how to put a block quote in an essay apa

APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

• Basics of APA Formatting
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• Block Quotes

About Block Quotes

Block quote example.

• Books & eBooks
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• Any quotation containing 40 or more words should be formatted as a Block Quote
• Do not use quotation marks to enclose block quotations.  Do use double quotation marks to enclose any quoted material within a block quotation
• Place period at the end of the quote rather than after the citation
• Block quotes should start on a new line and indent the block about ½ inch from the left margin
• If there are additional paragraphs within the block quote, indent the first line of each an additional half inch.

For further information and examples, consult pages 92 and 171 of the APA Manual.

Accord to Siegel and Hartzell (2004)            

trauma and loss requires an understanding of the low road and its connection to patterns of experiences from the past. The passing of unresolved issues from generation to generation produces and perpetuates unnecessary emotional suffering. If our own issues remain unresolved, there is a strong possibility that the disorganization within our minds can createdisorganization in our children’s minds. (p. 183)

During gestation, the numerous genes in the nucleus of each cell become expressed and the genes determine what proteins become produced and when and how to shape the body’s structure.  In utero brain development enables neurons to grow and move to their proper locations in the skull and begin to set up the interconnections that create the circuitry of this complex organ of the nervous system.  (Siegel & Hartzell, 2004)

***Disclaimer- screen size may distort orientation of block quote view

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APA Formatting and Style (7th ed.)

• What's New in the 7th ed.?
• Principles of Plagiarism: An Overview
• Basic Paper Formatting
• Basic Paper Elements
• Punctuation, Capitalization, Abbreviations, Apostrophes, Numbers, Plurals
• Tables and Figures
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• Online Images
• Online Video
• Computer Software and Mobile Apps
• Missing Information
• Two Authors
• Three or More Authors
• Group Authors
• Missing Author
• Chat GPT and other AI Large Language Models
• Secondary Sources
• Block Quotations
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• Government Documents and Legal Materials
• APA Style 7th ed. Tutorials
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Citations for Block Quotations

If you want to include a direct quote that is more than 40 words : , start the quotation on a new line, ½ inch from the left margin (the same place where a new paragraph would start)., type the quotation, indenting any subsequent lines ½ inch from the left margin. this is known as a "block" quotation., double-space the entire block quotation., do not use quotation marks to enclose the block quotation. , put your parenthetical citation after the last punctuation mark of the block quotation. follow the instructions outlined on the previous pages for citing multiple authors in the parenthetical., make sure to include a page or paragraph number in the parenthetical.,      ​in his letter from birmingham jail, dr. martin luther king, jr. wrote about the interconnectivity of everyone:, i cannot sit idly by in atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in birmingham. injustice anywhere is a threat, to justice everywhere. we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny., whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. (1963, april 16, para. 4), dr. king’s letter is still highly relevant and frequently cited by scholars even fifty years later. , * ** remember: each source listed on the reference page must correspond to at least one in-text citation in the body of the paper; each in-text citation must correspond to a source listed on the reference page..

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Apa block quotes: how to cite long quotes in apa 7, published by steve tippins on july 3, 2020 july 3, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 05:30 am

In APA, a block quote contains a direct quotation that consists of 40 or more words. When writing papers , keep in mind that you should use block quotations in moderation. A summary or paraphrase of the information from your sources is preferred. In this article, we’ll show you how to properly format APA block quotes.

Format for APA Block Quotes

• Introduce the quotation
• Indent five spaces from the left margin 
• Double-space
• Do not enclose it in quotation marks
• If there is a quotation within the block quotation, put it in double quotation marks 

Block Quotes from Print Sources

Most long quotes you’ll need to cite will be from print sources. Here’s how to cite APA block quotes according to the 7th edition of the manual.

In-text citation

(Author’s Last Name, Year, Page number)

(Borodulin, 2017, p. 52)

The following format is for a block quote with the in-text citation directly after it. The in-text citation goes after the period or any other punctuation mark at the end of the quote. If the source does not have page numbers, then provide a paragraph number (e.g., para. 2) or other section identifiers, such as a chapter number or section number. 

There were two medical organizations that played a significant role in forming the first clinical elite:

The first specialized scientific organization was the surgical society in Moscow, which was established in 1873 and consisted of 22 surgeons, medical doctors from teaching hospitals and city hospitals. In 1881 the N. I. Pirogov Surgical Society was established in Saint Petersburg. National congresses on specialties within clinical practice were held beginning in the late 19th century. (Borodulin, 2017, p. 52)

The following is for a block quote with a narration citation. Provide an introductory signal phrase with the author’s last name and year of publication.

Borodulin (2017) reported that there were two medical organizations that played a significant role in forming the first clinical elite:

The first specialized scientific organization was the surgical society in Moscow, which was established in 1873 and consisted of 22 surgeons, medical doctors from teaching hospitals and city hospitals.  In 1881 the N. I. Pirogov Surgical Society was established in Saint Petersburg. National congresses on specialties within clinical practice were held beginning in the late 19th century. (p, 52)

The following is for a quotation within a block quote:

The role of scientific schools in forming the elite derived from their function of preserving and passing on knowledge from one generation to the next. Separate links binding them together can be identified “by the creativity of particular personalities and the bonds by the interaction between them.”  Therefore, students who have overcome the school establishment and have broken the mold in the development of science are evidence not of the collapse of the scientific school, but in fact of its triumph. (Borodulin, 2017, p. 52)

Reference List

Author’s Last Name, First Initial. (Year). Title of article . Title of Periodical, volume number(issue number), pages. https://doi.org/xx.xxx/yyyy

When providing the URL from a source, you no longer have to write “Retrieved from” before it. 

