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How to Block Quote | Length, Format and Examples

Published on April 25, 2018 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on May 31, 2023.

A block quote is a long quotation, set on a new line and indented to create a separate block of text. No quotation marks are used. You have to use a block quote when quoting more than around 40 words from a source.

In APA and MLA styles, you indent block quotes 0.5 inches from the left, and add an  in-text citation  after the period. Some other citation styles have additional rules.

Catherine Earnshaw, may you not rest as long as I am living; you said I killed you – haunt me, then! The murdered DO haunt their murderers, I believe. I know that ghosts HAVE wandered on earth. Be with me always – take any form – drive me mad! only DO not leave me in this abyss, where I cannot find you! Oh, God! it is unutterable! I CANNOT live without my life! I CANNOT live without my soul! (Brontë, 1847, 268)

Table of contents

How long is a block quote, step 1: introduce the quote, step 2: format and cite the quote, step 3: comment on the quote, when to use block quotes, other interesting articles.

The minimum length of a block quote varies between citation styles . Some styles require block quote formatting based on the number of words, while others require it based on the number of lines.

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Every time you quote a source , it’s essential to show the reader exactly what purpose the quote serves. A block quote must be introduced in your own words to show how it fits into your argument or analysis.

If the text preceding the block quote is a complete sentence, use a colon to introduce the quote . If the quote is a continuation of the sentence that precedes it, you don’t need to add any extra punctuation .

lawmakers and regulators need to stop pharmaceutical companies from marketing drugs like OxyContin and establish stronger guidelines about how and when doctors can prescribe them. These drugs are often the last resort for people with cancer and other terminal conditions who experience excruciating pain. But they pose a great risk when used to treat the kinds of pain for which there are numerous non-addictive therapies available. (The Editorial Board, 2018)

Block quotes are not enclosed in quotation marks . Instead, they must be formatted to stand out from the rest of the text, signalling to the reader that the words are taken directly from a source. Each citation style has specific formatting rules.

APA and MLA format both require an indent of 0.5 inches on the left side. Block quotes are double spaced, the same as the rest of the document. Some other citation styles also require indentation on the right side, different spacing, or a smaller font.

To format a block quote in Microsoft Word, follow these steps:

• Hit Enter at the beginning and end of the quote.
• Highlight the quote and select the Layout menu.
• On the Indent tab, change the left indent to 0.5″.

Block quotes of more than one paragraph

If you quote more than one paragraph, indent the first line of the new paragraph as you would in the main text.

Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.

Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills. He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache. Mrs. Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors. The Dursleys had a small son called Dudley and in their opinion there was no finer boy anywhere. (Rowling 1)

Citing block quotes

All block quotes must end with a citation that directs the reader to the correct source. How the citation looks depends on the citation style. In most styles, including APA and MLA , the parenthetical citation comes after the period at the end of a block quote.

A paragraph should never end with a block quote. Directly after the quote, you need to comment on it in your own words. Depending on the purpose of the block quote, your comment might involve:

• Analyzing the language of the quoted text
• Explaining how the quote relates to your argument
• Giving further context
• Summarizing the overall point you want to make

Block quotes should be used when the specific wording or style of the quoted text is essential to your point. How often you use them depends partly on your field of study.

• In the arts and humanities, block quotes are frequently used to conduct in-depth textual analysis .
• In social science research involving interviews or focus groups , block quotes are often necessary when analyzing participants’ responses.
• In scientific writing, block quotes are very rarely used.

Avoid relying on block quotes from academic sources to explain ideas or make your points for you. In general, quotes should be used as sparingly as possible, as your own voice should be dominant. When you use another author’s ideas or refer to previous research, it’s often better to integrate the source by paraphrasing .

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MLA Block Quotations

Quotations that are more than four lines should be set off from the text of your essay in a block quote. The text you’re quoting should be indented a half inch. Do not add quotation marks for a block quote. All lines of the block quote should be indented a half inch, with the start of any paragraph that occurs within the quoted passage indented another half inch. Remember to introduce your block quote with an explanation that ends with a colon. The parenthetical citation of a block quote follows the last bit of punctuation and follows normal citation guidelines.

A sample block quotation:

For poetry, block quotes are used when quoting more than three lines. Each line should be indented a half inch. Spacing such as stanza breaks or other unusual formatting should be preserved to the best of your ability. If a line of poetry is too long to fit on a single line in your block quotation, it should be formatted with a hanging indent.

A sample poetry block quotation:

For more help with formatting your paper to meet MLA guidelines, please visit our formatting guide or download our essay template.

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MLA Style Guide: 8th Edition: Block Quote

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IN-TEXT CITATIONS FOR A...

The block quote is used for direct quotations that are longer than four lines of prose, or longer than three lines of poetry. A block quote is always used when quoting dialogue between characters, as in a play.

The block format is a freestanding quote that does not include quotation marks. Introduce the block quote with a colon (unless the context of your quote requires different punctuation) and start it on a new line. Indent the entire quote 1-inch from the left margin and double-space it (even if the rest of your paper is not double-spaced). Include the page number at the end of your block quote outside of the ending period. Also include the author's last name, date of publication, and page number(s)/paragraph number.

If you quote a single paragraph (or just part of one), do not indent the first line of the block quote more than the rest:

It is not until near the end of The Hound of the Baskervilles that the hound itself is actually seen:

A hound it was, an enormous coal-black hound, but not such a hound as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst from its open mouth, its eyes glowed with a smouldering glare, its muzzle and hackles and dewlap were outlined in flickering flame. Never in the delirious dream of a disordered brain could anything more savage, more appalling, more hellish be conceived than that dark form and savage face which broke upon us out of the wall of fog. (Doyle 82)

If you quote two or more paragraphs, indent the first line of each paragraph an additional ¼ inch. However, if the first sentence quoted does not begin a paragraph in the source, do not indent it the additional amount, only indent the subsequent paragraphs. Here is an example where the first sentence is the beginning of a paragraph:

In the aftermath of the hound sighting, Sherlock Holmes keeps his cool:

   Sir Henry lay insensible where he had fallen. We tore away his collar, and Holmes breathed a prayer of gratitude when we saw that there was no sign of a wound and that the rescue had been in time. Already our friend's eyelids shivered and he made a feeble effort to move. Lestrade thrust his brandy-flask between the baronet's teeth, and two frightened eyes were looking up at us.

   "My God!" he whispered. "What was it? What, in heaven's name, was it?"

   "It's dead, whatever it is," said Holmes. (Doyle 82)

Just as for prose, poetry block quotations (3+ lines) should begin on a new line. Unless the quotation involves unusual spacing, format it as you would prose:  indent each line one-inch from margin and double-space the lines. Do not add any quotation marks that do not appear in the source:

Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem “To John Oliver Killens in 1975” addresses another African American writer of the day:

look at our mercy, the massiveness that it is not.

look  at our “unity,” look at our

“black solidarity.”

Dim, dull, and dainty. (1-5)

A line of poetry in a block quote that is too long to fit within the right margin of the page should be continued on the next line and indented an additional ¼ inch:

Allen Ginsberg’s famous poem “Howl” begins:

I saw the best minds of my generation destroyed by madness, starving hysterical naked,

dragging themselves through the negro streets at dawn looking for an angry fix,

angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo

   in the machinery of night, (9)

When quoting dialogue from a play, begin each part with the appropriate character’s name indented 1-inch from the left margin and written in all capital letters followed by a period. Then, start the quotation and indent all subsequent lines an additional ¼ inch. In the parenthetical reference at the end of the quote, include the act, scene, and line(s) of your quote, instead of the page number(s):

At the beginning of Shakespeare’s The Tempest , chaos erupts on a ship at sea before the cast of characters ends up on Prospero’s island:

MARINERS. All lost! to prayers, to prayers! all lost!

BOATSWAIN. What, must our mouths be cold?

