, use quotation marks to specify the quote and then write your text. It is then followed by a full citation and the page number (in parenthesis).

If the quote is from a narrative, add the author and year in the sentence. Then, write the page number (and other location information) in parenthesis after the quote. Also, add periods and commas after the quotation marks. But add other punctuation marks within the quotation marks.

It would help if you also used brackets to indicate a word you added to the original quote. Also, add ellipses to show that you removed words from within the quote.

You can either write the source (author, year, and page number) after the quote in a parenthesis. Or, you can write it (author and year) before the quote and then write the page number in parenthesis after the quote.

Here’s an example. According to Brown (2018), “The right manuals should have specific directions for different aspects of a product,” (p. 207).

For long quotes (over forty words), don’t use quotation marks to indicate the quotes. Write a block quotation that starts from a new line with half an inch indention. Then, indent any paragraph that follows by an extra half an inch. It should be double-spaced. For instance;

Arthur (2015) talks about a detailed description of the event:

When he returned, he couldn’t find the food truck. Feeling defeated, he went back to where his friends were sitting. (p. 24)

Quotes serve to strengthen your view about an idea. Analyzing quotes can come in handy when you’re writing non- fiction and academic books. So you shouldn’t just write facts. Instead, back them up with quotes from reputable sources.

Finally, keep in mind that your book should not be filled with quotes from other sources. It should also contain your ideas.

About the Author

CJ grew up admiring books. His family owned a small bookstore throughout his early childhood, and he would spend weekends flipping through book after book, always sure to read the ones that looked the most interesting. Not much has changed since then, except now some of those interesting books he picks off the shelf were designed by his company!

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