how to write a quotation

What this handout is about

Used effectively, quotations can provide important pieces of evidence and lend fresh voices and perspectives to your narrative. Used ineffectively, however, quotations can clutter your text and interrupt the flow of your argument. This handout will help you decide when and how to quote like a pro.

When should I quote?

Use quotations at strategically selected moments. You have probably been told by teachers to provide as much evidence as possible in support of your thesis. But packing your paper with quotations will not necessarily strengthen your argument. The majority of your paper should still be your original ideas in your own words (after all, it’s your paper). And quotations are only one type of evidence: well-balanced papers may also make use of paraphrases, data, and statistics. The types of evidence you use will depend in part on the conventions of the discipline or audience for which you are writing. For example, papers analyzing literature may rely heavily on direct quotations of the text, while papers in the social sciences may have more paraphrasing, data, and statistics than quotations.

Discussing specific arguments or ideas

Sometimes, in order to have a clear, accurate discussion of the ideas of others, you need to quote those ideas word for word. Suppose you want to challenge the following statement made by John Doe, a well-known historian:

“At the beginning of World War Two, almost all Americans assumed the war would end quickly.”

If it is especially important that you formulate a counterargument to this claim, then you might wish to quote the part of the statement that you find questionable and establish a dialogue between yourself and John Doe:

Historian John Doe has argued that in 1941 “almost all Americans assumed the war would end quickly” (Doe 223). Yet during the first six months of U.S. involvement, the wives and mothers of soldiers often noted in their diaries their fear that the war would drag on for years.

Giving added emphasis to a particularly authoritative source on your topic.

There will be times when you want to highlight the words of a particularly important and authoritative source on your topic. For example, suppose you were writing an essay about the differences between the lives of male and female slaves in the U.S. South. One of your most provocative sources is a narrative written by a former slave, Harriet Jacobs. It would then be appropriate to quote some of Jacobs’s words:

Harriet Jacobs, a former slave from North Carolina, published an autobiographical slave narrative in 1861. She exposed the hardships of both male and female slaves but ultimately concluded that “slavery is terrible for men; but it is far more terrible for women.”

In this particular example, Jacobs is providing a crucial first-hand perspective on slavery. Thus, her words deserve more exposure than a paraphrase could provide.

Jacobs is quoted in Harriet A. Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, ed. Jean Fagan Yellin (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1987).

Analyzing how others use language.

This scenario is probably most common in literature and linguistics courses, but you might also find yourself writing about the use of language in history and social science classes. If the use of language is your primary topic, then you will obviously need to quote users of that language.

Examples of topics that might require the frequent use of quotations include:

Southern colloquial expressions in William Faulkner’s Light in August

Ms. and the creation of a language of female empowerment

A comparison of three British poets and their use of rhyme

Spicing up your prose.

In order to lend variety to your prose, you may wish to quote a source with particularly vivid language. All quotations, however, must closely relate to your topic and arguments. Do not insert a quotation solely for its literary merits.

One example of a quotation that adds flair:

President Calvin Coolidge’s tendency to fall asleep became legendary. As H. L. Mencken commented in the American Mercury in 1933, “Nero fiddled, but Coolidge only snored.”

How do I set up and follow up a quotation?

Once you’ve carefully selected the quotations that you want to use, your next job is to weave those quotations into your text. The words that precede and follow a quotation are just as important as the quotation itself. You can think of each quote as the filling in a sandwich: it may be tasty on its own, but it’s messy to eat without some bread on either side of it. Your words can serve as the “bread” that helps readers digest each quote easily. Below are four guidelines for setting up and following up quotations.

In illustrating these four steps, we’ll use as our example, Franklin Roosevelt’s famous quotation, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”

1. Provide context for each quotation.

Do not rely on quotations to tell your story for you. It is your responsibility to provide your reader with context for the quotation. The context should set the basic scene for when, possibly where, and under what circumstances the quotation was spoken or written. So, in providing context for our above example, you might write:

When Franklin Roosevelt gave his inaugural speech on March 4, 1933, he addressed a nation weakened and demoralized by economic depression.

2. Attribute each quotation to its source.

Tell your reader who is speaking. Here is a good test: try reading your text aloud. Could your reader determine without looking at your paper where your quotations begin? If not, you need to attribute the quote more noticeably.

Avoid getting into the “they said” attribution rut! There are many other ways to attribute quotes besides this construction. Here are a few alternative verbs, usually followed by “that”:

Different reporting verbs are preferred by different disciplines, so pay special attention to these in your disciplinary reading. If you’re unfamiliar with the meanings of any of these words or others you find in your reading, consult a dictionary before using them.

3. Explain the significance of the quotation.

Once you’ve inserted your quotation, along with its context and attribution, don’t stop! Your reader still needs your assessment of why the quotation holds significance for your paper. Using our Roosevelt example, if you were writing a paper on the first one-hundred days of FDR’s administration, you might follow the quotation by linking it to that topic:

With that message of hope and confidence, the new president set the stage for his next one-hundred days in office and helped restore the faith of the American people in their government.

4. Provide a citation for the quotation.

All quotations, just like all paraphrases, require a formal citation. For more details about particular citation formats, see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . In general, you should remember one rule of thumb: Place the parenthetical reference or footnote/endnote number after—not within—the closed quotation mark.

Roosevelt declared, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” (Roosevelt, Public Papers, 11).

Roosevelt declared, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”1

How do I embed a quotation into a sentence?

In general, avoid leaving quotes as sentences unto themselves. Even if you have provided some context for the quote, a quote standing alone can disrupt your flow.  Take a look at this example:

Hamlet denies Rosencrantz’s claim that thwarted ambition caused his depression. “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2).

Standing by itself, the quote’s connection to the preceding sentence is unclear. There are several ways to incorporate a quote more smoothly:

Lead into the quote with a colon.

Hamlet denies Rosencrantz’s claim that thwarted ambition caused his depression: “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2).

The colon announces that a quote will follow to provide evidence for the sentence’s claim.

Introduce or conclude the quote by attributing it to the speaker. If your attribution precedes the quote, you will need to use a comma after the verb.

Hamlet denies Rosencrantz’s claim that thwarted ambition caused his depression. He states, “I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2).

When faced with a twelve-foot mountain troll, Ron gathers his courage, shouting, “Wingardium Leviosa!” (Rowling, p. 176).

The Pirate King sees an element of regality in their impoverished and dishonest life. “It is, it is a glorious thing/To be a pirate king,” he declares (Pirates of Penzance, 1983).

Interrupt the quote with an attribution to the speaker. Again, you will need to use a comma after the verb, as well as a comma leading into the attribution.

“There is nothing either good or bad,” Hamlet argues, “but thinking makes it so” (Hamlet 2.2).

“And death shall be no more,” Donne writes, “Death thou shalt die” (“Death, Be Not Proud,” l. 14).

Dividing the quote may highlight a particular nuance of the quote’s meaning. In the first example, the division calls attention to the two parts of Hamlet’s claim. The first phrase states that nothing is inherently good or bad; the second phrase suggests that our perspective causes things to become good or bad. In the second example, the isolation of “Death thou shalt die” at the end of the sentence draws a reader’s attention to that phrase in particular. As you decide whether or not you want to break up a quote, you should consider the shift in emphasis that the division might create.

Use the words of the quote grammatically within your own sentence.

When Hamlet tells Rosencrantz that he “could be bounded in a nutshell and count [him]self a king of infinite space” (Hamlet 2.2), he implies that thwarted ambition did not cause his depression.

Ultimately, death holds no power over Donne since in the afterlife, “death shall be no more” (“Death, Be Not Proud,” l. 14).

Note that when you use “that” after the verb that introduces the quote, you no longer need a comma.

The Pirate King argues that “it is, it is a glorious thing/to be a pirate king” (Pirates of Penzance, 1983).

How much should I quote?

As few words as possible. Remember, your paper should primarily contain your own words, so quote only the most pithy and memorable parts of sources. Here are guidelines for selecting quoted material judiciously:

Excerpt fragments.

Sometimes, you should quote short fragments, rather than whole sentences. Suppose you interviewed Jane Doe about her reaction to John F. Kennedy’s assassination. She commented:

“I couldn’t believe it. It was just unreal and so sad. It was just unbelievable. I had never experienced such denial. I don’t know why I felt so strongly. Perhaps it was because JFK was more to me than a president. He represented the hopes of young people everywhere.”

You could quote all of Jane’s comments, but her first three sentences are fairly redundant. You might instead want to quote Jane when she arrives at the ultimate reason for her strong emotions:

Jane Doe grappled with grief and disbelief. She had viewed JFK, not just as a national figurehead, but as someone who “represented the hopes of young people everywhere.”

Excerpt those fragments carefully!

Quoting the words of others carries a big responsibility. Misquoting misrepresents the ideas of others. Here’s a classic example of a misquote:

John Adams has often been quoted as having said: “This would be the best of all possible worlds if there were no religion in it.”

John Adams did, in fact, write the above words. But if you see those words in context, the meaning changes entirely. Here’s the rest of the quotation:

Twenty times, in the course of my late reading, have I been on the point of breaking out, ‘this would be the best of all possible worlds, if there were no religion in it!!!!’ But in this exclamation, I should have been as fanatical as Bryant or Cleverly. Without religion, this world would be something not fit to be mentioned in public company—I mean hell.

As you can see from this example, context matters!

This example is from Paul F. Boller, Jr. and John George, They Never Said It: A Book of Fake Quotes, Misquotes, and Misleading Attributions (Oxford University Press, 1989).

Use block quotations sparingly.

There may be times when you need to quote long passages. However, you should use block quotations only when you fear that omitting any words will destroy the integrity of the passage. If that passage exceeds four lines (some sources say five), then set it off as a block quotation.