GONZALO. The king and prince at prayers! let’s assist them,

For our case is as theirs.

SEBASTIAN.                                        I’m out of patience.

ANTONIO. We are merely cheated of our lives by drunkards:

This wide-chapp’d rascal,—would thou mightst lie drowning

The washing of ten tides!

GONZALO.                                          He’ll be hang’d yet,

Though every drop of water swear against it,

And gape at widest to glut him.

A confused noise within: “Mercy on us!”—“We split, we

split!”—“Farewell my wife and children!”—“Farewell,

brother!”—“We split, we split, we split!” (1.5.3-14)

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Block Quotations, Part 1: How to Introduce Block Quotations

By Erin Wright

The Purpose of Block Quotations

Although block quotations were originally a typesetting mechanism, 1 today they serve three purposes: (1) improve readability by visually separating lengthy quotations from the surrounding text, (2) help to ensure that the quoted material is not mistaken for original content, and (3) display quoted material that may need special formatting such as letters reproduced in their entirety or short excerpts of poetry or song lyrics.

Block Quotation Lengths

Generally, long quotations should be formatted as block quotations and short quotations should be formatted as run-in quotations. However, our primary style guides are not on the same page when it comes to defining “long” and “short.”

The Chicago Manual of Style (Chicago style) recommends using block quotations for all quoted material over ninety-nine words, multi-paragraph quotations (even if less than a hundred words), and content that needs special formatting. 2 Readers who follow Chicago’s student version, commonly called Turabian, should see the Style Guide Alert below.

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA style) suggests using block quotations for all quoted material exceeding thirty-nine words. 3

The MLA Handbook advises block quotations for quoted prose that runs over four lines or poetry that runs more than three lines. 4 Unfortunately, line length can vary dramatically when viewed on different mobile devices, so this recommendation isn’t particularly helpful outside of printed academic projects.

Style Guide Alert

Chicago’s student version, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations by Kate L. Turabian, differs from the original manual on the length of block quotations.

Turabian recommends using block quotations for any prose quotation of five lines or more and any poetry quotation of two lines or more. Like the original manual, Turabian says that shorter quotations can be placed in block quotations if special emphasis is needed. 5

With apologies to longtime readers who have read this many times before, if you are wondering which style guide to follow , I always recommend Chicago style first because it is a comprehensive and versatile option for general business writing as well as most fiction and nonfiction publishing.

How to Introduce Block Quotations

Block quotations that start with a complete sentence are usually introduced with a complete sentence ending with a colon . 6

(All of the examples below use Lorem ipsum placeholder text to maintain emphasis on formatting.)

“ Block Quotations, Part 2: How to Format Block Quotations ” covers structural issues such as indentation sizes, quotation mark usage, multi-paragraph indentation, and citation placement.

“ Block Quotations, Part 3: Block Quotation Issues and Concerns ” discusses special considerations when using block quotations such as copyright issues, reader expectations, and alternative options.

If you just can’t get enough of quotations (because, seriously, who can get enough of quotations?), check out my last post, “ How to Introduce Run-in Quotations .”

1. “ Block Quotation ,” Wikipedia , last modified October 24, 2018.

2. The Chicago Manual of Style , 17th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2017), 13.10.

3. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , 7th ed. (Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 2020), 8.27.

4. MLA Handbook , 8th ed. (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 2016), 1.3.2–3.

5. Kate L. Turabian, A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations , 9th ed. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018), 25.2, 25.2.2, 25.2.2.2.

6. MLA Handbook , 1.3.2.

7. The Chicago Manual of Style , 13.17 .

8. The Chicago Manual of Style ,13.20.

9. The Chicago Manual of Style , 13 . 23.

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Home / Guides / Citation Guides / MLA Format / Using short quotes and block quotes in MLA

Using short quotes and block quotes in MLA

Quotations (also known as quotes) are the exact words that are taken directly from a text and repeated by someone other than the original author. When you use the exact words and sentence structure as your source, you are quoting that source. When using quotes in your writing, you need to copy the words exactly as they appear in the source.

Quotes should be used sparingly because the majority of the text should be your own ideas. Keep quotations short and to the point to keep your readers interested. Quotes are most effective when the exact words of the source are particularly well suited for your purposes and back up your own ideas.

Short quotes vs. block quotes

There are several ways to incorporate quotations into your text. You can include short quotes of four lines or less, which are incorporated into your text and are set off from the text with quotation marks.

If the section you wish to quote is longer than four lines, you can use a block quote . Block quotes are set off from the text in a separate paragraph that has larger indents at the left margin.

The MLA Handbook says this about quotes:

Construct a clear, grammatically correct sentence that allows you to introduce or incorporate a quotation accurately. When you quote, reproduce the source text exactly. Do not make changes in the spelling, capitalization, interior punctuation, italicization, or accents that appear in the source. Generally place citations at the end of your sentence or quotation. (253)

The quote above from the MLA Handbook is formatted in block quote style.

When using quotes in your papers, you must include the author’s last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation is taken as an in-text citation, unless you have named the author is the sentence preceding the quote. A full reference should appear in your Works Cited page.

Using short quotes in MLA

When you want to cite a section of your source that is four lines or less, you set off the quote in the text with double quotation marks directly before and after the quoted material. End punctuation goes before the final quotation mark.

Quotations can be integrated into a text in several ways.

1. Use the quote as a sentence

She recalled the moment of her husband’s passing. “John was talking, then he wasn’t” (Didion 10).

2. Directly integrate the quote into the sentence

Didion writes that for many months, “there has been occasions on which I was incapable of thinking rationally” and that she was “thinking as small children think, as if my thoughts or wishes had the power to reverse the narrative, change the outcome” (35).

3. Place the quotation in the middle of the sentence

Joan Didion says that after returning to her apartment after her husband’s death, she felt that, “there must be certain things I needed to do,” when she got home from the hospital (28).

Guidelines that apply to all short quote formats:

• All punctuation should be the same in the quote as in the source text.
• The MLA in-text citation should always appear in parentheses at the end of your sentence, regardless of the location of the quote within the sentence.
• If the source does not use page numbers, do not include a number in the parenthetical citation.
• If the source does not have an author’s name, you should use the title of the work or the first item listed in the full reference in the parenthetical citation instead.
• Punctuation such as periods, commas, and semicolons are placed after the parenthetical citation.

Quoting poetry

When quoting up to three short lines of poetry, indicate breaks in verse by placing a forward slash at the end of each verse line. A space should precede and follow the slash. If there is a stanza break within the quotation, indicate this with a double slash ( // ).

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do / with your one wild and precious life?” (Oliver 94).

“What is my name? // What is the name of the deep breath I would take / over and over” (Oliver 125).

Block quotes

If you want to quote a section of text that is longer than four lines or a section of poetry that is longer than three lines, use a block quote. Block quotes are also used when quoting lines from a play.

You introduce the block quote with a sentence in your own words. You want to let your reader know who the quote is from and why you are including it.

Joan Didion ends her first chapter by laying out her goal for writing the book:

This is my attempt to make sense of the period that followed, the weeks and then months that cut loose any fixed idea I had ever had about death, about illness, about probability and luck, about good fortune and bad, about marriage and children and memory, about grief, about the ways in which people do and do not deal with the fact that life ends, about the shallowness of sanity, about life itself. (7)

How to format a block quote

• Lead into the quote with a summary sentence that lets the reader know why you are including the quote.
• End the sentence before quote with a colon (unless the grammatical connection between the sentence leading into the quote requires some other punctuation or none at all).
• Start a new line.
• Indent the quote ½ inch or five spaces from the left margin for the entire quote (not just the first line).
• Do not use quotation marks.
• Double space the quote.
• Put the parenthetical citation after the final punctuation mark in the quote.
• Comment on the quote after using it. Do not end a paragraph with a block quote. You should always have text after it.

