How do I format and document epigraphs in MLA style?
Epigraphs establish tone, highlight allusions, provide commentary, and mark transitions between parts of a work. Primarily ornamental, they are not discussed subsequently in the text. … Read More
Posts related to quotations
If I need to fit a quotation syntactically into a sentence, can I use empty brackets to indicate that I have removed letters from a verb?
No. In MLA style, brackets are generally only used to add material or show visible alterations, not to indicate omissions.1 So when attempting to fit… Read More
Can I silently change the initial capital letter in a quotation to fit the quotation syntactically into my sentence?
No. As the MLA Handbook advises, “Unless indicated in square brackets or parentheses, changes must not be made in the spelling, capitalization, or interior punctuation of… Read More
How do I cite a quotation that I use in the title of my paper?
If you include a quotation in the title of your paper, you should discuss the quotation in the body of your essay. Do not place… Read More
If I cite a source quoted in another source, am I obligated to check that the quotation is correct?
No, but it’s always best to consult the original and quote from it directly, if possible. Read More
Do I cite a word or passage each time I quote it?
No. If you quote from a work and provide an in-text citation at first mention, you usually do not have to provide an in-text citation… Read More
How do I punctuate a quotation within a quotation within a quotation?
A simple principle applies for what seems like a thorny issue: Nest punctuation that appears within punctuation by alternating punctuation marks to disambiguate–in this case,… Read More
In an in-text citation, how do I shorten a title enclosed in quotation marks if the title begins with a quotation?
If you need to shorten a title enclosed in quotation marks that begins with a quotation, use the title within the title as the short… Read More
What should I include in parentheses if the author’s name is provided in a signal phrase and the source has no page numbers or other kind of part number?
As the MLA Handbook notes, “When a source has no page numbers or any other kind of part number, no number should be given in a parenthetical… Read More
What You Can Omit When Quoting Sources
There is an entire category of material that you do not reproduce . . . Read More