Be sure you are handling block quotes correctly in papers for different academic disciplines–check the index of the citation style guide you are using. Here are a few general tips for setting off your block quotations:

• Set up a block quotation with your own words followed by a colon.
• Indent. You normally indent 4-5 spaces for the start of a paragraph. When setting up a block quotation, indent the entire paragraph once from the left-hand margin.
• Single space or double space within the block quotation, depending on the style guidelines of your discipline (MLA, CSE, APA, Chicago, etc.).
• Do not use quotation marks at the beginning or end of the block quote—the indentation is what indicates that it’s a quote.
• Place parenthetical citation according to your style guide (usually after the period following the last sentence of the quote).
• Follow up a block quotation with your own words.

So, using the above example from John Adams, here’s how you might include a block quotation:

After reading several doctrinally rigid tracts, John Adams recalled the zealous ranting of his former teacher, Joseph Cleverly, and minister, Lemuel Bryant. He expressed his ambivalence toward religion in an 1817 letter to Thomas Jefferson:

Adams clearly appreciated religion, even if he often questioned its promotion.

How do I combine quotation marks with other punctuation marks?

It can be confusing when you start combining quotation marks with other punctuation marks. You should consult a style manual for complicated situations, but the following two rules apply to most cases:

Keep periods and commas within quotation marks.

So, for example:

According to Professor Poe, werewolves “represent anxiety about the separation between human and animal,” and werewolf movies often “interrogate those boundaries.”

In the above example, both the comma and period were enclosed in the quotation marks. The main exception to this rule involves the use of internal citations, which always precede the last period of the sentence. For example:

According to Professor Poe, werewolves “represent anxiety about the separation between human and animal,” and werewolf movies often “interrogate those boundaries” (Poe 167).

Note, however, that the period remains inside the quotation marks when your citation style involves superscript footnotes or endnotes. For example:

According to Professor Poe, werewolves “represent anxiety about the separation between human and animal,” and werewolf movies often “interrogate those boundaries.” 2

Place all other punctuation marks (colons, semicolons, exclamation marks, question marks) outside the quotation marks, except when they were part of the original quotation.

Take a look at the following examples:

I couldn’t believe it when my friend passed me a note in the cafe saying the management “started charging $15 per hour for parking”!

The coach yelled, “Run!”

In the first example, the author placed the exclamation point outside the quotation mark because she added it herself to emphasize the outrageous nature of the parking price change. The original note had not included an exclamation mark. In the second example, the exclamation mark remains within the quotation mark because it is indicating the excited tone in which the coach yelled the command. Thus, the exclamation mark is considered to be part of the original quotation.

How do I indicate quotations within quotations?

If you are quoting a passage that contains a quotation, then you use single quotation marks for the internal quotation. Quite rarely, you quote a passage that has a quotation within a quotation. In that rare instance, you would use double quotation marks for the second internal quotation.

Here’s an example of a quotation within a quotation:

In “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” Hans Christian Andersen wrote, “‘But the Emperor has nothing on at all!’ cried a little child.”

Remember to consult your style guide to determine how to properly cite a quote within a quote.

When do I use those three dots ( . . . )?

Whenever you want to leave out material from within a quotation, you need to use an ellipsis, which is a series of three periods, each of which should be preceded and followed by a space. So, an ellipsis in this sentence would look like . . . this. There are a few rules to follow when using ellipses:

Be sure that you don’t fundamentally change the meaning of the quotation by omitting material.

Take a look at the following example:

“The Writing Center is located on the UNC campus and serves the entire UNC community.”

“The Writing Center . . . serves the entire UNC community.”

The reader’s understanding of the Writing Center’s mission to serve the UNC community is not affected by omitting the information about its location.

Do not use ellipses at the beginning or ending of quotations, unless it’s important for the reader to know that the quotation was truncated.

For example, using the above example, you would NOT need an ellipsis in either of these situations:

“The Writing Center is located on the UNC campus . . .”

The Writing Center ” . . . serves the entire UNC community.”

Use punctuation marks in combination with ellipses when removing material from the end of sentences or clauses.

For example, if you take material from the end of a sentence, keep the period in as usual.

“The boys ran to school, forgetting their lunches and books. Even though they were out of breath, they made it on time.”

“The boys ran to school. . . . Even though they were out of breath, they made it on time.”

Likewise, if you excerpt material at the end of clause that ends in a comma, retain the comma.

“The red car came to a screeching halt that was heard by nearby pedestrians, but no one was hurt.”

“The red car came to a screeching halt . . . , but no one was hurt.”

Is it ever okay to insert my own words or change words in a quotation?

Sometimes it is necessary for clarity and flow to alter a word or words within a quotation. You should make such changes rarely. In order to alert your reader to the changes you’ve made, you should always bracket the altered words. Here are a few examples of situations when you might need brackets:

Changing verb tense or pronouns in order to be consistent with the rest of the sentence.

Suppose you were quoting a woman who, when asked about her experiences immigrating to the United States, commented “nobody understood me.” You might write:

Esther Hansen felt that when she came to the United States “nobody understood [her].”

In the above example, you’ve changed “me” to “her” in order to keep the entire passage in third person. However, you could avoid the need for this change by simply rephrasing:

“Nobody understood me,” recalled Danish immigrant Esther Hansen.

Including supplemental information that your reader needs in order to understand the quotation.

For example, if you were quoting someone’s nickname, you might want to let your reader know the full name of that person in brackets.

“The principal of the school told Billy [William Smith] that his contract would be terminated.”

Similarly, if a quotation referenced an event with which the reader might be unfamiliar, you could identify that event in brackets.

“We completely revised our political strategies after the strike [of 1934].”

Indicating the use of nonstandard grammar or spelling.

In rare situations, you may quote from a text that has nonstandard grammar, spelling, or word choice. In such cases, you may want to insert [sic], which means “thus” or “so” in Latin. Using [sic] alerts your reader to the fact that this nonstandard language is not the result of a typo on your part. Always italicize “sic” and enclose it in brackets. There is no need to put a period at the end. Here’s an example of when you might use [sic]:

Twelve-year-old Betsy Smith wrote in her diary, “Father is afraid that he will be guilty of beach [sic] of contract.”

Here [sic] indicates that the original author wrote “beach of contract,” not breach of contract, which is the accepted terminology.

Do not overuse brackets!

For example, it is not necessary to bracket capitalization changes that you make at the beginning of sentences. For example, suppose you were going to use part of this quotation:

“The colors scintillated curiously over a hard carapace, and the beetle’s tiny antennae made gentle waving motions as though saying hello.”

If you wanted to begin a sentence with an excerpt from the middle of this quotation, there would be no need to bracket your capitalization changes.

“The beetle’s tiny antennae made gentle waving motions as though saying hello,” said Dr. Grace Farley, remembering a defining moment on her journey to becoming an entomologist.

Not: “[T]he beetle’s tiny antennae made gentle waving motions as though saying hello,” said Dr. Grace Farley, remembering a defining moment on her journey to becoming an entomologist.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Barzun, Jacques, and Henry F. Graff. 2012. The Modern Researcher , 6th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, Joseph M. Williams, Joseph Bizup, and William T. FitzGerald. 2016. The Craft of Research , 4th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

Gibaldi, Joseph. 2009. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers , 7th ed. New York: The Modern Language Association of America.

Turabian, Kate. 2018. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, Dissertations , 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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A detailed guide to quoting

Jessica Malnik

Quotations have the power to elevate your written work when used correctly. But in order to use a quote properly, you must give full credit to the original source.

Before you can learn how to properly include quoted material, you need to have a firm understanding of what a quotation is, the purpose for using one, and the difference between quoting and paraphrasing.

What is a quotation in writing?

Quotations serve multiple purposes in writing. Students and professionals alike can benefit from using quotations in their work. Whether you’re writing a research paper or a blog article, you’ll likely find yourself needing to use them at some point. Quoting can add perspective, validation, and evidence to your piece.

What do you mean by quoting?

Quoting is a technique that allows you to include an original passage from a source in your work as a direct quote. You do this by framing or surrounding the quote in quotation marks like this, “This is an example of a sentence framed by quotation marks.” 

However, you can’t just add quotation marks and call it a day. You also need proper attribution for your source. 

Keep in mind that there is a difference between direct quoting and indirect quoting. With direct quoting, you include the source’s exact words framed within quotation marks. 

With indirect quoting, you can paraphrase what the person or text said in your own words instead of copying it verbatim. Indirect quoting, also known as indirect speech or discourse, is mostly used to summarize what someone said in a talk or interview. Indirect quotations are never placed within quotation marks.

How do you properly quote? 

To properly quote someone, you’ll need to follow some general quoting rules along with properly citing your source using your preferred MLA, APA, or Chicago style guide. 

For example, many people incorrectly use punctuation with quotation marks. Do you know whether or not to include punctuation inside the quotation marks?

Here’s how to handle punctuation marks with quotes, as well as a few more rules to consider when including quotations in your work:

Punctuation

As a good rule of thumb, periods and commas should go inside quotation marks. On the other hand, colons, semicolons, and dashes go outside of the quotation marks. 

However, exclamation points and question marks aren’t set in stone. While these tend to go on the inside of quotation marks, in some instances, you might place them outside of the marks. 

Here are a few examples to illustrate how this would work in practice:

“ You should keep commas inside the quotation marks, ” he explained.

She wanted to help, so she said, “ I’m happy to explain it ” ; they needed a thorough explanation, and she loved to teach her students.

It gets a little trickier with exclamation marks and question marks when quoting. These can be either inside the quotation marks or outside of them, depending on the situation. Keep question and exclamation marks inside the quotations if they apply to the quoted passage. If they apply to your sentence instead of the quote, you’ll want to keep them outside. Here’s an example:

He asked the students, “ Do you know how to use quotation marks? ”

Did the students hear the teacher when he said, “ I will show you how to use quotation marks ”?

Closing quotations

Once you start using a quotation mark, you have to close it. This means that you can’t leave a quote open like the example below because the reader wouldn’t know when the quote is over.

Capitalization

The rule of capitalization changes depending on the context. 