Adding or omitting words in quotations

• If you add words to a quotation, enclose them in brackets like [this].
• If you omit words in a quotation, use an ellipsis, which is three periods separated by spaces ( . . . ) to show where the words were removed.

You may want to add or omit words in quotations to make them clearer, shorten them, or help them to fit grammatically into your sentence.

Additional block quote formatting for prose

• If you are directly quoting one paragraph or part of one, do not indent the first line of the block quote more than the rest of the quote.
• If you are quoting two or more paragraphs and the first sentence of the quote is also the first sentence of a paragraph in the source, indent the first line of each paragraph an additional ½ inch or five spaces.
• If the first sentence of a multi-paragraph quote is not the first sentence of a paragraph in the source, indent only the first line of the second paragraph ½ inch or five spaces.

Formatting block quotes for poetry

Format it as you would prose unless the poem has unusual spacing or formatting.

• Indent ½ inch or five spaces from the left margin.
• Do not add any quotation marks unless they appear in the source.
• If the line of poetry does not fit on one line in the paper, continue it on the next line, but indent that line an additional ½ inch or five spaces (like a hanging indent).
• When citing longer sections of poetry, keep the formatting as close to the original as possible.

In her poem, Rain, Mary Oliver describes the sensation of rain on a tree:

All afternoon it rained, then

such power came down from the clouds

on a yellow thread,

as authoritative as God is supposed to be.

When it hit the tree, her body

Opened forever. (3)

Formatting block quotes for drama/plays

Formatting quotes from plays has slightly different rules than prose and poetry.

To format dialogue from plays:

• Begin with the name of the character speaking printed in all capital letters followed by a period.
• Start the quotation. If the line a character is saying needs more than one line, indent the subsequent lines a ½ inch or five spaces.
• Some lines of dialogue start with extra spaces between the character name and the first line of dialogue. Print the dialogue exactly as it appears in the play, including the extra spaces.
• When the dialogue shifts to a new character, follow the pattern above.
• For the in-text citation, cite the act, scene, and line of the quote instead of the page number.

ROMEO.                                     By a name

I know not how to tell thee who I am.

My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,

Because it is an enemy to thee.

Had I it written, I would tear the word.

JULIET. My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words

Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound.

Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?

ROMEO. Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike. (Shakespeare 2.2.54-61)

• Works Cited

Didion, Joan. A Year of Magical Thinking . Vintage International, 2006.

MLA Handbook.  9th ed., Modern Language Association of America, 2021.

Oliver, Mary. New and Selected Poems. Vol. 1, Beacon Press, 2004.

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet . Arden Shakespeare , edited by René Weis, Bloomsbury, 2012, 118–338. Drama Online , https://doi.org/10.5040/9781408160152.00000039.

Published October 27, 2020. Updated July 18, 2021.

By Catherine Sigler. Catherine has a Ph.D. in English Education and has taught college-level writing for 15 years.

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• Writing Tips

Writing Tips: How to Use Block Quotes

2-minute read

• 19th March 2018

Quoting sources is crucial in academic writing . It shows you’ve read up on your subject. It also lets you back up arguments with evidence and ideas from other people. But if you’re quoting a long passage of text, there are rules you need to follow to make sure your work is presented correctly .

That’s why we’ve prepared this handy guide on how (and when) to use block quotes.

What are Block Quotes?

Block quotes are longer passages of quoted text that have been set apart from your own writing. This ensures that the reader does not confuse the quoted text with your own writing.

When Should I Use a Block Quote?

Generally speaking, block quotes should be used sparingly. This is particularly true in academic writing, since you need to show you can express your ideas in your own words .

However, quoting a longer passage now and then is fine, especially if your arguments rely on how something is worded (e.g., when analyzing a literary text).

A good rule of thumb is using a block quote for quotations that are more than 40 words long. If you’re using a particular style guide, though, it might have specific guidelines. For example:

How to Present Block Quotes

The exact rules for formatting block quotes may depend on the style guide you’re using (always make sure to check if you’re not sure). However, there are a few guidelines that apply in most cases:

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• Start the block quote on a new line (typically after a colon or comma)
• Indent the block of text from the left margin (usually by around half an inch)
• Don’t use quote marks, but cite the source as usual
• Indent the first line of each paragraph after the first if quoting more than one

After the block quote, simply resume your own text on a new line with standard formatting.

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MLA Block Quotes Guide with Formats and Examples

Are you supposed to place a block quote in your paper but need to know how to go about it? Then this guide is for you.

One of the biggest challenges for most students when blocking quotes in MLA is properly putting them in the essay. A block text in MLA formatting is any text that is four words or more directly quoted from the source. The quotation is a way of showing the reader that the text is different from the main writing in your paper. When writing a block quote, you must use proper citations and formatting according to the MLA style.

The concept of block quotes can seem challenging yet it is widely used in academic and sometimes, professional writing. The good thing is that you can master the technique and properly apply what you have learned. This guide will walk you through making a block quote and how you can properly cite and format it in your paper. Keep reading to learn more.

What is MLA format?

MLA format is a style of academic writing developed by the Modern Language Association with guidelines on how to format manuscripts and cite research papers. MLA provides writers in the arts and humanities fields with a system for formatting and referencing their source through parenthetical citations within the content and in the Works Cited pages.

Like other academic writing styles, MLA style includes specific guidelines on how to write the paper's heading , in-text citation, quotations, work cited pages, sizes, and spacing of the paper, and abbreviations. This ensures that your paper is neat and that reader can easily follow and focus on the content of your argument. The purpose of MLA format is to do the following:

• Build your credibility as a writer by showing accountability to the source material
• Protect you against accusations of plagiarism

You should use MLA format for every assignment, including an essay outline, literature review, research proposal, and more. Ask your instructor if you are not using whether to use MLA formatting.

What is a Block Quote?

A block quote , also known as an extract or a long quotation , is a freestanding written text set off from the main text in a paper as a block of text. It is distinguished from the main text using indentation and a different font type, unlike the regular quotation type. Block quotations are normally used for long forms of texts. The citation style determines when and where to apply a block quote.

In MLA style formatting, a block quote is any quote with more than four lines. It is used when quoting the dialogue between characters in the play. When doing this, begin each part with the character's name and indent it 1/2 inch from the left margin. You should write all the names in capital letters and then follow them with a period.

The purpose of a block quote is to:

• Improve the paper's readability by separating lengthy quotations from the rest of the text.
• So that the quoted text is not mistaken for the original text.
• Show the quoted text that needs a special type of formatting

After writing the block quote, include a page number at the end after the ending period, the last name of the author, the date of publication, and the page number

Block Quote Format

A block quote follows the following format in MLA.

• The quote is always inserted on a new line. After writing the introduction or overview of the quite, start it in a new paragraph.
• Indent the block quote 0.5 inches or 0.5 cm from the left margin. This is done to differentiate the quote from the rest of the text and make it easy for the reader to easily identify it.
• Double-space the block quote. To achieve this, just highlight the entire quote, then click on the paragraph formatting button and select the line spacing of 2.0
• Then cite the whole quote.
• After successfully completing all the above, you can proceed with the rest of your text on a new line.

Steps to Make a Block Quote in MLA

The following steps will help you properly place a block quote in your paper.

1. Introduce the Quote

Since a block quote starts in its paragraph, you should give it a proper introduction. Write a sentence or two in your own words to tell the reader what it is all about and how it fits in your argument. This introductory sentence should then be followed with a comma. Use a colon if the quote is a continuation of your thoughts. However, if you are showing what the author said in the block quote, use a comma.

You can also introduce a block quote with a complete sentence ending with a period. Alternatively, an incomplete sentence transitions into another incomplete sentence before the start of the block text, thus forming a complete sentence.