The DOI, or Digital Object Identifier at the end of the reference is used to identify a document and link to it on the web. In most articles, the DOI will be printed with the article.

Borodulin V.I. (2017). The scientific elite in the history of the nation’s internal medicine clinical practice. History of Medicine . 4 (1), 51–59. https://doi.org/10.17720/2409-5834.v4.1.2017.06f

Quote From an Audiovisual Source

When you have a block quote from a video or other audiovisual source, see if it provides a time stamp, (a timeline window that displays the hour, minute, and second). If it has a timeline window, provide the time the quote began in the in-text citation.

(Author’s or Speaker’s Last Name, Year, Hours: Minutes: Seconds)

(Wallace-Wells, 2019, 08:15)

There are several ways to ensure a positive future for the planet:

We would need a new kind of infrastructure, poured by a different kind of cement, because today, if cement were a country, it would be the world’s third biggest emitter. And China is pouring as much cement every three years as the US poured in the entire 20th century. We would need to build seawalls and levees to protect those people living on the coast, many of whom are too poor to build them today, which is why it must mean an end to a narrowly nationalistic geopolitics that allows us to define the suffering of those living elsewhere in the world as insignificant, when we even acknowledge it.  (Wallace-Wells, 2019, 08:15)

Reference list

Author’s Last Name, First Initial (Year, Month Day). Title of audiovisual . [Type of audiovisual]. Names of website. URL

Wallace-Wells, D. (2019, September 21). How we could change the planet’s climate future . [Video]. TED Conferences. https://www.ted.com/talks/david_wallace_wells_how_we_could_change_the_planet_s_climate_future

APA Block Quote Citation Summary

Hopefully, this article showed you how to cite a long quote in APA. For more information about the guidelines for a block quotation, refer to Section 6.22 and pages 92 and 171 of the APA Manual 7 th edition. 

Steve Tippins

Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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General Guidelines for Block Quotations 

• Block quotes are used for direct quotations that are longer than 40 words.
• They should be offset from the main text and do not include quotation marks.
• Introduce the block quote on a new line and indent the entire quote .5 inch.
• If your block quote consists of two or more paragraphs, indent the additional paragraph and additional  .5 inch.
• If your block quotation contains a citation from another source, include it in the quotation. However, you do not need to cite the quoted source in your reference page.
• The block quote should be double spaced. 
• Block quotes can be cited in either a narrative or parenthetical form. 
• The citation information at the end is not considered part of the sentence and comes after the period. 
• Use p. for a single page number ( Example: p. 15) and pp. for multiple page numbers ( Example: pp. 125-126).
• If citing a source without page numbers, cite the paragraph number ( Example:  para. 4) or other identifying information ( Example:  Slide 7, Table 2, Results section).
• If you have two or more authors, use the word 'and' for narrative citations and the ampersand  '&' for parenthetical citations 
• If you have three or more authors, use 'et al.' after the first authors last name to indicated there are additional authors. 

Narrative Block Quote With Page Numbers  

Martikainen (2020) notes the difficulties of students making judgments on teachers using visual cues:  

      What makes the informative value of visual nonverbal features problematic is that, maybe more than        words, their meanings and levels of intentionality are often ambiguous. Teachers’ visual features are       hardly all meant as mediators of deliberate meanings, but they may become interpreted as such by       students. (p. 584) 

Parenthetical Block Quote With Page Numbers 

Several difficulties arise when students make judgments on teachers using visual cues:  

      What makes the informative value of visual nonverbal features problematic is that, maybe more than        words, their meanings and levels of intentionality are often ambiguous. Teachers’ visual features are       hardly all meant as mediators of deliberate meanings, but they may become interpreted as such by       students. (Martikainen,  2020,  p. 584) 

Narrative Block Quote Without Page Numbers

Koehler (2020) explains the complicated  experience :  

     ​ Conceptualized as a sense of wonder, amazement, or fascination, awe is a complex emotion associated      with deep and personal change. The experience of this multifaceted sensation is atypical, powerful, and      memorable. People who experience awe are intensely moved and often propelled toward a feeling of      self-transcendence—becoming aware they are one minor part of a larger whole. (para. 2)     

Parenthetical Block Quote Without Page Numbers

It is helpful to thing of this complicated experience in these terms:  

     ​ Conceptualized as a sense of wonder, amazement, or fascination, awe is a complex emotion associated      with deep and personal change. The experience of this multifaceted sensation is atypical, powerful, and      memorable. People who experience awe are intensely moved and often propelled toward a feeling of       self-transcendence—becoming aware they are one minor part of a larger whole. ( Koehler, 2020,  para. 2) 

Block Quotation Containing an Embedded Source 

  Yaden et al. (2019) provide context for this concept:

     The contemporary psychological understanding of awe comes largely from a foundational article written by      Keltner and Haidt (2003). According to the prototypical approach presented in this article, the following      two  cognitive appraisals are central to awe experiences: the perception of vastness and the need to        mentally attempt to accommodate this vastness into existing mental schemas. (p. 474) 

Note: Yaden et al. would be cited in your reference page but not Keltner and Haidt as that is the embedded source. 

Block Quotation With Two Paragraphs  

Hamedoglu (2019) point out: 

     Students can watch the subjects they do not understand on different channels on the Internet, teachers       give homework to their students via various education sites or WhatsApp messages and demand their      students to do their homework. Student grades, attendance, views about students are processed on      e‐school system and parents can follow these data by using their own passwords.            As seen, the proliferation of the information and computer technologies have affected classroom      management activities and changed physical arrangements, environmental arrangement, communication,      course materials, teaching lesson, and the relationship between environment and students’ parents.      (p.147) 

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APA Formatting: How Do I: Format a Block Quote

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What Are Block Quotes?