For example, if you quote a complete sentence, then you should capitalize the first word in the sentence. However, if you are quoting a piece of a sentence or phrase, then you wouldn’t need to start with capitalization, like this:

She said, “ Here’s an example of a sentence that should start with a capital letter. ”

He said it was “ a good example of a sentence where capitalization isn’t necessary. ”

Sometimes, you’ll want to split a quote. You don’t need to capitalize the second half of the quote that’s divided by a parenthetical. Here’s an example to show you what that would look like:

“ Here is an example of a quote, ” she told her students, “ that doesn’t need capitalization in the second part . ”

What is the purpose of quoting? 

As stated above, quotations can serve multiple purposes in a written piece. Quotes can signify direct passages or titles of works. Here are a few of the reasons to include a quote within your written work:

These intentions can apply whether you’ve interviewed your source or are taking a quote from an existing, published piece. 

However, before you use a quote, you’ll want to understand how it can strengthen your work and when you should use one. We’ll discuss when you should use quotes and how to properly cite them using different style guides in the next section.

When you should use quotes

Quotations should be used strategically, no matter what type of writing you’re doing. For instance, if you’re a professional copywriter crafting a white paper or a student writing a research paper, you’ll likely want to include as much proof as possible in your work. However, stuffing your paper with a ton of quotations can do more harm than good because the piece needs to represent your ideas and interpretations of the source, not just good quotes.

That being said, quoting reputable sources in your work is an excellent way to prove your points and add credibility to the piece. Use quotations in your work when you want to share accurate ideas and passages from source materials.

You should also use quotes when you want to add emphasis to a source on the topic you’re covering. 

For example, if you’re writing a research paper, then it would be beneficial to add quotes from a professor involved in the study you’re referring to in your piece.

How to cite a quote in MLA, APA, and Chicago 

MLA, APA, and Chicago are three of the most common citation styles. It’s a standardized way of crediting the sources that you quote. Depending on your assignment, you may need to use a specific one when citing your sources.

This section shares how to cite your quotes in these three popular citation styles, along with several examples of each.

Modern Language Association (MLA) is most often associated with academics in English or philosophic fields. With this style of citation, you’ll need to include quotes word-for-word. It’s fine to use only phrases or pieces from a specific quote, but you’ll need to keep the spelling and punctuation the same.

Here are some other criteria to keep in mind when citing using MLA style:

• If the quote goes longer than four lines, you must use a blockquote. Do not indent at the start of the quote block.

• Start quotes on the next line, ½ inch from the left margin of the paper.

• Quotes must be double spaced like the rest of the paper.

• Only use quotations when quotation marks are a part of the source.

• Include in-text citations next to the blockquote.

• If a blockquote is longer than a paragraph, you must start the next paragraph with the same indent.

• Don’t include a number in the parenthetical quotation if the source doesn’t use page numbers.

Here’s an example of a short, direct quote with MLA using a website resource without page numbers:

She always wanted to be a writer. “ I knew from a young age that I wanted to write a novel . ” (Smith)

And an example of a blockquote from page 2 of the source:

John Doe shares his experience getting his book published in the prologue:

I never expected so many people to be willing to help me publish this book. I had a lot of support along the way. My friends and colleagues always encouraged me to keep going. Some helped me edit, and others reminded me why I started in the first place. One of my good friends even brought me dinner when she knew I was going to be working late. (2)

With MLA, the reader can reference the full sources at the end in the Work Cited section. For this example, it could look like this:

Works Cited

Smith, J. (2021). Example Blog Post. Retrieved 2021, from www.example.com

Doe, J. (2021). Book Title One (1st ed., Vol. 1). Example, TX: Example Publishing.

See this article for more information on MLA style citations.

American Psychological Association (APA) is used often in psychology, education, and criminal justice fields. It often requires a cover page and abstract.

Here are a few points to consider when using APA style to cite your sources:

• Citation pages should be double spaced.

• All citations in a paper must have a full reference in the reference list.

• All references must have a hanging indent.

• Sources must be listed in alphabetical order, typically by the last name.

Using the same source examples as we did with MLA above, here is how they would be cited in APA:

Doe, Jane. Example Blog Post . 2021, www.example.com. 

Doe, John. Book Title One . 1st ed., vol. 1, Example Publishing, 2021. 

See this article for more information on APA style citations.

Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) is commonly used in history and humanities fields. It was created to help researchers. Here are a few points to keep in mind for Chicago Style:

• There are 2 types of referencing styles:

    → Notes and Bibliography

    → Author-Date

• The list of bibliography must be single-spaced.

• The text should be double spaced, except for block quotations, tables, notes, and bibliographies.

• The second line should be indented for sources.

•Author last names must be arranged alphabetically.

Here’s how the same example sources used above would be cited using Chicago style:

Doe, Jane. “Example Blog Post,” 2021. www.example.com. 

Doe, John. Book Title One . 1. 1st ed. Vol. 1. Example, TX: Example Publishing, 2021.

See this article for more information on Chicago style citations.

Types of quotes and examples

There are two main types of quotes: direct and indirect.

Whenever you want to use someone’s statement word-for-word in your text, you’ll need to include properly cited, direct quotations. However, if you want to paraphrase someone’s words then indirect quotes could be more appropriate.

For example, say that you’re writing a press release for a company. You could interview different people within the company’s staff and paraphrase their quotes. This is particularly useful if the direct quote wouldn’t work well within your piece. For instance, you could change this direct quote example into an indirect quote that would more succinctly represent the speech:

Direct quote:

Indirect quote:

Keep in mind when using quotations that you should aim for using as few words as necessary. You don’t want to quote an entire paragraph when only one sentence contains the key information you want to share. If you need to add context, do so in your words. It’ll make for a much more interesting piece if you’re using quotes to support your stance alongside your interpretation instead of just repeating what’s already been said.

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Writing Studio

Quotation basics: grammar, punctuation, and style, some general quotation guidelines.

In an effort to make our handouts more accessible, we have begun converting our PDF handouts to web pages. Download this page as a PDF: Quotation Grammar, Punctuation, and Style Return to Writing Studio Handouts

When writing a formal essay, you will often need to use quotes from a text or texts as evidence to prove your point or to make an argument. Below are grammar and punctuation guidelines to help you integrate those quotes into your essay successfully.

We recommend consulting a style manual or your instructor for specific queries.

Periods and Commas

• You do not need to use any punctuation before a quotation if it forms part of your own sentence.

Example: Dennis cries that he is “being repressed!”

• Use a comma when introducing a quote with a phrase such as ‘he said.’

Example: The old man protests, “I don’t want to go on the cart.”

• Place parenthetical citations outside the end quotation mark, but before the punctuation.

Example: King Arthur declares, “Let’s not go to Camelot. It is a silly place” (13).

Colons and Ellipses

• Use a colon when introducing a quotation with a full independent clause (one that can stand on its own).

Example: Emily feels frustrated by his response: “Is there someone else that we can talk to?”

• Use an ellipsis (three periods, sometimes with spaces between: ‘…’ ) to indicate an omission in a quotation (Exception: it is not necessary to use an ellipsis when omitting words at the beginning of a quote unless you are using a block quote format).

Example: “The kind of intelligence a genius has … leaps with ellipses.”

• When you want to omit one or more full sentences, use a period and a space before the three ellipsis dots.

Example: “Hatred paralyzes life. … Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it.”

Slashes and Brackets

• When you are quoting poetry, use a slash ( / ) to mark a line break.

Example: “Let me not to the marriage of true minds / Admit impediments” (1-2).

• Use square brackets to add a word, change a pronoun, or change a verb tense in the quote.

Original quote: “It’s my duty as a knight to sample all the peril I can.”

In your essay: Sir Galahad thinks “it’s [his] duty as a knight to sample all the peril [he] can.”

Question Marks and Exclamation Points

• With a question mark or exclamation point, there is no need to use a comma or a period.

Example: The interested observer wonders, “Are you suggesting that coconuts migrate?”

• If the mark is part of your sentence and not part of the quote, it goes outside the last quotation mark.

Example: I don’t think we can ever understand the “ineluctable modality of the visual”!

Block Quotes

• MLA style calls for use of a block quote (indent 10 spaces, or 2 tabs) when citing five or more lines of typed prose or four or more lines of verse. APA style calls for block quotes when citing forty words or more.

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate. / Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, / And summer’s lease hath all too short a date. (1-4)

Quote Within a Quote

• When using a quote within a quote, single quotation marks are used for the inner quote.

Example: Josh laments, “Every time I try to talk to someone it’s ‘sorry this’ and ‘forgive me that.’”

Last revised: 08/2008 | Adapted for web delivery: 05/2021

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How to make a business quotation in 5 easy steps

How to make a business quotation

• Pick a template.
• Enter all the necessary information.
• Edit and proofread the quote.
• Send the quote to the client.

Let’s say you’ve done everything right in your business — created great products and services, launched a solid website, driven high-quality traffic to your site, and even built word-of-mouth buzz and implemented other marketing that gets you noticed by the right people.

Are you harnessing all that positive attention by making it easy for potential clients and customers to request a quote once they’ve decided they’re interested in your offerings?

Think back to the last time you researched a service online — car insurance, lawn care, website design, or anything else. Was the process of finding out what the service costs simple and straightforward?

If it wasn’t, you likely scurried over to one of the other 87 websites that popped up when you googled, say, “website design.”

That’s why you need an efficient system for providing quotations to potential customers quickly and easily. Because if getting a quote is too complicated, or worse, not an available option, potential customers will leave your website, likely saying “buh-bye” for good.

Build professional business quotes for free with Jotform .

What is a quotation?

A quotation, or quote, is a document that provides the cost of a product or service to a potential customer.

For example, say a potential customer lands on your website, decides your business might be a good fit for the service they’re looking for, and requests pricing information.

You then need to prepare a quote with a breakdown of all the charges required to fulfill their needs, plus the fixed price for the job. The customer compares your quote to the others they’ve received, and, hopefully, chooses you for the job.