2. Format the Quote

Like other text in your work, the block quote should be formatted. The block quotes should be doubled spaced on all lines. Do not add any extra space before or after the quote. The entire quote should also be indented 1/2 inch or 1.3 cm from the paper's left margin to look like a separate text. If you are using the word, you can indent the quote in the following ways:

Using the layout tab:

• Open the word document and select the text you are trying to highlight. Remember that this should be a long block of text begging on a new line.
• Go to the layout tab and on the indented part, select 0.5 inches on the left, or use the arrows to increase the sizes from 0- 0.5 inches.

Using the paragraph setting:

• Select the text you want to indent and right click then choose the paragraph.
• On the paragraph window, go to the indent and spacing tab and select 0.5 inches on the left indent.

The in-text citations should come after the closing punctuation mark. Maintain all the punctuation marks and capitalization as they appear in the original text. If you are quoting verse, keep the original line breaks. Place a period before the intent text (the parenthetical citation). Do not put ending punctuation after the parentheses. Let the MLA parenthetical citation guidelines direct you when writing the in-text citations.

3. Cite the Quote

Citations are a short, nice, and unique way of identifying an already published work. Citations involve certain elements, such as name, page number, etc., necessary for identifying and tracking publications. When writing a block quote, you must cite it properly. Add proper citations at the end of the block quotes after the final punctuation mark using the MLA style guide. According to the style guide, use the author's last name and the page number from where you took the quote. You should enclose the page number and the author's name in parentheses. Just write the page number as it is; there is no need to put any symbol to show it.

If any elements are missing from the source material, do not include them in your citation. These citations are important because they direct the reader to where you got the information. Every in-text citation you use should correspond with the source in the ‘Works Cited’ list. You should include the last line of your block quote.

Citing your block text is important because it helps in avoiding plagiarism. By citing your sources, you are telling the reader that you have borrowed the information from another author, thus giving them credit.

4. Comment on the Quote

When writing a block quote, you should not end it with a quote. You should use your own word to write a comment about your thoughts on the quote. This comment should help the reader connect the entire text with the block quote. Your comment might involve the following elements depending on the purpose of your paper:

• Analyzing the language used by the author you sourced the block quote from
• An explanation of the relationship between the bock quote and your paper’s argument
• Providing further information
• A summary of the point you are trying to make

Ensure you articulate your words well so the reader can understand.

5. Review the Quote

After writing a perfect completion text, you must review your quotes to determine that you have followed all the guidelines according to the MLA style. Check indentation and spacing, among others. Also, ensure it meets the proper standards for a block quote.

Related Reading: How to indent paragraphs in academic essays and papers.

Tips for Citing a Block Quote

When writing block quotes, there are certain tips that you need to follow the tips below:

• Don’t add any quotation marks that are not included in the source material
• If you are writing poetry in a block text that is too long to fit within the page's right margin, let it continue on the next line but make sure it is indented an additional ¼.
• The punctuation placed at the end of the block quote should go before the in-text citation.
• When citing long sections of poetry that are more than four lines, make sure you format it as close to the original as possible.
• If the source you are quoting does not have a page number, you should provide a paragraph number, for example (para. 2), or place other identifiers, such as a chapter.

Where and When to Use Block Quotes

A standard quotation is enclosed as part of your sentence within a paragraph and is enclosed in double quotation marks. However, if you are planning to quote more than three lines of verse or more than four lines of prose from your source material, you should put it in a block quote instead of the regular quotation.

Keep in mind that the standard rules for normal quotations will still apply with the exception that it meets the rules for block quotes as set out by the styling guide.

If your block text involves more than one paragraph, you should indent the first line of the new paragraph just as you would in the main text. If you are citing more than one paragraph, maintain the block quotation format, even if the paragraphs only have less than four lines. Please note that you should indent an extra 1/4 inch if you cite more than one paragraph to show the reader that you are starting a new paragraph.

To better visually distinguish a block text from regular text, ensure you leave an extra line above and below the block quotes.  

Always remember that block quotes should be used sparingly, especially since you must show that you can express your ideas without relying on others.

Block quotes are used when:

• The style is important in your writing context
• Analyzing the responses of participants in a social science-based research
• Conducting textual analysis

Final Remarks

A block quote is any text that is four or more lines. You must cite and format a block quote according to the style of writing used.

Block quotes are an important part of academic writing when used properly. They are used to show quotes text separate from the main text in a paper. They add depth to your essay or research paper. It also adds strength and helps readers understand your thesis.

Related Reading:

• How to make an MLA cover page
• Sample MLA essay on social network communications
• Sample MLA Essay
• How to title a Movie in an MLA paper or essay

Remember that even though they have many advantages in a paper, overusing them is not good. The exact number of block quotes to use will depend on the specific instruction from your instructor.

GradeCrest is a custom-writing website that can help you write your MLA papers. Whether it be in English, History, Literature, or any other field. If you need help with writing your MLA papers, simply fill out the order form and place an order.

How long is a Block Quote?

In MLA format, a block quote should be more than four lines of prose and three lines of verse. Only two block quotes can be used in an MLA paper, but this will depend on the length of your paper.

Can I Omit Some Words in a Block Quote?

Yes. You can omit some words in a block quote as a way to shorten it. Use ellipses to show the reader that you have omitted some words. The three dots should be proceeded and followed by space. Please keep in mind that there is no need to add brackets around the ellipses unless you are trying to provide more clarity. If you are writing poetry, use a single line of periods the same length as the poem to indicate that you have omitted some words. However, as you do this, make sure you do not change the original meaning of the author or eliminate some important texts.

Can I Use Quotes Within a Block Quote?

Yes. In MLA format, you cannot use quotation marks to enclose the block quote. However, if there is quoted text within the block quote, it should appear in double quotation marks.

How Do I Create a Block Quote in a Word Document?

You should start a block quote on a new line and indent it ½ an inch from the margin. It should be double-spaced and without any quotation marks. You can achieve this by:

• Clicking enters before the first word of the quote and at the end of the last word of the quote.
• Highlight the whole quote and click on the layout menu.
• Choose indent 0.5 on the indented menu.

Another way to do this is by using the ruler method. Moving the ruler 0.5 inches from the left margin. Then place the ruler an extra 0.25 inches on the subsequent paragraphs when writing a quote of more than one paragraph.

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

ENGL001: English Composition I

Follow mla guidelines for block quotations.

While it's best to use your own words whenever possible, there are times when it becomes necessary to include large amounts of cited material. For example, when an author defines a specific term, or an well-known expert made an important statement. To cite large amounts of material, use a block quotation to set it apart from your own words. Read the following article for instructions on how to format a block quotation in MLA format.

When to Use a Block Quotation

When a writer chooses to include a long quotation – one that takes up four or more lines of text – it must be set off as a free standing block. As with any quotation a writer employs as evidence, the original text should contain relevant and compelling ideas that are expressed in vivid and concise language.

Block quotations should be used sparingly in longer essays and articles (multiple pages) and rarely in shorter works (1,500 words or less). Lengthy, wordy quotations should never be used simply to fill pages when the writer has little to say about the topic or issue.

How to Format a Block Quotation

• A block quotation is introduced with an informative, full-sentence signal phrase that ends with a colon.
• The entire free standing block of the quoted material is indented 1" from the left margin (10 spaces) and is double-spaced throughout.
• The first line of the quotation is not indented more than the following lines, unless two or more paragraphs are quoted.
• Quotation marks are not added at the beginning or end of the quotation.
• Example : These results deserve further investigation. (23)
• Add a concluding sentence or sentences after the block quotation to complete the paragraph.