Here is some information you should know when formatting your block quotes :

          Block quotes give you, the writer, the ability to utilize larger sections of text as supporting evidence and information in your writing. Block quotes are direct quotes that are inserted into your work, but are formatted differently than smaller direct quotes and paraphrasing. Here are some basic guidelines on what makes a block quote, and how you are to format and structure them in your own writing:

• Any direct quote that is longer than 40 words needs to be put into block quote formation
• Block quotes do not need quotation marks around them
• Proper formatting includes starting the block quote on a new line from your paragraph, not indenting the first sentence of the quote but rather indenting the entire quote ½  an inch into the paper
• Block quotes can be single-spaced for the purpose of visually differentiating this body of text from the rest of your writing
• Your citation for will go at the end of the quote, like it would anywhere else you cite in your paper. Make sure to follow the appropriate in-text citation formation as it relates to the source you are using

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How to Format a Block Quote

Last Updated: December 28, 2023 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 9 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 589,452 times.

Formatting a block quote may seem daunting, but it’s actually quite easy. How you format the block quote depends on which style you are using: Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychology Association (APA), or Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago). All 3 styles format block quotes in similar ways, although there are slight differences between each one.

Block Quote Examples

Forming a Block Quote in MLA

• For example, if you are quoting the first stanza from Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” you should use a block quote, because it is longer than 3 lines.
• Another example might be if you are quoting a paragraph from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. If the paragraph is more than 4 lines, use a block quote.

• "Roland Barthes sought to understand the difference between cinema and photography:"
• "In his novel White Jacket , Herman Melville argues,"

My interest in photography took a more cultural turn. I decided I liked photography in opposition to the Cinema, from which I nonetheless failed to separate it. This question grew insistent. I was overcome by an "ontological" desire: I wanted to learn at all costs what photography was "in itself."

• If you are quoting more than one paragraph, indent the first line of each paragraph another 1 ⁄ 4 inch (0.64 cm). [4] X Research source

• See fox jump; over the hill. Unlike the dipping sun; setting slowly still. (Pool 2)

• "I was overcome by an "ontological" desire: I wanted to learn at all costs what photography was "in itself." (Barthes 3)"

Making a Block Quote in APA

• On a word processor like Microsoft Word, you can highlight the quote and click “Word Count” under “Review” or “Proofing.” This will tell you how many words are in the quote.
• For example, if you are quoting a long paragraph from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , you should use a block quote.

• In Morgan’s 2013 study, he stated,
• Morgan (2013) found that:
• Some studies disagreed with these findings:

• If you are citing multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of the quotation by an additional 1 ⁄ 2 inch (1.3 cm).

The scent of lavender reduced stress by 20%. Individuals who were exposed had lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to the control group. Lavender also decreased the amount of time it took for subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (p. 112)

The scent of lavender reduced stress by 20%. Individuals who were exposed had lower heart rates and blood pressure compared to the control group. Lavender also decreased the amount of time it took for subjects to fall asleep in clinical studies. (Jones, 1998, p. 112)

Forming a Block Quote in Chicago Style

• For example, if you are quoting a 7 line paragraph from Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre , you should use a block quote.

• In many ways, the text creates a distinction between the seen and unseen:
• In response, Jones said,

• If you are citing multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of the quotation by an additional ¼ inch (0.64 cm). Indent the first line of each successive paragraph the same way.

• Peterson, Mary. Effects of Smoking on the Body. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1984.
• (Peterson, 118)

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• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/mla_style/mla_formatting_and_style_guide/mla_formatting_quotations.html
• ↑ https://public.wsu.edu/~campbelld/cited.htm
• ↑ https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/03/
• ↑ https://butlercc.libguides.com/c.php?g=220263&p=1458165
• ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/quotations
• ↑ https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/block-quotations
• ↑ https://www.una.edu/writingcenter/docs/Writing-Resources/Introduction%20to%20Chicago-Turabian%20Style.pdf
• ↑ https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Chicago%20Style.pdf

About This Article

To format a block quote in MLA, start by introducing the quote with a short sentence that ends with a colon or comma. Then, insert the quote on a new line without quotation marks. After you insert the quote, indent the entire block of text so it's 1/2 an inch from the left margin. The block quote should also be double-spaced like the rest of your paper. At the end of the quote, add the author's last name and the page number in parentheses. To learn how to format a block quote in APA and Chicago Style, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / APA style direct quotes and block quotes

APA style direct quotes and block quotes

Using an APA style direct quote, block quote, or paraphrase is one way to appropriately give credit where it is due and to avoid plagiarism.

What is a direct quote vs. a block quote vs. a paraphrase?

It’s important to know the difference between a direct quote, a block quote, and a paraphrase.

Otherwise, you may get flagged for plagiarizing someone else’s work when you didn’t mean to.

Direct quote:

A direct quote is a statement that is taken verbatim (word-for-word) from a text or speaker.

Block quote:

A block quote is a long direct quote that is separated from the regular text. By APA standards, you use a block text for quotes that are 40 words or longer.

Paraphrase:

A paraphrase differs from a direct quote in that the writer is putting someone else’s thoughts and ideas into their own words.

When you decide to talk about a published work in your paper, the first question to ask is if it’s best to paraphrase or directly quote from that work. Further explanations and examples of a direct quote, a block quote, and a paraphrase are provided below to help you make an educated choice.

Paraphrasing in APA style

Paraphrasing is recommended and often used by academic scholars because it helps to synthesize complex concepts. When a source is paraphrased, a citation still needs to be included.