If you’ve made the process of both requesting and fulfilling the quote fast and painless, that puts you ahead of competitors who aren’t operating as efficiently.

The difference between a quote, an invoice, and an estimate

You’ll often hear the terms invoice and estimate used along with quote, and some people confuse the different terms. However, it’s important to note that quotes, invoices, and estimates are all different — though related — things.

Again, a quote is a document that provides the cost of a product or service to a potential customer.

An invoice is a business document that you (as the seller) send to the customer (the buyer) to request payment. It outlines the services and products you’ve provided and details how much the customer owes you in return. The invoice also typically includes other important information, such as the payment terms, payment method, and payment due date.An estimate is similar to a quote in that it also provides a cost of a product or service to a potential customer before a sale. However, an estimate is more of a best guess rather than an exact price, which is what a quote offers. In some industries, a business will first offer an estimate for customer review and feedback. The business then follows up by providing an official quote to the potential customer.

Step-by-step instructions for creating a quote

Because a sales quotation is an important first step in winning business, you want to make a great impression with yours, which means using a simple process like the one below.

1. Pick a template

The quickest way to begin the process is by using a premade quote form or template.

Jotform has online quote form templates that are a great way to get started. Simply select the appropriate quote form, then customize it for your business.

You can also use Jotform’s PDF quote templates to create instant price quotes for your customers. All submitted quote requests will automatically become price quotes formatted as PDFs you can easily share with clients and print for your records.

2. Enter all the necessary information

The information on the quote form will depend on the quote template you choose or your existing quote system (if you already have one), but should include

• Your company name and logo.
• Your contact information.
• Your customer’s company information.
• Your customer’s contact information.
• A quote number for ease of reference.
• Date of issue, which is especially important if your quote has an expiration date, as it usually should.
• Line items that describe exactly which products or services you’re providing, with the associated cost of each.
• Anything that isn’t included in the quote, to avoid confusion. For example, if you’re providing web design services, make it clear that your web design package doesn’t include copywriting.
• The total cost of the project, including tax, if applicable.
• Quote expiration date. Prices can fluctuate for any number of reasons, so be sure to include a firm expiration date to avoid losing money if the cost of providing the product or services increases.
• The terms of a deposit, if you’re requesting one, including when the deposit must be paid, and if and under what conditions it’s refundable, etc.
• Terms and conditions. For example, what happens if you miss the agreed-upon deadline for project completion? Do you keep any deposits if the client or customer cancels the work? Do you want to be paid via check or direct deposit? What happens in the event the client doesn’t pay on time?
• A thank-you. It’s always a nice touch to add a note that says something like, “Thanks for the opportunity to work on this project! We look forward to working with you.”

3. Edit and proofread

There’s nothing more embarrassing than sending a quote for $1,000 when you meant to say $10,000. So review and confirm your numbers — and check your spelling and grammar too.

4. Send the quote to the client

Whether you’re using a Word file, an Excel spreadsheet, or a premade template, the next step is getting the quote to the potential client or customer.

Sending the quote as soon as possible after you receive the request is best — within 24 hours if you can — and email is usually the quickest and most efficient way to do this.

Jotform’s PDF quote templates can be automatically emailed to clients. You can download and print them for your records as well.

5. Follow up

Did you send your quote and, days later, hear nothing but crickets?

Your potential clients and customers are probably not ignoring you — they’re just busy. They may have requested multiple quotes and may still be in the process of weighing their options.

This is why follow-up is so important, especially if they’ve requested multiple quotes. Stand out from the pack by checking in politely and offering to answer any questions or address any hesitations they may have. You might just be the only one considerate and professional enough to do this, which means you’ll increase your chances of landing the project.

When to send a quote

The timeline for sending a quote depends on your industry and business. 

However, a business typically offers a quote to a prospect near the beginning of their interaction and once a prospect has requested pricing information. It’s unusual to send a quote unless a prospect has asked for one.

For example, a potential customer may visit your website, review your offerings, and send you an email asking about pricing for a specific service. You may then send them a quote based on the type of service they’re requesting. In some industries, you may have to have a consultation or multiple meetings with the prospect to better understand the scope of their needs. You’ll then provide the quote once you’ve gathered this data.

What to consider when creating an international quotation

If your business deals with clients in other countries, there are a number of special factors you may need to consider when crafting a quote, including

• The currency for payment
• Import and export license details
• Shipping methods
• Shipping timelines and costs
• Certifications required by the customer’s country
• Terms of trade between your country and the customer’s country

How to request a quote

If you’d like to request a quote from another business, you can do that by following the process they outline on their website or in other marketing materials. 

For example, if you want to request a quote from a specific contractor to complete some repairs at your shop, check out their website or brochure for process details. Many businesses offer an outline of how they do business, and they’ll let you know how you can request a quote, such as by filling out a form or sending them an email.

Some businesses may request a consultation or meeting with you before giving you a quote. In this case, you’ll need to contact them to schedule a call or meeting and provide the information they require so they can put together a more complete and accurate quote.

How to decline a quote

Asking for a quote doesn’t mean you’re committed to working with the business. If you’ve gotten a quote you’re not happy with, you have a couple of options. 

You can simply decline the quote by letting the business know that the quote doesn’t meet your expectations. Or, you can request adjustments if there are certain aspects of the quote you don’t understand or agree with. They may be open to amending the quote to meet your requirements.

Whatever you decide to do, keep things civil. Offer alternative suggestions only if you want to work with the business under a different agreement. If you don’t, then simply say you’re going to go with a different option and move on.

How to make quotes easy with Jotform

Quote requests and fulfillment are a standard part of most businesses. If you haven’t implemented this option in your business yet, no worries. With Jotform’s templates , producing professional-looking quotes can be fast and easy — which makes turning hot leads into new customers a breeze.

Photo by  Djordje Petrovic  from  Pexels

Thank you for helping improve the Jotform Blog. 🎉

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• How to Quote | Citing Quotes in Harvard & APA

How to Quote | Citing Quotes in Harvard & APA

Published on 15 April 2022 by Shona McCombes and Jack Caulfield. Revised on 3 September 2022.

Quoting means copying a passage of someone else’s words and crediting the source. To quote a source, you must ensure:

• The quoted text is enclosed in quotation marks (usually single quotation marks in UK English, though double is acceptable as long as you’re consistent) or formatted as a block quote
• The original author is correctly cited
• The text is identical to the original

The exact format of a quote depends on its length and on which citation style you are using. Quoting and citing correctly is essential to avoid plagiarism , which is easy to detect with a good plagiarism checker .

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Table of contents

How to cite a quote in harvard and apa style, introducing quotes, quotes within quotes, shortening or altering a quote, block quotes, when should i use quotes, frequently asked questions about quoting sources.

Every time you quote, you must cite the source correctly . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style you’re using.

Citing a quote in Harvard style

When you include a quote in Harvard style, you must add a Harvard in-text citation giving the author’s last name, the year of publication, and a page number if available. Any full stop or comma appears after the citation, not within the quotation marks.

Citations can be parenthetical or narrative. In a parenthetical citation , you place all the information in brackets after the quote. In a narrative citation , you name the author in your sentence (followed by the year), and place the page number after the quote.

• Evolution is a gradual process that ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (Darwin, 1859, p. 510) . Darwin (1859) explains that evolution ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (p. 510) .

Complete guide to Harvard style

Citing a quote in APA Style

To cite a direct quote in APA , you must include the author’s last name, the year, and a page number, all separated by commas. If the quote appears on a single page, use ‘p.’; if it spans a page range, use ‘pp.’

An APA in-text citation can be parenthetical or narrative. In a parenthetical citation , you place all the information in parentheses after the quote. In a narrative citation , you name the author in your sentence (followed by the year), and place the page number after the quote.

Punctuation marks such as full stops and commas are placed after the citation, not within the quotation marks.

• Evolution is a gradual process that ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (Darwin, 1859, p. 510) .
• Darwin (1859) explains that evolution ‘can act only by very short and slow steps’ (p. 510) .

Complete guide to APA

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Make sure you integrate quotes properly into your text by introducing them in your own words, showing the reader why you’re including the quote and providing any context necessary to understand it.  Don’t  present quotations as stand-alone sentences.

There are three main strategies you can use to introduce quotes in a grammatically correct way:

• Add an introductory sentence
• Use an introductory signal phrase
• Integrate the quote into your own sentence

The following examples use APA Style citations, but these strategies can be used in all styles.

Introductory sentence

Introduce the quote with a full sentence ending in a colon . Don’t use a colon if the text before the quote isn’t a full sentence.

If you name the author in your sentence, you may use present-tense verbs, such as “states’, ‘argues’, ‘explains’, ‘writes’, or ‘reports’, to describe the content of the quote.

• In Denmark, a recent poll shows that: ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• In Denmark, a recent poll shows that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• Levring (2018) reports that support for the EU has grown since the Brexit vote: ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (p. 3).

Introductory signal phrase

You can also use a signal phrase that mentions the author or source but doesn’t form a full sentence. In this case, you follow the phrase with a comma instead of a colon.

• According to a recent poll, ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• As Levring (2018) explains, ‘A membership referendum held today would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ (p. 3).

Integrated into your own sentence

To quote a phrase that doesn’t form a full sentence, you can also integrate it as part of your sentence, without any extra punctuation.

• A recent poll suggests that EU membership ‘would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ in a referendum (Levring, 2018, p. 3).
• Levring (2018) reports that EU membership ‘would be backed by 55 percent of Danish voters’ in a referendum (p. 3).

When you quote text that itself contains another quote, this is called a nested quotation or a quote within a quote. It may occur, for example, when quoting dialogue from a novel.

To distinguish this quote from the surrounding quote, you enclose it in double (instead of single) quotation marks (even if this involves changing the punctuation from the original text). Make sure to close both sets of quotation marks at the appropriate moments.

Note that if you only quote the nested quotation itself, and not the surrounding text, you can just use single quotation marks.

• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: ‘ ‘ Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone, ‘ he told me, ‘ just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had ‘ ‘ (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: ‘”Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had “  (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway introduces his narrative by quoting his father: ‘“Whenever you feel like criticizing anyone,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had”’ (Fitzgerald 1).
• Carraway begins by quoting his father’s invocation to ‘remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had’ (Fitzgerald 1).

Note:  When the quoted text in the source comes from another source, it’s best to just find that original source in order to quote it directly. If you can’t find the original source, you can instead cite it indirectly .

Often, incorporating a quote smoothly into your text requires you to make some changes to the original text. It’s fine to do this, as long as you clearly mark the changes you’ve made to the quote.

Shortening a quote

If some parts of a passage are redundant or irrelevant, you can shorten the quote by removing words, phrases, or sentences and replacing them with an ellipsis (…). Put a space before and after the ellipsis.

Be careful that removing the words doesn’t change the meaning. The ellipsis indicates that some text has been removed, but the shortened quote should still accurately represent the author’s point.

Altering a quote

You can add or replace words in a quote when necessary. This might be because the original text doesn’t fit grammatically with your sentence (e.g., it’s in a different tense), or because extra information is needed to clarify the quote’s meaning.

Use brackets to distinguish words that you have added from words that were present in the original text.

The Latin term ‘ sic ‘ is used to indicate a (factual or grammatical) mistake in a quotation. It shows the reader that the mistake is from the quoted material, not a typo of your own.

In some cases, it can be useful to italicise part of a quotation to add emphasis, showing the reader that this is the key part to pay attention to. Use the phrase ’emphasis added’ to show that the italics were not part of the original text.

You usually don’t need to use brackets to indicate minor changes to punctuation or capitalisation made to ensure the quote fits the style of your text.

If you quote more than a few lines from a source, you must format it as a block quote . Instead of using quotation marks, you set the quote on a new line and indent it so that it forms a separate block of text.

Block quotes are cited just like regular quotes, except that if the quote ends with a full stop, the citation appears after the full stop.

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hands, and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more. (16)

Avoid relying too heavily on quotes in academic writing . To integrate a source , it’s often best to paraphrase , which means putting the passage into your own words. This helps you integrate information smoothly and keeps your own voice dominant.

However, there are some situations in which quotes are more appropriate.

When focusing on language

If you want to comment on how the author uses language (for example, in literary analysis ), it’s necessary to quote so that the reader can see the exact passage you are referring to.

When giving evidence

To convince the reader of your argument, interpretation or position on a topic, it’s often helpful to include quotes that support your point. Quotes from primary sources (for example, interview transcripts or historical documents) are especially credible as evidence.

When presenting an author’s position or definition

When you’re referring to secondary sources such as scholarly books and journal articles, try to put others’ ideas in your own words when possible.

But if a passage does a great job at expressing, explaining, or defining something, and it would be very difficult to paraphrase without changing the meaning or losing the weakening the idea’s impact, it’s worth quoting directly.

A quote is an exact copy of someone else’s words, usually enclosed in quotation marks and credited to the original author or speaker.

To present information from other sources in academic writing , it’s best to paraphrase in most cases. This shows that you’ve understood the ideas you’re discussing and incorporates them into your text smoothly.

It’s appropriate to quote when:

• Changing the phrasing would distort the meaning of the original text
• You want to discuss the author’s language choices (e.g., in literary analysis )
• You’re presenting a precise definition
• You’re looking in depth at a specific claim

Every time you quote a source , you must include a correctly formatted in-text citation . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style .

For example, a direct quote in APA is cited like this: ‘This is a quote’ (Streefkerk, 2020, p. 5).

Every in-text citation should also correspond to a full reference at the end of your paper.

In scientific subjects, the information itself is more important than how it was expressed, so quoting should generally be kept to a minimum. In the arts and humanities, however, well-chosen quotes are often essential to a good paper.

In social sciences, it varies. If your research is mainly quantitative , you won’t include many quotes, but if it’s more qualitative , you may need to quote from the data you collected .

As a general guideline, quotes should take up no more than 5–10% of your paper. If in doubt, check with your instructor or supervisor how much quoting is appropriate in your field.

If you’re quoting from a text that paraphrases or summarises other sources and cites them in parentheses , APA  recommends retaining the citations as part of the quote:

• Smith states that ‘the literature on this topic (Jones, 2015; Sill, 2019; Paulson, 2020) shows no clear consensus’ (Smith, 2019, p. 4).

Footnote or endnote numbers that appear within quoted text should be omitted.

If you want to cite an indirect source (one you’ve only seen quoted in another source), either locate the original source or use the phrase ‘as cited in’ in your citation.

A block quote is a long quote formatted as a separate ‘block’ of text. Instead of using quotation marks , you place the quote on a new line, and indent the entire quote to mark it apart from your own words.

APA uses block quotes for quotes that are 40 words or longer.

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 Reference Generator.

McCombes, S. & Caulfield, J. (2022, September 03). How to Quote | Citing Quotes in Harvard & APA. Scribbr. Retrieved 14 May 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/working-sources/quoting/

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Create a quote in 8 simple steps: a guide for small businesses.

A quote (or “quotation”) is usually a document that includes a fixed price for a job. It can also be verbal. A quotation is sent from a supplier to a potential buyer.

Writing winning quotes for jobs is important, as this generates new business and helps your company grow, according to Business Queensland .

The below article covers how a small business can create a quote in eight simple steps.

In this article, we’ll cover:

• Select a Template
• Add Client Information
• Enter the Quote Number
• Include a Date of Issue
• Enter Products or Services
• Add Terms and Conditions
• Include Notes
• Add Optional Details

1. Select a Template

Creating winning quotes is a learning process. It helps to use a standard quote format so you can create professional-looking, comprehensive and detailed quotes that clients will love.

You can also customize your template and make it even more professional by adding your company letterhead or logo, according to Business Queensland .

There are many price quote templates available. Picking the right business quotation format template for you will depend on what kind of software you have and what programs you are most comfortable using. This article has free quotation templates for Word, Excel, PDF and Google Docs.

If you already have the Microsoft Office suite, the Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel quotation is a great place to get started. They are easy to customize and familiar to most users. You can save these in a quote PDF format, making it easy to send a professional version to a client.

If you prefer using Google Docs, FreshBooks can provide a free quotation template in google sheets. All you have to do is customize the empty sections, save and send. With FreshBooks, your quotations will be ready in the touch of a button.

The below price quote template for photography has some of the basic elements we’ll explore in the following steps:

Source: Quotationtempaltes.net

Many companies also use accounting or bookkeeping software to generate their quotes.

Estimates are very similar to quotations except the price is approximate, not fixed. FreshBooks has online estimating software that makes it simple to generate an estimate in the cloud and send it to your client.

An estimate maker is a great way to ensure that you are sending your client a professionally formatted, accurate estimate. It avoids any potential mistakes that could harm your business and its professional standing.

First, you select the estimate function:

Source: FreshBooks

Then you customize the FreshBooks template:

Then go ahead and share the estimate via email with your client. They can approve it automatically.

2. Add Client Information

Make sure you include who the quote is for. Include information such as:

• Business name
• Phone number
• Fax number (if applicable)
• Email address
• Contact name and title

And don’t forget your contact information. That said, if you use company letterhead, you may not need to include it.

3. Enter the Quote Number

Accounting software automatically generates a quote number for you, adding increments of one to each new quote. However, you should be able to edit the quote number if you like. If you’re using a template in Word or such, you can start with “1” and go from there.

If you have multiple pages that you are sending off in the same email, the accounting software will include individual page numbers on your quotation sheets to keep everything precise.

4. Include a Date of Issue

This is the date you send the quote to the client. A date of issue is important because quotes are usually limited time offers. You will probably want to add: “Valid for 30 days.” Or you can extend or decrease the timeline, as desired.

5. Enter Products or Services

Add the products and/or services you’re quoting as line items. Include a description of the items as well as quantities, product number, unit price and total price per item (if applicable).

You can also divide up the products and services according to different project stages. You may want to separate labor and materials costs. A quotation template specific to your industry will help you organize your cost breakdown.

FreshBooks provides a range of sample quotations in multiple formats, so that you can choose the right one to suit your business. Have a look at our gallery template to select the right quotation format for you.

Note anything that is not included in the project. For example, a contractor may charge for the labour required to install kitchen cabinets but not include picking up the cabinets from the store (which the homeowner can choose to do, instead).

Total up all the costs to find your subtotal. Then add tax, if applicable, for the grand total.

6. Add Terms and Conditions

Here’s where you account for any possible variations in the project. For example, you might note that the project timeline for landscaping a backyard depends on having good weather.

A small business can also explain how much additional work will cost. For example, they might note any additional work will cost $50 per hour. Explain under what conditions additional work might be required, since a business quote is supposed to be a fixed price.

Also include how you want to be paid and when. Do you prefer a check or direct deposit? Do you accept credit cards? Will you bill a lump sum upon completion? Do you expect a deposit? Do you want half up front and half on completion? Include these details in your payment terms .

Also Read: Quotation Terms and Conditions Sample

7. Include Notes

This section is for any other details you want to include. Notes is a good place to detail timelines and expected completion date. You can also summarize the project scope. It’s also professional to thank your client for the opportunity to quote and express that you’re looking forward to working with them.

8. Add Optional Details

The following information isn’t required for your quotation, but it can be a good idea. Here are some elements you can consider adding to your quotes:

• Purchase order number (from client)
• Business number (EIN)
• Sales tax number (get yours here )
• Signature section

For example, the below quotation form template has a place for the client and business to sign to indicate their acceptance of the quote. It also includes a discount.

Source: Buildingcontractor.co

Now, check your spelling and grammar! Then check that all the math is right. Now you can send your quote to your client, confidant that you’ve made a detailed, thought-out quote that will impress its recipient.

People also ask:

How to Request a Quote

How to decline a quote.