Let's Look at an Example

In their investigation of the way the human mind deals with multitasking, Salvucci and Taatgen determined that driving is an act that requires drivers to engage in a variety of simultaneous subtasks; when drivers choose to add interaction with an electronic device to an already complex activity, the new demands on their minds can distract them from their primary task:

The heavy cognitive workload of driving suggests that any secondary task has the potential to affect driver behavior. Any concurrent task would necessarily involve procedural steps and thus, whether large or small, create additional cognitive workload. At the same time, not all secondary tasks are created equal, and we would expect some tasks to interfere with driving more than others. Not surprisingly, tasks involving significant visual demand have the greatest potential for negative effects on driver performance. (108) [1]

Thus, the researchers determined that the use of electronic devices – such as cell phones – while driving can possibly place enough additional demands on the drivers' mental capacity to compromise their ability to operate a vehicle safely.

[1] Salvucci, Dario D., and Niels A. Taatgen. Multitasking Mind. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost) . Web. 20 Feb. 2012.

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How to Format a Block Quote

Last Updated: December 28, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Christopher Taylor, PhD . Christopher Taylor is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of English at Austin Community College in Texas. He received his PhD in English Literature and Medieval Studies from the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 585,107 times.

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

Block Quote Examples

Forming a Block Quote in MLA

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

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

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

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

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

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

Making a Block Quote in APA

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

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

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

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

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

Forming a Block Quote in Chicago Style

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

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

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

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

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

About This Article

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

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APA Style 7th Edition: Citing Your Sources

• Basics of APA Formatting
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• Block Quotes

About Block Quotes

Block quote example.

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

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

Accord to Siegel and Hartzell (2004)            

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

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

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

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Citations: Block Quotations

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

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

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

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

Block Quotation Examples

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

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

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

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

Macs are often the best option for users who wish to work with video or picture manipulation. Macs are also very user friendly, which may benefit consumers who are new to computers. PCs, however, run Microsoft Office Suite the best. Therefore, students might find that a PC is their best option because it can run Microsoft Word and PowerPoint the smoothest. (Oyler, 2010, p. 48)

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

Related Resource

Knowledge Check: Block Quotations

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Block Quote – A 3-Step Guide For Different Style Guides

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Block quotes serve as an essential element when working with sources , affording authors to include longer parts from original work in a distinctive and structured way. This format not only preserves and highlights the academic integrity of the original source but also makes sure that die audience can distinguish the writer’s voice from the cited author’s. Correctly applied, block quotes contribute to the credibility and meaning of academic writing , creating a link between the original thought and sourced information.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

• 1 Block Quote – In a Nutshell
• 2 Definition: Block quote
• 3 The length of block quotes
• 4 Step 1: Introducing the block quote
• 5 Step 2: Formatting and citing a block quote
• 6 Step 3: Analyzing and discussing a block quote
• 7 When should you use a block quote

Block Quote – In a Nutshell

• Block quotes are formatted and cited differently depending on the style guide
• Some basic rules for formatting the quote include:
• They begin on a new line
• Must be indented from the left
• They are not placed within quotation marks

Definition: Block quote

A block quote is a direct quotation that should not be placed inside quotation marks but separated from the rest of the text by starting it on a new line and indenting it from the left margin. They serve the purpose of improving readability, indicating that the quote is not original content, and illustrating specially formatted content such as letters or song lyrics.

The length of block quotes

The size of a block quote depends on the style guide you use. The styles do not specify the minimum length of a quote. However, quotations that are too long and exceed five lines are usually avoided. Each of those style guides has their own rules that must be followed. The style guides include APA style , MLA, Chicago style, and AMA as discussed below.

Step 1: Introducing the block quote

When material is quoted in academic writing, it is vital to indicate the underlying purpose of the quote. Thus, it is essential to introduce block quotes in your own words explaining how the quote may support your arguments and may be applied in your analysis. If the block quote begins with a full sentence you should introduce it with a full sentence. When introducing a quote in a full sentence, you must end the sentence with a colon .

Anke Wischgoll outlines how academic writing skills may be improved:

To establish coherence, Spivey (1990) postulates that academic writing involves strategies of organizing, selecting, and connecting. Training a text structure knowledge application strategy or a summarization strategy seems to be a promising means to achieve this: summarization includes intensively reading, selecting main ideas, and composing sentences to generate a coherent text.

If the introductory phrase of the quote merges into a quote that does not begin with a full sentence then punctuation is not needed.

Step 2: Formatting and citing a block quote

As block quotes are not placed within quotation marks, it is important to format them in a certain way, so the quote can be differentiated from the original content and the rest of the text. These are the general rules that are used when formatting a block quote:

Formatting Block quotes in different styles

There are different guidelines to formatting a block quote depending on the choice of citation style guide.

The Modern Language Association Style Guide (MLA ) is commonly used by researchers. In this case, the block quotes do not always go beyond four lines. They are:

• Introduced with a colon
• The indentation is 1 inch from the left margin
• They are typed with double spacing
• They do not stand within quotation marks

APA stands for American Psychological Association and is widely used to format texts, mainly in the field of social sciences. Their quotes do not always exceed four lines, however, when they do there are specific rules to be followed. Such rules include:

• Beginning the quote in a new line
• Typing it double-spaced
• No quotation marks
• Indenting it 1 inch from the left margin

Chicago Style

The Chicago style guide is mainly used for research in the field of humanities. It was created at the Chicago University and is now in its 17th edition. In this style, it is formatted as follows:

• Start the block quote on a new line
• Don’t enclose it in quotation marks
• It must be typed in single-spacing
• Indent the whole block quote by 0.5 inch.

Citing a block quote

Citing a block quotation differs when using different style guides.

Formatting more than one paragraph as a block quote

If you have to format a quote that is more than one paragraph, you must indent the entire first paragraph and indent the first line of the second paragraph as well. Also, use line spacing between the two paragraphs.

To cite the quote in APA style, you need to write the last name of the author, page number and the year. All must be separated by commas.

Citing a quote in MLA requires the last name of the author and page number. A period is placed after the last citation.

This involves giving specifications on the author’s title and page number. Sometimes you may also use fuller information.

Step 3: Analyzing and discussing a block quote

Something you should note is to avoid ending a paragraph with a quote. This should be avoided, as an analysis should always follow any quotation you include in your academic writing.

When should you use a block quote

The quotes are primarily used in academic and content writing, e.g., in journalistic writing. They are especially useful and relevant to use when the quote contains points that explain or support your arguments. The frequency of using block quotes depends on the field of study.

When should you use a block quote?

Block quotes are relevant to use to prove and support an argument.

What is the difference between a block quote and a regular quote?

A direct quote is taken from a text word-for-word, while a block quote defines a longer direct quote that is separated from the rest of the text.

What is unique about a block quote?

Unique characteristics of a block quote are:

• They start on a new line
• They are indented from the left margin.
• They are separated from the rest of the text

How many lines should be a block quote?

In most cases, the quote should not exceed three lines of verse. However, this depends on which style guide you use for your paper.

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• Citation Generator
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• Chicago/Turabian Format

Chicago Block Quote Format With Examples

You’re just typing along in your academic paper and boom! You need to figure how to format Chicago Manual of Style block quotes. Rather than panic, learn how to block quote Chicago and Turabian style with ease.  Not only will this article break down when to use block quotes in Chicago and Turabian style, but you’ll also learn how to create them for prose, verse and dialogue. Are you wondering, “Are block quotes double spaced in Chicago style?” You’ll find that answer too!

When to Use Block Quotes: Chicago/Turabian

To determine when a quotation should be incorporated in the text of your essay or set off by a block quote in a  Chicago style citation , look at its length and type.

When we talk about type, this is either prose, verse or dialogue.

• Prose is regular text, such as words in a report or book.
• Verse is poetry or drama.
• Dialogue consists of exact lines spoken between characters in a play.

The length will vary by the type. Therefore, it is important to look at each type in-depth to fully understand how to create Chicago Manual of Style block quotes. Turabian block quotes follow the same guidelines.

Chicago/Turabian Block Quotes: Prose

Knowing when to use block quotes in Chicago or Turabian style vs. quotation marks for prose is important. The length of the prose passage determines how you should format the quotation:

• If the section is four or fewer lines, include it in text, set off by quotation marks.
• If the section is five or more lines, set it off in a block quotation.