Regardless of whether a source is paraphrased or directly quoted, it must include an APA in-text citation to avoid the perils of plagiarism.

Original quote:

Marshall McLuhan famously stated in Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man , “the medium is the message” (McLuhan, 1964, p. 2).

Paraphrase example:

Marshall McLuhan proposed in Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man that the medium used to transmit a message is often more important than the content of the message itself (McLuhan, 1964, p. 2).

Although it is not required in APA citation style, adding the page or paragraph number in the citation for an APA paraphrase can also help readers locate the passage within the source.

Using direct quotes in APA style

Sometimes it’s necessary to reproduce another work verbatim to convey the exact meaning. In fact, direct quotes should be used when citing a definition and when the author’s specific rhetoric or phrasing is being analyzed.

Keep in mind that different academic journals and instructors may have limits for how many direct quotes they are willing to accept.

Direct quote example:

Gandhi defined democracy as being, “based on the idea that I do, should provide the same opportunities weaker than stronger. Only nonviolence can achieve this goal” (Gandhi, 1952).

In-text citations: Parenthetical vs. narrative citation

There are two different ways to include an APA in-text citation with a quote: parenthetical and narrative.

Both are mentioned within the text and include the author’s last name and the year the source was published. The difference is whether the author’s surname is used as a descriptive element within the sentence or simply to cite the work.

Parenthetical in-text citations

An APA parenthetical citation can appear within or at the end of a sentence, but it must include both the author and the date in parenthesis, separated by a comma.

Single author parenthetical citation example:

“Oh father – do you mean you have found a new way to work?”  exclaims the character Cassandra in the novel, I Capture the Castle (Dodie, 1948, p. 341).

Organizational author parenthetical citation example:

The incidence of the novel coronavirus in the United States from June–August 2020 was highest in persons aged 20–29 years (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020).

Two authors parenthetical citation example:

Their relationship is explained in All the President’s Men as, “Bernstein looked like one of those counterculture journalists that Woodward despised. Bernstein thought that Woodward’s rapid rise at the Post had less to do with his ability than his Establishment credentials” (Bernstein & Woodward, 1974, p. 15).

Three or more authors parenthetical citation example:

Internal communication is integral to internal public relations with links to positive organizational and employee outcomes (Karanges et al., 2014).

Narrative in-text citations

For a narrative citation, the author’s surname appears within a sentence and the date shows up in parentheses immediately after the author’s name.

Single author narrative citation example:

In her poem, I know Why the Caged Bird Sings , Angelou (1969) describes opposing experiences.

Organizational author narrative citation example:

The U.S. Census Bureau (2020) found that only 10% of all U.S. homes, or about 11 million housing units, were aging-ready, based on the 2011 data.

Two authors narrative citation example:

Vialli and Marcotti (2007) detail how the characteristics of England and Italy, two of the most passionate soccer-playing countries, affect the game.

Three or more authors narrative citation example:

Milli et al. (2017) assert that despite being paid less, women’s earnings are increasingly important to the economic stability of families.

Using short, direct quotations

Short quotes are those consisting of less than 40 words, and they are incorporated into the sentence. Also, an ellipsis (with a space before and after) should only be used at the beginning or end of a quotation if the source includes an ellipsis.

Including page numbers

When using a direct quote, always provide the author, year, and page number of the source for both parenthetical and narrative citations. There is a specific way to format page numbers in APA citations. When the quote is from a single page simply use “p.” But when there are multiple pages being referenced, use the abbreviation “pp.” and an en dash to indicate the page range (pp. 34–38). If the pages are not within a range, simply use a comma to indicate the disparate pages (pp. 45, 72).

No pages numbers, no problem

When a direct quote has no page number, for any number of reasons (it’s a webpage or e-book, for example), provide an alternative method for locating the quoted passage. A subsection heading, or paragraph number can work in place of a page number.

When quotes include errors

Direct quotes often contain errors because writers and speakers are fallible. If the error is distracting, it is recommended that content be paraphrased. If the direct quote is required to understand the full meaning of the statement, the direct quote must match the original verbatim, including spelling and punctuation. If errors make the direct quote difficult to read, the word “[ sic ],” italicized and in brackets, can be inserted immediately after the error within the quote.

Changing quotes

There are a very limited number of cases in which a direct quote may need to be edited or changed, such as capitalizing the beginning of a sentence or adding punctuation to the end of the quote. All changes must be indicated. Square brackets should be used to highlight any additions or explanations inserted into a direct quote. In the case of omitting words within a quotation, an ellipsis in parenthesis can be used.

When respondents provide direct quotes

When conducting research, participants are often quoted regarding their perceptions or experiences. The same rules apply, but it is important to mention that the quote is from a research respondent. Ethical considerations should also take priority when determining whether to name direct quotes from participants.

Short, direct quote examples:

Mr. Ripley remarked, “I certainly didn’t mean to alarm anybody when I said what I did about his depression. I felt it was a kind of duty to tell you and Mr. Greenleaf” in his attempt to shift attention away from his wrongdoing (Highsmith, 1955, p. 190).

As Highsmith (1955) describes, Mr. Ripley couldn’t be sure if he had been found out, “Tom was wringing the shoe in his hands like a pair of gloves now, yet still keeping the shoe in position, because Marge was staring at him in a funny way. She was thinking. Was she kidding him?” (p. 216).

Block quotes: The longer the quote, the bigger the block

Sometimes less than 40 words isn’t long enough for a direct quote to make its mark. That’s when a block quote is necessary.