A small business might request a quote if they need to hire a subcontractor or specialist for a job that goes beyond their field of practice. They can send a “request for quote letter” to one or multiple vendors, who send them back price quotes.

A request for quote letter should be clear and concise and mention what date you want the quote. Include the quantity of products you intend to order. For services, specify which ones you’re interested in.

Here are some samples of requests for quotes:

• This estimate template, available in Excel or Word , allows for detailed requirements
• Letters.org has formal letter or informal email templates that you can copy and paste
• Or download templates in Word or PDF formats from Letters.org

Below is an example of a request for quote letter. It includes the date, business information, contact information and requests for details such as what taxes apply, delivery timeline, terms of payment and that all prices should be firm.

Source: Biztree

Received a price quote and it wasn’t to your liking? Perhaps the price was too high or you decided to go with another company.

Still, it’s important to reply since the company took the time to prepare the quote. Thank them for their submission and explain why you aren’t accepting their quote.

Here’s a quotation rejection template from Best Sample Letters you can copy, paste and revise:

1234, Main Street Boston, MA 02123

<Recipient Address Goes Here>

Thank you for submitting a <quotation/bid/proposal> on <name of project>. We’re sorry to inform you that we have decided to go with someone else this time.

<Reasons why.>

We appreciate the time it took for you to submit a <quotation/bid/proposal> and will keep you in mind for the future.

Quotation Templates for Different Business Types

Advertising Services Quotation Format

As an advertiser, you know how important design and presentation is in your industry. A professional quotation is a crucial component of gaining clients who are interested in your advertising services. 

With the free advertising services quotation from FreshBooks, you can be sure to impress your potential clients with a beautifully formatted list of your services and prices. This can be fully customized with your business logo and design choices, to ensure that companies know why you are the best choice for their projects. 

Audit Services Quotation Format

An auditor relies on their attention to detail and financial expertise to excel in their field. If you own an auditing business or are providing auditing services to clients, you will need an organized quotation format to clearly outline the details of the work you provide. 

The FreshBooks audit services quotation format includes line by line descriptions of your services, with detailed pricing breakdowns to make sure that your clients understand the accounting and financial services that you provide. They’ll know that you are the number one pick for your industry!

Cleaning Services Quotation Template

Cleaning services are a valued service for many industries. To make sure that your clients know why you are the best choice for the job, use a sample quotation template for cleaning services. 

You’ll be sure to sweep them off their feet with the cleaning quotation template from FreshBooks, which can be easily customized to suit the service you are providing, from deep cleaning to a window cleaning quotation template. Our guide on how to price house cleaning jobs will assist you in preparing the cleaning quotation.

Construction Quotation Template 

If you work in construction, you know that a strong foundation is the most important step to building anything — including building a business. Letting your clients know what services you provide in a specific time frame is a great way to drum up interest and get companies on board.

FreshBooks offers a free construction quotation template that provides sections for individual services, labor costs and material costs. Companies will be impressed by your professionalism, so download the construction service quotation template today to get started.

Personal Auto Insurance Quotation

Customers rely on you for insurance on the road. To make sure that they know the details of the services you provide, you’ll need to give them a quotation first. A template is a great way to avoid mistakes and keep everything accurate and presentable. 

Ensure that you are the right choice for the job with the free personal auto insurance quotation template from FreshBooks.

Photography Quotation 

If you want to let clients know about your photography services, you can send them a quotation to let them know your prices. The right quotation template clearly outlines the different kinds of photography services you provide, as well as any hourly billing or extended services you require. 

With the photography quotation sample template from FreshBooks, you will be snapping up customers left and right.

Taxi Quotation

If you run a taxi business and are looking to get the word out, sending out a quotation to potential clients is a great start.

Use the FreshBooks taxi quotation template to get your clients on board with your services, with line by line service information and tailored hourly billing.

Wedding Quotation

As a wedding planner, you know that every client wants the best for their special day. With a quotation template, you can set out your services in block quotation formats to showcase the different options they can choose. 

Your clients will fall in love with your services with the Wedding Quotation Template from FreshBooks

Sales Quotation

If you work in sales, you know that a good first impression can work wonders. FreshBooks offers a free sales quotation template that can be easily customized to suit your company, and lets customers know why your services are the best in the business.

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• Punctuation

How to Use Quotation Marks

Last Updated: September 13, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Stephanie Wong Ken, MFA . Stephanie Wong Ken is a writer based in Canada. Stephanie's writing has appeared in Joyland, Catapult, Pithead Chapel, Cosmonaut's Avenue, and other publications. She holds an MFA in Fiction and Creative Writing from Portland State University. There are 7 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 1,445,709 times.

Quotation marks(“ ”) typically come in pairs—open quotation marks and close quotation marks. They are used to set off exact language, spoken or written, that has come from someone else. You may use quotation marks to quote a source or for dialogue. You can also use quotation marks for titles to indicate it is part of a larger work. Using quotation marks correctly in a paper, essay, or written work will ensure your writing is clear and easy to follow.

Quotation Marks Usage Chart

Applying Quotation Marks to Direct Quotes and Sayings

• Pollen states in his book, “You can eat whatever you want as long as you make it yourself.”
• In Othello by William Shakespeare, Iago says in Act II, scene iii, “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving.”

• Shakespeare notes in his diary, “I am the poor man’s playwright.”
• Pollen recommends, “Eat food. Mostly plants.”

• Pollen advocates for taking responsibility for one’s food choices, for eating “whatever you want as long as you make it yourself,” a tall order for some.

• Othello notes, “For she has eyes and she chose me.”
• Pollen asks the question, “Why don’t we get to know our food?”
• The last line of the poem “Sestina: Altaforte” by Ezra Pound states, “Hell blot black for always the thought ‘Peace’!”

• Everyone knows the saying, “What goes in must come out.”
• One is reminded of the familiar phrase, “It takes one to know one.”

• She did not want to bring up his “issue” in mixed company.
• The “in depth discussion” of the problem felt insufficient at best.

Using Quotation Marks for Dialogue

• “Where is my cat?” the woman screamed.
• I demanded, “Let me see her.”

• “What time is it?” the man asked.
• “Chop, chop,” she said.

• He said, “I can’t make ballet class tonight, son.”
• They yelled, “You hooligans!”
• “We’re late,” she said to her sister.
• “Tell me you love me, “ he said to his lover.

• “The best way to eat food,” Pollen argues, “is to make it yourself.” (From the original quote, “The best way to eat food is to make it yourself at home, whenever you can.”)
• “The best investments today,” according to Smith, “are commodities and emerging-market stocks.” (From the original quote, “The best investments today are commodities and emerging-market stocks, not domestic stocks and bonds.”

• “So he said to me, ‘You’re going to be a great success,’ and I believed him.”

Putting Quotation Marks on Titles

• For example, if you were citing the poem One Art by Elizabeth Bishop, it would appear as “One Art” by Elizabeth Bishop.
• If you were citing the short story Ironhead by Aimee Bender, it would appear as “Ironhead” by Aimee Bender.
• If you were citing the chapter The Boy Who Lived from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, it would appear as “The Boy Who Lived” from Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.

• For example, if you were citing the article The President Wants to Keep Us in the Dark by Marc Decosta, it would appear as “The President Wants to Keep Us in the Dark” by Marc Decosta.
• If you were citing the essay The Fourth State of Matter by Jo Ann Beard, it would appear as “The Fourth State of Matter” by Jo Ann Beard.

• Do not use italics or underline the title of plays. If you are citing a collection of plays by the same playwright, for example, The Collected Plays of Arthur Miller, you would use italics for the title, not quotation marks: The Collected Plays of Arthur Miller .

• Did you like “The Crucible”?
• I read “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee on the train today.

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• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/quotation_marks/index.html
• ↑ https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/use-quotation-marks/
• ↑ https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/italics-quotations/quotation-marks
• ↑ https://style.mla.org/quotes-when-nothing-is-being-quoted/
• ↑ https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/quotation-marks-dialogue.aspx
• ↑ http://www.thepunctuationguide.com/quotation-marks.html#adjacentpunctuation
• ↑ http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp

About This Article

To use quotation marks, put quotes around any dialogue and always use a comma before or after the quotation, depending on where the sentence ends. For example, you could write: “It’s time to go,” she said. Or you could write: Jillian said, "It's time to go." Also, be sure to use quotation marks if you’re writing a direct quote from a source. For instance: Pollen states in his book, “You can eat whatever you want as long as you make it yourself.” Along with these situations, you should also put quotation marks around the titles of poems, short stories, book chapters, articles, essays, and plays. For tips from our Writing co-author on using proper capitalization with quotation marks, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Microsoft 365 Life Hacks > Writing > How to Use Quotation Marks: Rules with Commas, Periods, and More

How to Use Quotation Marks: Rules with Commas, Periods, and More

As you’ve probably noticed, quotation marks are an extremely common set of punctuation marks. Continue your journey to grammatical excellence , and follow along with this guide to brush up on the rules of using quotation marks.

Rules for Using Quotation Marks

Quotation marks are most often used to mark something that is spoken or, in other words, to designate a direct quote. That is, they display something that’s been said, word for word.

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• Example: He said, “I’m going to be a couple minutes late to class today.”

When a sentence merely summarizes another’s speech, or uses what’s called an indirect quote, quotation marks are not necessary.

• Example: He said that he was going to be a couple minutes late to class today.

Quotation Marks with Commas, Periods, and Other Punctuation

As in the example above, a comma is used before quotation marks to introduce a direct quote. If the description of the quote’s speaker is placed after the quotation, a comma is always placed within the quotation marks.

• Example: “I’m going to be a couple minutes late to class today,” he said.

In American English, commas and periods should be placed within the quotation marks as long as they do not change the meaning of the quotation. In instances where punctuation would change the meaning of the quotation—that is, when the punctuation, such as a question mark or exclamation point, does not belong to the quotation—it should be placed outside of the quotation marks.

• Example: He asked, “Is it okay if I’m a couple of minutes late to class today?”
• Example: Does he always say “I’m going to be late to class today”?

