How to Avoid Bracketed Changes in Quotations
Writers sometimes use bracketed changes in quotations. But these changes are often unnecessary. Read More
Posts related to quotations
If I cite one edition as my primary text, how do I cite another edition?
If you are citing one edition of a text as your primary source, you might need to refer occasionally to another edition. In MLA style,… Read More
Does including a first initial with a last name affect the order of names in a parenthetical citation?
No. When more than one name appears in a parenthetical citation, the order of those names should correspond to the quotations that precede the citation. Read More
If a foreign language quotation and its translation run longer than four lines in my paper when combined, should I style each quotation as a block quotation?
No. If the original quotation is four lines or fewer, both the original and the translation should be run in to the text. Read More
Do I need to use quotation marks around numerical data that I quote from sources?
No. For an example, see our post on citing raw data. Read More
How do I indicate that material in square brackets is part of the original text?
Normally, when you quote from a source, your reader is to assume that any styling, such as italics or punctuation in the quotation, is in… Read More
If a paragraph begins with a short sentence that is less than a full line and that introduces a block quotation, should the block quotation be further indented than usual?
No. All block quotations in your work should be indented the same amount. Even if the block quotation occurs after a short line that is… Read More
How does the font and type size I choose affect the formatting of block quotations in my paper?
As the MLA Handbook notes, “If a quotation extends to more than four lines when run into your text, set if off from the text as a… Read More
What should I do if several lines of my block quotation do not fit at the bottom of the page?
In a manuscript or student paper, it is fine for a block quotation to be split across two pages or for the entire quotation to… Read More
How do I quote English-language sources in a foreign-language paper?
To quote an English-language source in a foreign-language paper, follow the guidelines in section 1.3.8 of the MLA Handbook on translating quotations (90–91). Let’s say you… Read More