Here are block quote guidelines:

• A block quotation starts on a new line with a 0.5-inch indentation from the left margin.
• The lines are double spaced (like the rest of the paper).
• There are no quotation marks at either the beginning or end of the block.
• Note: Longer passages like block quotes can also be credited using APA footnotes .

Block quote example 1:

Lawyers often enjoy laughing at themselves, as is evident in the book, The World’s Funniest Lawyer Jokes , which includes this anecdote:

An airliner was having engine trouble, and the pilot instructed the cabin crew to have the passengers take their seats and get prepared for an emergency landing. A few minutes later, the pilot asked the flight attendants if everyone was buckled up and ready. ‘All set back here, Captain.’ came the reply, ‘except the lawyers are still going around passing out business cards.’ (Price, 2011, p. 103)

Block quote example 2:

McCullough (1968) describes the Johnstown Flood of 1889 as it passed through and devastated several Pennsylvania towns:

Unlike East Conemaugh, Woodvale got no warning. It was all over in about five minutes. The only building left standing was the woolen mill, and there was only part of that. At the western end of the town, the end almost touching Johnstown, stood the Gautier works, part of it in Woodvale, part in Conemaugh borough. The huge works sent up a terrific geyser of steam when the water hit its boilers, and then the whole of it seemed simply to lift up and slide off with the water … There was not a tree, not a telegraph pole, not a sign of where the railroad has been. Two hundred and fifty-five houses had been taken off, and there was no way of telling where they had been. (p. 127)

Published October 28, 2020.

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

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• et al Usage
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• Paraphrasing
• Page Numbers
• Parenthetical Citations
• Reference Page
• Sample Paper
• APA 7 Updates
• View APA Guide

Citation Examples

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• Magazine Article
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• Website (no author)
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APA 7th edition - Paper Format: Quotations

• Introduction
• Mechanics of Style
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How to Format Quotations - Tutorial

• Paraphrasing and Quotations in APA Style How to format and cite!

A direct quotation is the exact reproduction of words from another source or from your own previously published work. There are two types of direct quotation in APA format: quotations and block quotations .

In addition, you may use information from sources without directly quoting them.  In these cases, you "paraphrase" the information you have learned.  In other words, you put the information in your own words.

Whether you use direct quotations or when you paraphrase, you must always cite your sources in the body of your paper. 

See the JIBC Library APA Guide on In-Text Citations .

If you are using a direct quote from a source that is 39 words or less, than you are required to surround the quotation within quotation marks. “ ”

• Do  not use an ellipsis at the beginning and/or the end of a direct quotation unless the original source includes an ellipsis (APA Style Blog).
• Place periods and commas within closing single or double quotation marks. Place other punctuation marks inside quotation marks only when they are part of the quoted material.
• Place final sentence punctuation to the right of (after) your in-text citation.

Example: 

Effective teams can be difficult to describe because “high performance along one domain does not translate to high performance along another” (Ervin et al., 2018, p. 470).

If you are using a direct quote from a source and the quote is 40 words or more, than there are special formatting considerations. You will need to treat it as a block quote.

• Do this by using the ruler tool or by using the “Tab” key on the first and second lines.
• The block quote should be double spaced with no additional space before or after the block.
• Narrative style: the author and year come before the quotation in your narrative with the page number(s) appearing after, or
• Parenthetical style: cite the author, year, and page number(s) in a parenthetical citation after the quotation. 
• Place final punctuation to the left (before) your in-text citation. So, give the quotation's final punctuation and then the in-text citation element/s.

Recruits may not graduate for a variety of reasons:

These reasons may include personal reasons (e.g., they no longer want to work in law enforcement), physical training (PT) session failures (i.e., they do not complete the requisite number of sessions as mandated by the LEA or state), injury, failure in academics or scenario-based training. (Lockie et al., 2019, p. 1)

See Additional Resources  for more.

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APA Citation Guide (7th edition): Quotes vs Paraphrases

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• Other Examples
• Quotes vs Paraphrases
• Reference Entry Components
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What's the Difference?

Quoting vs paraphrasing: what's the difference.

There are two ways to integrate sources into your assignment: quoting directly or paraphrasing.

Quoting  is copying a selection from someone else's work, phrasing it exactly as it was originally written. When quoting place quotation marks (" ") around the selected passage to show where the quote begins and where it ends. Make sure to include an in-text citation. 

Paraphrasing  is used to show that you understand what the author wrote. You must reword the passage, expressing the ideas in your own words, and not just change a few words here and there. Make sure to also include an in-text citation. 

Quoting Example

There are two basic formats that can be used:

Parenthetical Style:

Narrative Style:

Quoting Tips

• Long Quotes
• Changing Quotes

What Is a Long Quotation?

A quotation of more than 40 words. 

Rules for Long Quotations

There are 4 rules that apply to long quotations that are different from regular quotations:

• The line before your long quotation, when you're introducing the quote, usually ends with a colon.
• The long quotation is indented half an inch from the rest of the text, so it looks like a block of text.
• There are no quotation marks around the quotation.
• The period at the end of the quotation comes before your in-text citation as opposed to after, as it does with regular quotations.

Example of a Long Quotation

At the end of Lord of the Flies the boys are struck with the realization of their behaviour:

The tears began to flow and sobs shook him. He gave himself up to them now for the first time on the island; great, shuddering spasms of grief that seemed to wrench his whole body. His voice rose under the black smoke before the burning wreckage of the island; and infected by that emotion, the other little boys began to shake and sob too. (Golding, 1960, p.186)

Changing Quotations

Sometimes you may want to make some modifications to the quote to fit your writing. Here are some APA rules when changing quotes:

Incorrect spelling, grammar, and punctuation

Add the word [sic] after the error in the quotation to let your reader know the error was in the original source and is not your error.