Capitalization

It can sometimes be tricky to remember when to capitalize words within quotation marks. To keep it straight, follow these two simple rules: First, when quoting a full, complete sentence, the first word of that quote should always be capitalized. Alternatively, when a quote only references a fragment of a quote, a phrase, or part of a sentence, the first word of the quote does not need to be capitalized. This includes cases when a quote is interrupted by a description.

• Example: He said, “I’m running behind and I’m going to be late to class.”
• Example: “I’m running behind,” he said, “and I’m going to be late to class.”
• Example: He’s always saying he’s “running behind” and so will be late.

Other Uses for Quotation Marks

Quotation marks aren’t only used to capture spoken words. You might also run into, or want to use, these other uses of quotation marks:

• Example: Calvin thought that Purple Rain was Prince’s best album. However, “1999” was his favorite song.
• Example: Calvin claims that only “real” Prince fans understand the brilliance of his earlier, less acclaimed work.
• Example: “‘1999’ is my favorite song,” Calvin said.

All these uses and rules of quotation marks can be a lot to keep in your head while you’re writing. However, with practice you will be able to master this commonly confused aspect of grammar over time.

As you’re getting up to speed on these and other grammar basics , a virtual writing assistant like Microsoft Editor can help you catch all your mistakes, and help ensure that your writing is clean, clear, and communicates your very best ideas.

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How to write a quotation email with 6 samples and template

Writing quotation request emails is a fundamental part of professional life, so it pays to get it right. Read our tips and use the 6 email samples we provide.

Lawrie Jones

Table of contents

Quotations are a fixed price for a product or service, enabling you to budget and plan accurately.

If you're involved in production and planning, asking for quotations is a bread-and-butter part of your business – but are you doing it correctly?

If you've been asked to request a quote from a supplier but don't know where to start, we're for you!

Writing quotation request emails is a fundamental part of professional life, so it pays to get it right.

First, we explain what a quotation email is and the differences between estimates. Then we share some expert insights on how to write perfect professional quote emails, including a request for quotation email and how to follow up with a revised quotation.

What is a quotation email?

Quotation emails are different from cost estimates. How? Estimates can provide you with an idea of costs.

Quotations are fixed prices that you can use in a budget proposal and as part of a procurement process.

You may want a quote for an individual part or a whole truckload. You may also want a quote for delivering a single service or ongoing support.

Here are some of the common reasons you may want to create a quotation request:

• Requesting an initial quote from a provider
• Negotiating the terms and conditions of a quote (such as delivery timescales)
• Refreshing a quote after some time
• Revising a quotation
• Sending a quote to a customer
• Following up on a quotation email

In each of these situations, your quote emails should follow a similar structure – so let's outline what that is!

How to write a quotation email

If you're writing a quote email to a supplier, vendor, or partner, here are 8 tips you should always follow.

• Make it clear you want a price (or make the price clear) – hit them up with a request for a price first, as this is what most people care about.
• Push paint points – pain points are the problems you face. Reflect on these in your quotation emails and highlight how you want the person to solve them!
• Keep it short – quotation emails are (almost) all about asking for a price, so don't waste time with lengthy messages; instead, keep it short and sweet.
• Provide details in attachments and links – every quote must be finalized with a contract, so don't try to include it in an email. But do include necessary attachments and links.
• Ask for quotes like a pro and proofread – a spelling mistake, grammar error, or (even worse) an incorrect price could destroy your professional reputation, so always proofread everything.
• Make it personal – address the person directly and make them feel confident and in control. Use professional language, but try to build a personal connection.
• Put a time limit – tell the person if you need a reply quickly, and always include a deadline for responses.
• Use Flowrite – we can't over-emphasize the importance of professional language and tone in a quotation email. If you're struggling with English, outsource it to AI and use Flowrite.

What to write in email when sending a quotation

Pros use the tips above to craft professional messages. It's not all, though.

When they come to create a quote email, they all include the same standard parts:

• Quotation price – state that you're asking for a quote as soon as possible as you can in the email.
• Quote details – define what the quote request includes and what it doesn't...
• What's included – list precisely the products/services contained within the quote. Use bullet points or attachments to give a comprehensive overview of everything.
• What's excluded – ensure you include what's not included in the quote, such as product maintenance agreements.
• Include add-ons – provide details of any additional services you may require either now or in the future.
• Why would they want to work with you – provide details of the benefits of working with your business (and why they should offer you a good deal!)
• Technical terms – state the terms of the quote, including any add-ons (including VAT), interdependencies, and clauses.
• Contact details – spell out, in simple terms, how the customer, client, or company can contact you with a quote.

Quotation email format

Now, let's get into creating effective messages by describing the proper layout and structure of a quotation email.

Following this outline and the tips and tricks above will ensure you include everything in your messages in a logical and easy-to-understand way.

Quote emails have three core parts:

• Subject line

Let's delve into the details!

1. Quotation email subject line

Quotation emails should always be clear and professional. Don't try to be too friendly, funny, or informal. It's critical to include key details in the subject line so that anyone can see it's a quotation email, who it's from, and what it relates to.

Here's how to write a clear and attention-grabbing subject line for a quote email:

• Request for quotation
• Can you provide a quote for (what)
• Would you like to quote?
• We need a price for (whatever you need)
• (Company name) – Quotation request

2. Quotation email body

The email body will include an explanation of the quotation in detail. You must outline the quote details and any relevant Ts and Cs. Feel free to use bullet points or tables to present the quotation request as efficiently as possible.

• We've reviewed your company information and wanted to invite you to quote for a project. We've broken our requirements down in the table below so you can see each part we need a price for.
• I've attached a copy of our terms and conditions with this email. This includes our payment terms and timescales.

Now they've got the price, finish with a positive message about the future with a focus on building a relationship.

• The quote should reflect the total cost of delivering all aspects of our request. We're searching for a partner that can help us grow, smash targets, and storm sales! We want to be with you every step of your journey.

Set out the following steps, and include any quote conditions.

• We hope that you provide us with a quote. We've got contracts ready and waiting, and we're on hand to get started ASAP.

Always personalize and customize every email to each recipient, reflecting who they are and the company they work for.

3. Quotation sign-off

In your closing remarks, you'll want to thank the person providing the quotation. You can also set out the next steps in the process, and remember to include your contact details.

Salespeople rarely take no for an answer (at least for the first 50 times), so if you're planning on follow-up your message, make it clear this is the case.

• Thanks in advance for preparing your quote. I'm always here to clarify any details or answer any questions. You can contact me at any time at (insert information). Please return your quote to us by (date) to enable us to make a decision. We plan to assess submissions and appoint a supplier by (date).

Always add a polite sign-off (kind regards, best regards, etc.), proofread, and then hit send!

6 quotation email examples

To explain the principles above, here are six examples of effective quotation emails for various products, services, and situations.

As well as the samples themselves, we provide a short analysis of the audience and why they're effective.

Samples and templates are, by nature, generic – so before using them in business, be sure to edit and adapt them!

Don’t forget to customize, personalize, and proofread

1. Request for quotation email sample

This quotation request email is one you can send to multiple suppliers. It outlines what you want when you want it, and why.

This quotation request email reflects the appropriate tone and language when requesting a quotation. The content and structure also adhere to the tips outlined above, and you can see how we've asked for critical information.

• Add details here, including a full list of requirements, quantity, delivery timescales, etc.

2. Sample email for a revised quotation

If the proposal you've received doesn't cover everything, then ask for a revised quotation.

When sending a revised quotation request email, specify precisely what you need to avoid confusion. Be sure to clearly explain the reason for requesting a revision of the quotation.

Explaining the changes you want to be made in the revised quote can ensure that you won't have to go back and ask for more and instead can make your decision.

3. Sample email for price quotation

This price quotation email template is simpler than others as we're asking upfront for one thing – the price.

If you want, you can provide an outline pricing schedule and a comparison with other suppliers' prices (to see if they match the price). If you're buying in bulk, you can ask for an explanation of any discounts or special offers you may be entitled to.

4. Sample email to supplier for quotation

Getting the best deal is critical to effective supply chain management, so always push for the best price. This example of how to write an email to a supplier for a quotation focuses on the size of your operation to build your reputation.

It's essential to explain the requirements and expectations of the supplier. Also, remember to give a deadline with your quotation request!

• List what you want

5. Sample email to a vendor for quotation

The vendor selection process usually involves getting several quotes and comparing them.

In this sample, we outline how to write an email to a vendor for a quotation. We create a customizable template that can be adapted in seconds and sent to several businesses.

Like all samples, there's a clear explanation of what's required (you'll need to fill this in!). It's the easiest way to slim down your vendor selection process.

6. Sample quotation email to customer

We will flip the script now and outline the content and structure of a quotation email to a customer.

First, we briefly describe the products and services we're quoting for, then offer the price. Next, we explain why our quote is the best and why no other business can compare!

We encourage you to use bullet points, tables, links, and attachments to enrich your message and make it as easy as possible to understand.

Quotation email template

Our samples provide an excellent way to understand the different ways to request a quote (and reply). We finish with a customizable template suitable for all types of quotation requests.

If you want to use the template to create quick and efficient quotation emails, add the details in the gaps provided and delete those sections that are unnecessary or irrelevant.

It's the perfect template for writing professional and effective quotation emails!

Send effective quotation emails with Flowrite

Flowrite is your personal email assistant that uses artificial intelligence to write your emails for you.

It's the fastest way to write repetitive emails that normally take a large chunk of your day.

You can automate a part of your email writing like so:

Conclusion on quotation emails

Writing quotation request emails can save you time and secure you the best deal. Following our tips, using the correct format, and focusing on the outcome will see you get results.

The simplest approach is to adapt our samples and template, but you should aim to develop your own style. For the easiest quote emails, there's always Flowrite!

