Writing a great paper or blog post often means standing on the shoulders of giants. But to do that legally and ethically, you need to know how to quote an article properly.
Whether you are a student dodging plagiarism or a creator looking to build authority, this guide breaks down everything from MLA and APA styles to the art of the "quote sandwich."
1. Direct Quotes vs. Paraphrasing
Before you hit "copy-paste," decide if you actually need a direct quote.
Direct Quote: Use this when the original wording is so powerful, unique, or technical that changing it would lose the impact. You must use quotation marks.
Paraphrasing: Use this when you want to relay the information in your own voice to maintain flow. You still need to cite the source, but no quotation marks are required.
2. Formatting Short vs. Long Quotes
The length of your quote determines how it looks on the page.
Short Quotes
In most styles, if the quote is under 40 words (APA) or 4 lines (MLA), keep it within your paragraph.
Example: According to Smith (2023), "The integration of AI in classrooms is no longer optional" (p. 12).
Block Quotes (Long Quotes)
If the quote is longer, you need to format it as a "block."
Start on a new line.
Indent the entire quote 0.5 inches from the left margin.
Do not use quotation marks.
The period goes before the parenthetical citation.
3. Quoting in Different Styles (The Quick Cheat Sheet)
Different fields use different "languages" for citations. Here is a quick comparison table:
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