Omitting parts of a quotation

If you would like to exclude some words from a quotation, replace the words you are not including with an ellipsis - ...

Adding words to a quote

If you are adding words that are not part of the original quote, enclose the additional words in square brackets - [XYZ]

Secondary Source Quotes

What is a secondary source.

In scholarly work, a primary source reports original content; a secondary source refers to content first reported in another source.

• Cite secondary sources sparingly—for instance, when the original work is out of print, unavailable, or available only in a language that you do not understand.
• If possible, as a matter of good scholarly practice, find the primary source, read it, and cite it directly rather than citing a secondary source.

Rules for Secondary Source Citations

• In the reference list, provide an entry only for the secondary source that you used.
• In the text, identify the primary source and write “as cited in” the secondary source that you used. 
• If the year of publication of the primary source is known, also include it in the in-text citation.

Example of a Secondary Source Use

Quote & In-Text Citation

Reference List Entry

Paraphrases

Paraphrasing example.

When you write information from a source in your own words, cite the source by adding an in-text citation at the end of the paraphrased portion as follows:

If you refer to the author's name in a sentence you do not have to include the name again as part of your in-text citation, instead include the year of publication following his/her name:

NOTE : Although not required, APA encourages including the page number when paraphrasing if it will help the reader locate the information in a long text and distinguish between the information that is coming from you and the source.

Paraphrasing Tips

• Long Paraphrases

Original Source

Homeless individuals commonly come from families who are riddled with problems and marital disharmony, and are alienated from their parents. They have often been physically and even sexually abused, have relocated frequently, and many of them may be asked to leave home or are actually thrown out, or alternatively are placed in group homes or in foster care. They often have no one to care for them and no one knows them intimately.

Source from: 

Rokach, A. (2005). The causes of loneliness in homeless youth. The Journal of Psychology, 139, 469-480. 

Example: Incorrect Paraphrasing

Example: correct paraphrasing.

If your paraphrase is longer than one sentence, provide an in-text citation for the source at the beginning of the paraphrase. As long as it's clear that the paraphrase continues to the following sentences, you don't have to include in-text citations for the following sentences.

If your paraphrase continues to another paragraph and/or you include paraphrases from other sources within the paragraph, repeat the in-text citations for each.

Additional Resource

• Paraphrasing (The Learning Portal)

Tip sheet on paraphrasing information

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Quotations From Research Participants

Because quotations from research participants are part of your original research, do not include a reference list entry for them in the reference list and do not treat them as personal communications.

For the formatting, follow the same guidelines as for other quotations :

• Present a quotation of fewer than 40 words in quotation marks within the text.
• Present a quotation of 40 words or more in a block quotation indented below the text.

State in the text that the quotations are from participants, as in this example:

In focus group discussions, participants described their postretirement experiences, including the emotions associated with leaving work and its affective and practical implications. “Rafael” (64 years old, retired pilot) mentioned several difficulties associated with retirement, including feeling like he was “in a void without purpose . . . it took several months to develop new interests that motivated [him] each day.” Several other participants agreed, describing the entrance into retirement as “confusing,” “lonely,” “purposeless,” and “boring.” In contrast, others described the sense of “balance” and “relaxation” retirement brought to their lives.

Quotations from research participants are covered in the seventh edition APA Style Publication Manual Section 8.36

Ethical considerations when quoting participants

When quoting research participants, abide by any ethical agreements regarding confidentiality and/or anonymity agreed to between you and your participants during the consent or assent process. Take care to obtain and respect participants’ consent to have their information included in your report. To disguise participant information, you may need to

• assign pseudonyms to participants,
• obscure identifying information, and/or
• present aggregate information.

Agreements regarding confidentiality and/or anonymity may also extend to other sources related to your methodology (e.g., quoting a school policy document when conducting a case study at a school). In that case, you might need to employ similar strategies (e.g., rather than referring to a school by name, refer to “an elementary school in Atlanta, Georgia”).

For detailed discussion of ethical considerations for sharing data and protecting confidentiality in your research, see Sections 1.14, 1.15, and 1.19 of the Publication Manual .

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Direct quotes in APA Style

Published on November 12, 2020 by Shona McCombes . Revised on June 16, 2022.

A direct quote is a piece of text copied word-for-word from a source. You may quote a word, phrase, sentence, or entire passage.

There are three main rules for quoting in APA Style:

• If the quote is under 40 words, place it in double quotation marks .
• If the quote is 40 words or more, format it as a block quote .
• Cite the author, year, and page number with an APA in-text citation .

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Table of contents

Citing a direct quote, quoting a source with no page numbers, quoting 40 words or more (apa block quotes), making changes to direct quotes in apa, frequently asked questions about apa style.

To cite a quote in APA, you always include the the author’s last name, the year the source was published, and the page on which the quote can be found. The page number is preceded by “p.” (for a single page) or “pp.” (for a page range).

There are two types of APA in-text citation : parenthetical and narrative.

In a parenthetical citation, you place the entire citation in parentheses directly after the quote and before the period (or other punctuation mark).

In a narrative citation, the author(s) appear as part of your sentence. Place the year in parentheses directly after the author’s name, and place the page number in parentheses directly after the quote.

Remember that every in-text citation must correspond to a full APA reference at the end of the text. You can easily create your reference list with our free APA Citation Generator.

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Some source types, such as web pages , do not have page numbers. In this case, to cite a direct quote, you should generally include an alternative locator, unless the source is very short.

The locator may be a chapter or section heading (abbreviated if necessary), a paragraph number, or a combination of the two. Use whichever locator will help your reader find the quote most easily.