You may use a block quote for a quotation shorter than five lines if you want to emphasize it or compare it to a shorter quotation. Follow the same instructions for quotations within notes.

Now that you know when to use block quotes Chicago style for prose, it’s time to think about formatting. Are block quotes double spaced in Chicago? How do they look? It’s time to find the answers to all your questions.  

Create a Prose Block Quote in Chicago/Turabian

Getting started with prose block quotes Chicago style is pretty easy. You’ll first look at your introduction. If your introduction to the quotation is a complete sentence, use a colon before the quotation. if you introduce the quotation with such words as “according to,” “claims,” or “notes,” use a comma before the Chicago style block quote. Some other formatting rules you should keep in mind include:

• Do not enclose the quote in quotation marks.
• Single space the quoted section.
• Leave a space before and after Turabian block quotes.
• Keep quotation marks if they are used within the quotation itself.
• Indent the whole block as you would a paragraph (0.5 inches).
• If you include more than one paragraph in the same block quote, do not add a line between them but continue to indent by 0.5 inches.

You now have the knowledge for how to use Chicago style block quotes. View it in action with a prose example.

Prose Block Quote Chicago Example

In this interview with  Luis Valdez , Orono-Cordova notes his success:

In January of 1978, Valdez was named a recipient of the prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Playwright-in-Residence Award in connection with the production of his original play, Zoot Suit. He was commissioned to write and direct Zoot Suit for production by the Mark Taper Forum of the Center Theatre Croup in Los Angeles. After a successful run at the Taper, in August of 1978 the play moved to a nine-month extension of sold-out performances and hit reviews at the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood, where the movie version of Zoot Suit was filmed in 1981. (Orono-Cordova, 96)

When to Use Block Quotes Chicago for Verse

When it comes to a verse in poetry, you are going to take a different approach.Follow these rules for Chicago/Turabian block quotes when quoting verse:

• Use a block quotation for two or more lines of poetry.
• Indent the entire block by 0.5 inches.

Just as with prose, you don’t need to worry about whether verse block quotes are double spaced in Chicago: they’re not.  To really see this in action, review this example of Chicago Manual of Style block quotes for verse. 

Verse Chicago Block Quote Example: 

Chicana poet and feminist  Gloria Anzaldúa  describes the pain of straddling two cultures in her poem, “To Live in the Borderlands”:

To live in the Borderlands means knowing that the india in you, betrayed for 500 years, is no longer speaking to you, the mexicanas call you rajetas, that denying the Anglo inside you is as bad as having denied the Indian or Black. (1987)

When to Use Block Quote in Chicago for Dialogue

Are you quoting several lines of dialogue in Shakespeare? If you’re including two or more lines of dialogue from a play, format it the same way as for verses. Use all caps for the speakers’ names or use a different font.

Dialogue Block Quote Example: 

Zoot Suit , a Chicano play, strikes a hard note about prejudice in this exchange:

EL PACHUCO: The idea of the original chuco is to look like a diamond, to look sharp, hip, bonaroo, finding a style of urban survival in the rural skirts and outskirts of the brown metropolis ….

PRESS: It’s an afront to good taste!

EL PACHUCO: Like the Mexicans, Filipinos and blacks who wear them?

PRESS: Yes!

Tips for Modifying Block Quotes Chicago

Although you should copy the quotation exactly as it is, there is room for some modification. For example, in Chicago style, you are allowed to change small errors, such as obvious spelling errors, without noting the change.

However, don’t change quotations:

• If the language uses obsolete words or phrasing
• If the error itself proves a point in your argument; keep it the same but insert [ sic ]

If you want to emphasize a part of a quotation by using italics, add a note within brackets, such as [ emphasis added ].

If you insert an explanation or your own words into a quotation, set it off by square brackets, like [museums, libraries].

Omitting Words

If you have a long quotation that can be shortened by omitting unneeded words or phrases, you can insert ellipses in place of the words. However, make sure you’re not removing words that change the meaning of the quotation.

Ellipses Example

After a successful run at the Taper, in August of 1978 the play moved to … the Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood, where the movie version of Zoot Suit was filmed in 1981.

Creating Chicago Style Block Quotes in Word

You can make these changes in any word processing software. Microsoft Word is a common choice. It’s all about using your tools when it comes to how to block quote in Word Chicago style. Look for the references tab to save some time and go from there. Our guide on   how to create Chicago citations in Word   can help.

Incorporating Quotes for Depth

It’s always a good idea to incorporate quotations, particularly when discussing a writer’s unique style. Long quotations are acceptable and can add depth to your paper. When you’re ready, learn how to make a Chicago style bibliography to complete your paper.

FAQ Chicago Block Quote Format With Examples

Does chicago use block quotes.

Chicago and Turabian style use block quotes for long prose, poetry, and dialogue quotes. When to use block quotes for each type depends on the length of the passage. For example, in prose, a block quote is used for a prose passage of five lines or more.

How much do you indent a block quote Chicago?

A block quote is indented 0.5 inches in Chicago style. Additionally, a Chicago style block quote does not use quotation marks and is single-spaced.

What is a block quote example?

In the Chicago Manual of Style, an example of a block quote would be 5 or more lines of text quoted from "The Hunger Games." An example of poetry block quotes would be 2 or more lines quoted from Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken."

How do you quote in Chicago style?

There are two ways you can quote in Chicago style. In the note-bibliography Chicago style, a superscript number is placed after the quoted or paraphrased information, which will be cited in the notes. In author-date Chicago style, you’ll include the author and date after the quoted material like: (Author, 2020).

How long does a quote have to be to be a block quote Chicago?

In Chicago style, the length of text you use a block quote for depends on if you are quoting prose, dialogue, or poetry. A block quote is used for 5 or more lines of prose, 2 or more lines of poetry, and 2 or more lines of dialogue.

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Chicago/Turabian Author-Date Citation Elements

Chicago newspaper citation examples, how to do a chicago style bibliography, creating a chicago/turabian style reference page.

Freewriting Your Way Past Writer’s Block

By Amery, a Writing Coach

Everyone’s probably heard the terms ‘writer’s block’ or ‘blank page syndrome’ before. For someone as self-critical of my writing as I am, though, none of those words seem to capture how horrible – even painful – the writing process can feel. It would be one thing if I was dealing with the mere absence of ideas. Often, though, it feels like the space in my mind where ideas would come from is constantly filled by a belittling, self-censoring voice. You’re real stupid, aren’t you? it says. Seriously, you just need one more phrase to go here. Just three words. You can’t even do that? What’s taking you so long? When I do think of a few words, though, the voice immediately rules them out — well, that’s really dumb. Why would you think that would go there? You think you’ll get a final draft if you keep doing this? Spending enough time listening to this voice starts to make me feel on edge, even physically sick. At my worst moments, I get in bad moods that last for an entire day.

Trying to write with that voice in my head feels like a breakneck run. Whenever I slow down or take too long to think about what I’m writing, the voice always catches up. A big part of my continued writing growth involves constantly discovering and inventing strategies to thwart and evade it.

Among the different strategies I’ve picked up over the years I’ve spent fleeing the voice, freewriting has always been my mainstay. The strategy goes by many names, such as ‘automatic writing,’ ‘blabbling,’ or ‘jabbering.’ In Writing Without Teachers (you can find an excerpt here ) , freewriting proponent Peter Elbow mentions that freewriting only has one rule: not stopping! This means forgetting grammar, punctuation, sense, or structure, and not being afraid to keyboard mash, squiggle, or write “I don’t know what to say, I don’t know!” when you reach moments you’re feeling blocked.