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Quote Within a Quote – Guide and Examples

| Candace Osmond

| Punctuation

Candace Osmond

Candace Osmond studied Advanced Writing & Editing Essentials at MHC. She’s been an International and USA TODAY Bestselling Author for over a decade. And she’s worked as an Editor for several mid-sized publications. Candace has a keen eye for content editing and a high degree of expertise in Fiction.

Many English writers get confused about the English guidelines on quoting within a quote. Where should you place the single quotes? When do we use the double quotes?

Let’s discuss the basic rules on how to quote a quote. I also shared some sentence examples that will help you understand the topic.

How to Quote a Quote

The basic rule for quoting within a quote is using single quotation marks within double quotation marks. This structure is called a nested quotation, which follows a hierarchy of alternating between double and single quotes.

• “Notice how the poem said, ‘With no sign of wan, he soldiered on, and brought us back to life,’” said the teacher.

The example above uses single quotes within double quotes as the American rule. The main quote is enclosed within double speech marks, while the quotation within the quotation is enclosed in single marks.

At the end of every sentence, single and double marks should appear as a matching closing quotation mark. This signals the end of the inner and outer quotations.

Below are more examples:

• Joshua told Bobbi, “Mary says, ‘Let’s go out tomorrow.’”
• “We don’t all have the same ‘privilege’ as you,” Karen exclaimed.

Another essential rule is to use the same opening and closing speech marks.

• Incorrect: Joshua told Bobbi, “Mary says, ‘Let’s go out tomorrow.’
• Correct: Joshua told Bobbi, “Mary says, ‘Let’s go out tomorrow.’”

To use a quote within a quote within another quote, that means the innermost mark should be double marks.

• Mae asked her followers, “What do you think about the brand closing down ‘due to private reasons, which the CEO deems “a wise choice”’?”

How to Quote a Quote with Exclamation Points

Quoting with exclamation points and question marks also follows the American-style quotation marks. But unlike periods, exclamation points and question marks can be placed in quotations within quotations.

Remember to place the punctuation mark within the single closing quotation mark.

• The professor told the class, “Henri Nouwen asked, ‘Did I offer peace today?’”

But if the question is within the outer quotation marks, then the question mark should be between the single and double quotation marks. This also means that the question mark should come before the outermost quotation mark.

• The professor asked the class, “Which philosopher said, ‘The unexamined life is not worth living’?”

Notice there’s no period after the inner quote’s last word, “living.” That’s because one of the many quotation mark rules is that the stronger mark wins. Exclamation points and question marks are “stronger” than periods, so there’s no need to add one.

How to Quote Multiple Quotes in One Sentence

It’s also possible to quote multiple quotes within a quote in only one sentence.

• In his speech, Eddie told the people, “My brother told me, ‘Just forget about it,’ but my friends said, ‘never give up.’”
• I remember my grandfather saying, “‘Be strong’ and ‘Keep smiling’ were the daily reminders I had for myself.”

In the sentence above, two quotations are enclosed within double quotation marks.

When to Use Apostrophes

Apostrophes are known as the most abused punctuation marks in the English language. Never use them to quote statements. Instead, they should only have two functions: to show possession and to indicate a contraction.

• Lane’s favorite show is Peaky Blinders.
• You shouldn’t mention his name to Jia again.

Double apostrophe marks are also not substitutes for double quote marks.

• Incorrect: Ian asked, ‘’Who’s the new headmaster?’’
• Correct: Ian asked, “Who’s the new headmaster?”

When to Use Colons When Quoting

Creative writers can choose whether they want to use commas or colons for dialogues. In formal writing , commas are more common. However, some style guides recommend using a colon if the introduction is an independent clause.

• The tour guides always have the same advice to tourists: “Do not feed them, or they will attack you.”
• The author’s words struck me: “Go if it hurts. Go if it’s time.”

Another rule for colons vs. quotation marks is to use a comma if the introduction is not an independent clause.

• Incorrect: My daughter looked up to me and said: “Mom, I’m sleepy.”
• Correct: My daughter looked up to me and said, “Mom, I’m sleepy.”

You can only use a comma after a quotation.

For example:

• Incorrect: “Don’t look down:” Paul told Isabel.
• Correct: “Don’t look down,” Paul told Isabel.
• Paul told Isabel: “Don’t look down.”

How to Use Semicolons in Quotes Within Quotes

It gets more complex when unusual punctuation marks are inside quotes within quotes. But you can use semicolons the same way we use them outside quotations.

• The scientist stated, “At the beginning of the research, the participants described the food as ‘moderately spicy’; at the end, they described it as ‘very spicy.’”

Quotes Within Quotes in British English

You might also find in an essay or book that the systems of speech marks are the opposite. These are usually British writing pieces. The single quote marks are for outer quotes, while double quote marks are for inner quotes.

• The speaker told the crowd, ‘I hear someone saying, “Me too”’.
• She said, “My favorite episode from the show is ‘The One With the Prom Video’”.

Notice how the period is outside the outer quotes. British English punctuation rules state that commas and periods are always outside the closing quotation mark. The only exception is when the marks are part of the quotation.

Summary of Quoting Within Quotes

I hope this guide helps English writers correctly use quotes within quotes. Remember, if you’re a British writer:

• Single quotes should enclose the main quote.
• Put the periods and commas outside quotation marks.

But if you write for Americans:

• Double quotes should enclose the main quote.
• Put periods and commas inside quotation marks.

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MLA Formatting Quotations

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When you directly quote the works of others in your paper, you will format quotations differently depending on their length. Below are some basic guidelines for incorporating quotations into your paper. Please note that all pages in MLA should be double-spaced .

Short quotations

To indicate short quotations (four typed lines or fewer of prose or three lines of verse) in your text, enclose the quotation within double quotation marks. Provide the author and specific page number (in the case of verse, provide line numbers) in the in-text citation, and include a complete reference on the Works Cited page. Punctuation marks such as periods, commas, and semicolons should appear after the parenthetical citation.

Question marks and exclamation points should appear within the quotation marks if they are a part of the quoted passage, but after the parenthetical citation if they are a part of your text.

For example, when quoting short passages of prose, use the following examples:

When using short (fewer than three lines of verse) quotations from poetry, mark breaks in verse with a slash, ( / ), at the end of each line of verse (a space should precede and follow the slash). If a stanza break occurs during the quotation, use a double slash ( // ).

Long quotations

For quotations that are more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse, place quotations in a free-standing block of text and omit quotation marks. Start the quotation on a new line, with the entire quote indented 1/2   inch  from the left margin while maintaining double-spacing. Your parenthetical citation should come  after the closing punctuation mark . When quoting verse, maintain original line breaks. (You should maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.)

For example, when citing more than four lines of prose, use the following examples :

Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so, I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)

When citing long sections of poetry (four lines of verse or more), keep formatting as close to the original as possible.

In his poem "My Papa's Waltz," Theodore Roethke explores his childhood with his father:

The whiskey on your breath Could make a small boy dizzy; But I hung on like death: Such waltzing was not easy. We Romped until the pans Slid from the kitchen shelf; My mother's countenance Could not unfrown itself. (qtd. in Shrodes, Finestone, Shugrue 202)

When citing two or more paragraphs, use block quotation format, even if the passage from the paragraphs is less than four lines. If you cite more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph:

In "American Origins of the Writing-across-the-Curriculum Movement," David Russell argues,

Writing has been an issue in American secondary and higher education since papers and examinations came into wide use in the 1870s, eventually driving out formal recitation and oral examination. . . .

From its birth in the late nineteenth century, progressive education has wrestled with the conflict within industrial society between pressure to increase specialization of knowledge and of professional work (upholding disciplinary standards) and pressure to integrate more fully an ever-widening number of citizens into intellectually meaningful activity within mass society (promoting social equity). . . . (3)

Adding or omitting words in quotations

If you add a word or words in a quotation, you should put brackets around the words to indicate that they are not part of the original text:

If you omit a word or words from a quotation, you should indicate the deleted word or words by using ellipses, which are three periods ( . . . ) preceded and followed by a space. For example:

Please note that brackets are not needed around ellipses unless they would add clarity.

When omitting words from poetry quotations, use a standard three-period ellipses; however, when omitting one or more full lines of poetry, space several periods to about the length of a complete line in the poem:

How do I punctuate a quotation within a quotation within a quotation?

Note: This post relates to content in the eighth edition of the MLA Handbook . For up-to-date guidance, see the ninth edition of the MLA Handbook .

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, between double and single quotation marks.

One Level of Nesting

The most common reason for nesting punctuation is shown in section 1.3.7 of the MLA Handbook (p. 87): when you need to present a quotation within a quotation, use double quotation marks around the quotation incorporated into your text and single quotation marks around the quotation within that quotation:

In “Memories of West Street and Lepke,” Robert Lowell, a conscientious objector (or “C.O.”), recounts meeting a Jehovah’s Witness in prison: “‘Are you a C.O.?’ I asked a fellow jailbird. / ‘No,’ he answered, ‘I’m a J.W.’” (38-39).

Two Levels of Nesting

If the quotation enclosed in single marks also contains material–whether another quotation or the title of a work–that needs to be set off with quotation marks, use double quotation marks around that material. The pattern is double, single, double quotation marks. In other words, nest punctuation within punctuation and alternate to disambiguate:

“[Mr. Lawson] called out the name [Gogol] in a perfectly reasonable way, without pause, without doubt, without a suppressed smile, just as he had called out Brian and Erica and Tom. And then: ‘Well, we’re going to have to read “The Overcoat.” Either that or “The Nose”’” (Lahiri 89). Work Cited Lahiri, Jhumpa.  The Namesake . Mariner Books, 2004.

A Related Case

The same principle applies when you need to incorporate parenthetical material. Alternate between parentheses and brackets, as in this aside:

(Early in  The Namesake , the narrator explains that “[t]hough Gogol doesn’t know it, even Nikolai Gogol renamed himself. . . . [He had also published under the name Yanov, and once signed his work ‘OOOO’ in honor of the four  o ’s in his full name]” [Lahiri 97]).