For sources such as movies , YouTube videos , or audiobooks, use a timestamp to locate the beginning of the quote.

• Section heading
• Paragraph number
• Section and paragraph

If the quote contains 40 words or more, it must be formatted as a block quote. To format a block quote in APA Style:

• Do not use quotation marks.
• Start the quote on a new line.
• Indent the entire quote 0.5 inches.
• Double-space the entire quote.

Like regular quotes, block quotes can be cited with a parenthetical or narrative citation. However, if the block quote ends with a period, place the citation after the period.

• Parenthetical

Block quoting is particularly useful when you want to comment on an author’s language or present an argument that you will then critique. By setting the quote on a new line and indenting it, the passage is clearly marked apart from your own words. Therefore, no quotation marks are necessary. (O’Connor, 2019, p. 38)

Block quoting is particularly useful when you want to comment on an author’s language or present an argument that you will then critique. By setting the quote on a new line and indenting it, the passage is clearly marked apart from your own words. Therefore, no quotation marks are necessary. (p. 38)

Block quotes with multiple paragraphs

If the block quote contains multiple paragraphs, indent the first line of each paragraph after the first.

Block quoting is particularly useful when you want to comment on an author’s language or present an argument that you will then critique. By setting the quote on a new line and indenting it, the passage is clearly marked apart from your own words. Therefore, no quotation marks are necessary.

However, it is important not to rely on long quotes to make your point for you. Each quote must be introduced and explained or discussed in your own words. (O’Connor, 2019, p. 38)

In general, a direct quote should be an exact reproduction of the original. However, there are some situations where you may need to make small changes.

You may change the capitalization of the first word or the final punctuation mark in order to integrate the quote grammatically into your sentence, as long as the meaning is not altered.

Any other changes must be marked following these APA guidelines.

Shortening a quote

If you want to omit some words, phrases, or sentences from the quote to save space, use an ellipsis (. . .) with a space before and after it to indicate that some material has been left out.

If the part you removed includes a sentence break, add a period before the ellipsis to indicate this.

• No sentence break
• Sentence break

Clarifying a quote

Sometimes you might want to add a word or phrase for context. For example, if a pronoun is used in the quote, you may add a name to clarify who or what is being referred to.

Any added text should be enclosed in square brackets to show that it is not part of the original.

Adding emphasis to quotes

If you want to emphasize a word or phrase in a quote, italicize it and include the words “emphasis added” in square brackets.

Errors in quotes

If the quote contains a spelling or grammatical error, indicate it with the Latin word “sic”, italicized and in square brackets, directly after the error.

To include a direct quote in APA , follow these rules:

• Quotes under 40 words are placed in double quotation marks .
• Quotes of 40 words or more are formatted as block quote .
• The author, year, and page number are included in an APA in-text citation .

You need an APA in-text citation and reference entry . Each source type has its own format; for example, a webpage citation is different from a book citation .

Use Scribbr’s free APA Citation Generator to generate flawless citations in seconds or take a look at our APA citation examples .

When you quote or paraphrase a specific passage from a source, you need to indicate the location of the passage in your APA in-text citation . If there are no page numbers (e.g. when citing a website ) but the text is long, you can instead use section headings, paragraph numbers, or a combination of the two:

(Caulfield, 2019, Linking section, para. 1).

Section headings can be shortened if necessary. Kindle location numbers should not be used in ebook citations , as they are unreliable.

If you are referring to the source as a whole, it’s not necessary to include a page number or other marker.

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

In an APA in-text citation , you use the phrase “ as cited in ” if you want to cite a source indirectly (i.e., if you cannot find the original source).

Parenthetical citation: (Brown, 1829, as cited in Mahone, 2018) Narrative citation: Brown (1829, as cited in Mahone, 2018) states that…

On the reference page , you only include the secondary source (Mahone, 2018).

In academic writing , there are three main situations where quoting is the best choice:

• To analyze the author’s language (e.g., in a literary analysis essay )
• To give evidence from primary sources
• To accurately present a precise definition or argument

Don’t overuse quotes; your own voice should be dominant. If you just want to provide information from a source, it’s usually better to paraphrase or summarize .

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. (2022, June 16). Direct quotes in APA Style. Scribbr. Retrieved September 13, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-style/direct-quotes/

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Citations: Block Quotations

According to the APA manual, quotations that are 40 words or more are considered block quotations and are formatted differently than regular quotations.

The following is a list of the unique formatting that is needed for block quotations:

• Block quotations start on their own line.
• The entire block quotation is indented 0.5 inches, the same as the indentation for a new paragraph, and is double spaced.
• Block quotations are not surrounded by any quotation marks.
• The punctuation at the end of the block quotation goes before the citation.
• The ending citation is included on the last line of the block quotation.
• The text after the block quotation begins on its own line, with no indentation. You should not end a paragraph with a block quotation because any quotation you use as evidence in your writing should be followed by analysis in your own words as part of the same paragraph.

Additional paragraphs within a block quotation should be indented an additional 0.5” (1” from the left margin). Quoted material within the block quotation should be in double quotation marks.

Note that block quotations should be used sparingly. Block quotations tend to take over the voice of the paper, often overshadowing the voice of the author with that source’s voice. Instead, if at all possible, try to quote smaller portions of the piece of text and incorporate these into your own voice. This practice will not only allow you to establish your voice as the author but also show the way you are engaging with the information, not just reporting it.

Block Quotation Examples

Today, digital cameras have practically taken over photography. As Johnson (2010) explained,

Digital cameras now make up 90% of all camera sales at the leading electronic stores. This increase in sales can be partially attributed to the widespread use of email and social networking, which has encouraged the sharing of digital photos. (p. 23)

Johnson further noted that, even more than with the shift to digital cameras, the increasing use of phones and iPods that have built-in cameras has replaced the use of film cameras.