Freewriting might seem too weird to be useful, at least at first glance. We usually think of essay writing as something demanding constant focus, structure, and intention. Why would writing gibberish be helpful at all? For me, freewriting helps me maintain that focus, structure, and intention while also giving myself the space to explore and experiment. I’ve found freewriting very useful as both a brainstorming tool and a way to generate writing. I usually start freewriting with a topic in mind and some vague idea about structure. Later, I refine and elaborate on the material I generate to create my papers.

I find doing this easier (and more fun!) than making an outline, and it helps me reduce the pressure I might put on myself. Especially in the prewriting stages, being super meticulous would take too much time and slow me down. Turning off my constant need to make sense, at least in the moment, allows me to write faster than writer’s block can catch up.

One essential part of my freewriting process is giving myself the space to make mistakes. If you’re a self-critical academic writer like I am, giving yourself leeway to mess up might seem absolutely nuts. Getting everything right on the first try, though, is simply not how our thinking or learning works. When you learn how to ride a bike, you fall a lot. If you’re developing your perspective on important personal matters or political/moral issues, your opinions will inevitably shift and evolve over time as you gain more maturity or understanding. Why would we expect anything different from writing an essay? Academic writing is, after all, a form of learning or thinking. The freewriting session gives you the chance, separate from a grade or the eyes of others, to make as many mistakes as needed before you create a final product.

Freewriting also feels amazing, even cathartic to do sometimes. Again, if you’re mainly an academic writer or someone who struggles with being self-critical, the idea that the writing process can feel fantastic might seem bonkers. But I’ve actually grown to look forward to freewriting sessions. Some of my favorite moments in the essay-writing process involve turning on one of my favorite playlists and banging out some freewriting. (You can also check out alex’s post on “Writing from Silence, Reading with Music” on this blog for more recommendations!)

To give you a little peek into how I use the strategy, I’ll share a bit of freewriting I did when writing an existentialism paper I submitted a while ago.

One thing you might notice from reading the segment is that the tone, spelling, and grammar are all over the place. I typed it entirely in lowercase, and there are plenty of spelling errors due to how quickly I was typing. The tone is also super informal, with words like ‘idk’ and ‘crap’ (this freewriting segment was mildly edited — ‘crap’ was not the initial word I used!).

You might also notice that, despite this segment’s complete chaos, you can pick up the beginnings of a few paragraphs hidden in there. When I started freewriting, I had a vague idea of how my paper would be structured. The prompt asked me to describe Kierkegaard’s ideas on faith, offer a counterargument to Kierkegaard’s views, and suggest ways Kierkegaard might respond. I immediately decided to structure the paper into four subheadings: two to introduce Kierkegaard’s ideas on faith (of which this is the first), one to introduce the counterargument, and another to address the counterargument. After writing each subheading (for example, the “Faith as Subjective” subheading in the segment above), I started freewriting under each of them until I felt like I had enough ideas.

There are also places in this segment where I talk my way into my ideas. Words like ‘heck’ or ‘idk’ sound conversational, almost like I’m talking about Kierkegaard with a friend and I’m trying to find the right words to say. One other way I prime myself to start generating ideas is doing a little bit of keyboard mashing before starting a session (the ‘sosossosoosososososos at the top of the document). It’s a small ritual I do before each freewriting session to limber up my muscles and get into the zone.

I also give myself directions while freewriting. I wrote “that interesting quote about faith,” for instance, as a reminder to revisit the Kierkegaard reading to find a quote that I previously remembered but didn’t want to interrupt my flow to try finding.

After finishing some freewriting, I usually start another session based on the ideas I produced in the previous one. Each subsequent freewriting session, though, creates writing that’s a little more focused than the writing in a previous section. After a few rounds of drafting and freewriting, the paragraph turned out like this:

What specific ways did I build out that initial freewriting session? In some feedback I got in an earlier draft, my professor mentioned that he’d prefer the essay to be more quote-light, so I decided not to follow the instructions I left to myself to find the quote I was trying to remember. I did, though, decide to leave in one quote that I felt was especially important.

I also expanded some of the threads I noticed in a previous freewriting session while reducing some others. Below, you can see a highlighted version where you can see how each part of the first freewriting session contributed to the final product:

When I flesh out a freewrite, I ask myself a few questions: “Are there places I wrote too little? Are there places I wrote too much? Are there any patterns I can pick up that might help me structure the body paragraphs?”

For some places in the freewrite, I made reductions. When editing the yellow section, I realized that mentioning specific philosophers and theologians took too much space and I could make my point without them. For the red, purple, and blue sections, I expanded the unclear, misspelled, and sometimes vague sentences in the freewrite to make them clearer. I also rearranged the order of information. Often one great way to find patterns in a freewrite is dividing it into chunks that seem to be controlled by a main idea (almost like paragraphs !). Once you’ve “chunked” your freewrite, you can start playing with the order. Though I’m not as happy with the order of this paper as I’m looking back, I do see the pattern I was trying to go for – the main ideas of the purple, red, and blue sections can be summed up as “uncertainty is desirable, certainty is undesirable, certainty is impossible.”

For projects like these, I mainly just freewrite until the project is done. If you want to spice things up a little, though, here are some additional things you can add to your freewriting:

• Timed freewriting involves freewriting within set intervals. This might be helpful if you’re the type of person that likes brainstorming in short bursts.
• If you’re doing an assignment that requires analysis, you might try pulling out a quote you find interesting or important and start a freewriting session with it on top of the page.
• If you like freewriting on paper, you can try something called spiraling . Before you start a freewriting session, draw a big cross in the center of your paper. Beginning from the center of the cross, draw a very tight spiral until you reach the very ends. The end product might look something like this:

Doing this puts me in an almost meditative state, and the freewriting that comes out after I start writing comes out super interesting. Try it when you’re doing creative writing sessions!

• There are a few websites that add extra incentives to freewrite. com challenges you to write 750 words of anything, freewriting or otherwise, per day. Written Kitten shows you pictures of cute kittens every single time you hit a freewriting milestone. Or, if you want the harder, more intense stuff, Write or Die gives you a series of interesting punishments if you slow down while writing.

Hearing about other people’s writing processes is always super interesting, and often helps my own process. Hopefully this has helped you!

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Tia Mowry Gets Emotional About ‘Recovering’ From Cory Hardrict Divorce: ‘A Whirlwind Journey’

Tia Mowry offered a glimpse into the ups and downs she’s faced since her divorce from Cory Hardrict last year.

“Resilience: the art of bouncing back, stronger than before. ❤️,” Mowry, 45, captioned an Instagram video essay on Wednesday, April 3, which featured clips from her life.

Mowry, who ended her marriage to Hardrict, 44, after more than a decade together, discussed the challenges she navigated in the aftermath.

“Recovering from a divorce feels like a whirlwind journey,” she said in a voiceover. “I found out through the process that divorce isn’t a place where we arrive, it’s entering a new chapter in life with many nuances, and no one-size-fits-all handbook.”

Related: Most Shocking Celebrity Splits

The social media upload featured sweet moments of Mowry and Hardrict’s kids , son Cree, 12, and daughter Cairo, 5.

“One moment you’re relieved, feeling like you’ve conquered something significant, then suddenly emotions hit you all over again,” she noted. “It’s a side of divorce that isn’t often discussed, especially when there are kids involved.”

View this post on Instagram A post shared by TiaMowry (@tiamowry)

Mowry continued: “You strive to be a role model, teaching them resilience and self-care. You try different things to soothe and release emotional buildup. Exercise, journaling your thoughts, meditation, and seeking therapy to cope with the breakup and the dreams you had for the future.”

At the end of the video, Mowry was heard getting visibly emotional .

“Someday I believe I’ll be able to look back on this time with nothing but warmth and gratitude for the beautiful children brought into my life and the stronger version of myself that emerged from the experience,” she added. “For anyone who’s going through this I would love to hear your experience. Share your story because there’s power in dialogue.”

