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
Posts related to quotations
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 that appears in quotation marks when it starts with a title in quotation marks?
If you need to shorten a title within quotation marks that begins with a title in quotation marks, use the title within the title as… 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
Is it acceptable to begin an essay with a block quotation?
Yes, an essay may start with a block quotation. The quotation should be important to your discussion and referred to in your prose. This distinguishes it… Read More
How do I cite an excerpt from an anthology?
To cite an excerpt from an anthology, follow the MLA format template. You will likely list a description in place of a title: De Quincey, Thomas. Read More
Why do periods and commas go inside quotation marks in MLA style?
The MLA Handbook notes, “By convention, commas and periods that directly follow quotations go inside the closing quotation marks” (267). Thus, in the following sentence, the comma… 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
How do I cite quotations that are on nonconsecutive pages?
Nonconsecutive page numbers are presented in the same order as the quotations to which they refer: As Ann Smith notes, some scholars contend that “the… Read More