Computer users often disagree about which operating system is best: Mac or PC. Oyler (2010) stated that one operating system is not better than the other, but that one may be better suited for different purposes than the other. Oyler explained,

Macs are often the best option for users who wish to work with video or picture manipulation. Macs are also very user friendly, which may benefit consumers who are new to computers. PCs, however, run Microsoft Office Suite the best. Therefore, students might find that a PC is their best option because it can run Microsoft Word and PowerPoint the smoothest. (p. 48)

Conversely, Jones (2010) disagreed with the statement that Macs work with graphics such as video and pictures better than PCs, stating that PCs can be modified to work as well as Macs.

Block Quotations and Punctuation

CORRECT (version using an independent clause before the colon):

Participant 3 shared the following :

I believe that all employees need to be challenged in order to reach their full potential. Employees who are not challenged become stagnant in their performance and in their overall careers. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to push oneself to make these changes. This is when it’s important to have a manager who checks in frequently and gives the employee feedback.

CORRECT (alternative version using a comma):

Participant 3 shared ,

I believe that all employees need to be challenged in order to reach their full potential. Employees who are not challenged become stagnant in their performance and in their overall careers. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to push oneself to make these changes. This is when it’s important to have a manager who checks in frequently and gives the employee feedback. 

CORRECT (alternative version using a that- clause ):

Participant 3 shared that

All employees need to be challenged in order to reach their full potential. Employees who are not challenged become stagnant in their performance and in their overall careers. Sometimes, however, it’s hard to push oneself to make these changes. This is when it’s important to have a manager who checks in frequently and gives the employee feedback.

INCORRECT (there is a sentence fragment before the colon here):

Participant 3 shared:

Research Participant Quotes and Block Quotations

When writers present participant quotes, this material should also follow the quoting and block quotations APA rules.  Format quotes less than 40 words as any other quote; in the text with quotation marks.  Format participant quotes that are 40 words or more as block quotations, as shown here. 

See our SMRTguide on  Presenting Qualitative Data in the Capstone Study  for more guidance. 

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APA Formatting and Style Guide (7th Edition)

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Formatting Long/Block Quotes

MLA Format: Long Quotations (9th Edition)

When citing more than four lines of a source (or three lines of verse), the quote should be formatted as a free-standing quotation, omitting the quotation marks. Introduce your quote, then on a new line, indent the entire quotation ½ inch from the left margin. The in-text citation follows the ending punctuation of the quotation. Remember to maintain double spacing in the essay.

Laura K. Miller concludes that both a tutor’s and student’s mindset shape an academic session:

Embedded-tutoring programs are worthwhile investments. This research has broken ground in linking mindset changes to writing center work. I hope writing center researchers will continue to explore ways to advance interdisciplinary understanding of the power of mindsets, particularly as they relate to writing improvement. (122-123)

APA Format: Block Quotations (7th Edition)

When citing a quotation that is 40 words or longer, the quote should be formatted as a free-standing block without quotation marks. Begin with a signal phrase that introduces the quote, then on a new line with a ½ inch indent from the left, add your quotation. Each line additional line of the block is indented ½ inch from the left. Maintain double spacing for the whole quote. The quote’s parenthetical citation follows the ending punctuation of the quotation.

Example 1: (Narrative Format)

Miller (2020) concludes that both a tutor’s and student’s mindset shape an academic session:

Embedded-tutoring programs are worthwhile investments. This research has broken ground in linking mindset changes to writing center work. I hope writing center researchers will continue to explore ways to advance interdisciplinary understanding of the power of mindsets, particularly as they relate to writing improvement. (pp. 122-123)

Example 2: (Parenthetical Format)

Researchers suggest that both a tutor’s and student’s mindset shape an academic session: Embedded-tutoring programs are worthwhile investments. This research has broken ground in linking mindset changes to writing center work. I hope writing center researchers will continue to explore ways to advance interdisciplinary understanding of the power of mindsets, particularly as they relate to writing improvement. (Miller, 2020, pp. 122-123)

Additional Note:

Remember to interpret/analyze the relevance of the quote.  

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Q. How do I make a block quote in Word for my APA style paper?

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Answered By: Claudia Conklin Last Updated: Nov 16, 2018     Views: 20965

APA style requires that any quotations of 40 words or more be structured as a block quote. According the 6th edition of the APA Style Guide (sections 4.08 and 6.03):

If a quotation comprises 40 or more words, display it in a freestanding block of text and omit the quotation marks.  Start such a block quote on a new line and indent the block about a half inch from the left margin (in the same position as a new paragraph). If there are additional paragraphs within the quotation, indent the first line of each an additional half inch. Double-space the entire quotation. At the end of a block quote, cite the quoted source and the page or paragraph number in parenthese after the final punctuation mark. Alternatively, if the quoted source is cited in the sentence introducing the block quote, only the page or paragraph number is needed at the end of the quotation. 

Miele (1993) found the following:

The "placebo effect," which had been verified in previous studies, disappeared when behaviors were studied in this manner. Furthermore, the behaviors  were never exhibited again [emphasis added], even when reel [ sic ] drugs were administered. Earlier studies (e.g., Abdullah, 1984; Fox, 1979) were clearly premature in attributing the results to a placebo effect. (p. 276)

To format a block quote in Word:

• Type in the quote on a new line in your document.
• Highlight the quote and select the indent symbol  in the Paragraph toolbar, as shown below.
• The default is .5", which is what APA requires.

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