How to quote something someone said

Use a comma when a dialogue tag follows a quote

When dialogue is followed by a tag (for example, he said, asked, replied), then use a comma before the closing quote when you would normally use a period. If no tag follows the text, end the dialogue with punctuation to end the spoken sentence.

Tell the audience your source before you use the information (the opposite of in-text citations). Do not say, “quote, unquote” when you offer a direct quotation. Use brief pauses instead. Provide enough information about each source so that your audience could, with a little effort, find them.

In a quotation in running text that is already enclosed in double quotation marks, use single quotation marks to enclose quoted material.”

In-text citations include the last name of the author followed by a page number enclosed in parentheses. “Here’s a direct quote” (Smith 8). If the author’s name is not given, then use the first word or words of the title. Follow the same formatting that was used in the works cited list, such as quotation marks.

Rule: Use single quotation marks inside double quotation marks when you have a quotation within a quotation. Example: Bobbi told me, “Delia said, ‘This will never work. If a quote inside a quote is a question or exclamation, place the question mark or exclamation point inside the single quotation marks.

When multiple quotation marks are used for quotations within quotations, keep the quotation marks together (put periods and commas inside both; put semi-colons, colons, etc., outside both).

We use quotation marks to show (or mark) the beginning and end of a word or phrase that is somehow special or comes from outside the text that we are writing. Quotation marks are also called “quotes” or “inverted commas”.

Using long quotes

Long quotes (more than three or four lines) are set out in your text in a ‘block‘ – started on a new line and indented at left and sometimes right. They are not placed in quotation marks, and the brief citation is placed on a separate line, on the right-hand side.

All well-known quotations that are attributable to an individual or to a text require citations. You should quote a famous saying as it appears in a primary or secondary source and then cite that source.

When the quote ends, use a comma inside the quotation marks, and then continue the sentence outside. If the quote ends with a question mark or an exclamation point, use it inside the quotation marks, and then continue the sentence outside the quotation marks like: “Where are you going?” she asked.

Cite personal communications only in the text, give the initials as well as the surname of the communicator, and provide the exact date if possible (see APA, section 6.20, p. 179; APA Style Blog, “What Belongs in the Reference List?”).

Use “double quotation marks” to indicate the secondary source, and ‘single quotation marks’ to indicate the quote itself. You may also need to include a parenthetical citation after the author’s surname. When following APA citation guidelines, you will include the publication year after the name of the writer.

The definition of a quotation is words or phrases that are taken from someone else or from literary work or the asking price of something. An example of a quotation is when you take a passage from Shakespeare and repeat it as written without changing any of the words.

You can use a full sentence followed by a colon to introduce a quotation.