Related: Tia Mowry and Cory Hardrict: The Way They Were

Mowry encouraged others to share their experiences, adding, “As women we take our power back by sharing our stories and bringing any deep shame we hold from this experience into the light. I love you guys, Tia.”

The actress confirmed in October 2022 that she and Hardrict decided to part ways. They finalized their divorce in April 2023.

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“I have always been honest with my fans, and today is no different. I wanted to share that Cory and I have decided to go our separate ways,” she wrote via Instagram at the time. “These decisions are never easy, and not without sadness. We will maintain a friendship as we co-parent our beautiful children. I am grateful for all the happy times we had together and want to thank my friends, family and fans for your love and support as we start this new chapter moving forward in our lives.”

Related: Tia Mowry's Most Candid Quotes About Her Divorce From Cory Hardrict

The former couple exchanged vows in 2008 after eight years together. They later expanded their family with son Cree in 2011 and daughter Cairo in 2018. Since their split, Mowry opened up about how she and Hardrict have prioritized coparenting.

“I talk to [Cory] every single day. We tell each other [that] we love each other every single day,” she exclusively told Us Weekly in November 2022. “He is family and he will always be family and a part of our lives forever.”

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MLA In-Text Citations: The Basics

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MLA (Modern Language Association) style is most commonly used to write papers and cite sources within the liberal arts and humanities. This resource, updated to reflect the MLA Handbook (9 th ed.), offers examples for the general format of MLA research papers, in-text citations, endnotes/footnotes, and the Works Cited page.

Guidelines for referring to the works of others in your text using MLA style are covered throughout the  MLA Handbook  and in chapter 7 of the  MLA Style Manual . Both books provide extensive examples, so it's a good idea to consult them if you want to become even more familiar with MLA guidelines or if you have a particular reference question.

Basic in-text citation rules

In MLA Style, referring to the works of others in your text is done using parenthetical citations . This method involves providing relevant source information in parentheses whenever a sentence uses a quotation or paraphrase. Usually, the simplest way to do this is to put all of the source information in parentheses at the end of the sentence (i.e., just before the period). However, as the examples below will illustrate, there are situations where it makes sense to put the parenthetical elsewhere in the sentence, or even to leave information out.

General Guidelines

• The source information required in a parenthetical citation depends (1) upon the source medium (e.g. print, web, DVD) and (2) upon the source’s entry on the Works Cited page.
• Any source information that you provide in-text must correspond to the source information on the Works Cited page. More specifically, whatever signal word or phrase you provide to your readers in the text must be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of the corresponding entry on the Works Cited page.

In-text citations: Author-page style

MLA format follows the author-page method of in-text citation. This means that the author's last name and the page number(s) from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must appear in the text, and a complete reference should appear on your Works Cited page. The author's name may appear either in the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation or paraphrase, but the page number(s) should always appear in the parentheses, not in the text of your sentence. For example:

Both citations in the examples above, (263) and (Wordsworth 263), tell readers that the information in the sentence can be located on page 263 of a work by an author named Wordsworth. If readers want more information about this source, they can turn to the Works Cited page, where, under the name of Wordsworth, they would find the following information:

Wordsworth, William. Lyrical Ballads . Oxford UP, 1967.

In-text citations for print sources with known author

For print sources like books, magazines, scholarly journal articles, and newspapers, provide a signal word or phrase (usually the author’s last name) and a page number. If you provide the signal word/phrase in the sentence, you do not need to include it in the parenthetical citation.

These examples must correspond to an entry that begins with Burke, which will be the first thing that appears on the left-hand margin of an entry on the Works Cited page:

Burke, Kenneth. Language as Symbolic Action: Essays on Life, Literature, and Method . University of California Press, 1966.

In-text citations for print sources by a corporate author

When a source has a corporate author, it is acceptable to use the name of the corporation followed by the page number for the in-text citation. You should also use abbreviations (e.g., nat'l for national) where appropriate, so as to avoid interrupting the flow of reading with overly long parenthetical citations.

In-text citations for sources with non-standard labeling systems

If a source uses a labeling or numbering system other than page numbers, such as a script or poetry, precede the citation with said label. When citing a poem, for instance, the parenthetical would begin with the word “line”, and then the line number or range. For example, the examination of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” would be cited as such:

The speaker makes an ardent call for the exploration of the connection between the violence of nature and the divinity of creation. “In what distant deeps or skies. / Burnt the fire of thine eyes," they ask in reference to the tiger as they attempt to reconcile their intimidation with their relationship to creationism (lines 5-6).

Longer labels, such as chapters (ch.) and scenes (sc.), should be abbreviated.

In-text citations for print sources with no known author

When a source has no known author, use a shortened title of the work instead of an author name, following these guidelines.

Place the title in quotation marks if it's a short work (such as an article) or italicize it if it's a longer work (e.g. plays, books, television shows, entire Web sites) and provide a page number if it is available.

Titles longer than a standard noun phrase should be shortened into a noun phrase by excluding articles. For example, To the Lighthouse would be shortened to Lighthouse .

If the title cannot be easily shortened into a noun phrase, the title should be cut after the first clause, phrase, or punctuation:

In this example, since the reader does not know the author of the article, an abbreviated title appears in the parenthetical citation, and the full title of the article appears first at the left-hand margin of its respective entry on the Works Cited page. Thus, the writer includes the title in quotation marks as the signal phrase in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader directly to the source on the Works Cited page. The Works Cited entry appears as follows:

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." Global Warming: Early Signs . 1999. www.climatehotmap.org/. Accessed 23 Mar. 2009.

If the title of the work begins with a quotation mark, such as a title that refers to another work, that quote or quoted title can be used as the shortened title. The single quotation marks must be included in the parenthetical, rather than the double quotation.

Parenthetical citations and Works Cited pages, used in conjunction, allow readers to know which sources you consulted in writing your essay, so that they can either verify your interpretation of the sources or use them in their own scholarly work.

Author-page citation for classic and literary works with multiple editions

Page numbers are always required, but additional citation information can help literary scholars, who may have a different edition of a classic work, like Marx and Engels's  The Communist Manifesto . In such cases, give the page number of your edition (making sure the edition is listed in your Works Cited page, of course) followed by a semicolon, and then the appropriate abbreviations for volume (vol.), book (bk.), part (pt.), chapter (ch.), section (sec.), or paragraph (par.). For example:

Author-page citation for works in an anthology, periodical, or collection

When you cite a work that appears inside a larger source (for instance, an article in a periodical or an essay in a collection), cite the author of the  internal source (i.e., the article or essay). For example, to cite Albert Einstein's article "A Brief Outline of the Theory of Relativity," which was published in  Nature  in 1921, you might write something like this:

See also our page on documenting periodicals in the Works Cited .

Citing authors with same last names

Sometimes more information is necessary to identify the source from which a quotation is taken. For instance, if two or more authors have the same last name, provide both authors' first initials (or even the authors' full name if different authors share initials) in your citation. For example:

Citing a work by multiple authors

For a source with two authors, list the authors’ last names in the text or in the parenthetical citation:

Corresponding Works Cited entry:

Best, David, and Sharon Marcus. “Surface Reading: An Introduction.” Representations , vol. 108, no. 1, Fall 2009, pp. 1-21. JSTOR, doi:10.1525/rep.2009.108.1.1

For a source with three or more authors, list only the first author’s last name, and replace the additional names with et al.

Franck, Caroline, et al. “Agricultural Subsidies and the American Obesity Epidemic.” American Journal of Preventative Medicine , vol. 45, no. 3, Sept. 2013, pp. 327-333.

Citing multiple works by the same author

If you cite more than one work by an author, include a shortened title for the particular work from which you are quoting to distinguish it from the others. Put short titles of books in italics and short titles of articles in quotation marks.

Citing two articles by the same author :

Citing two books by the same author :

Additionally, if the author's name is not mentioned in the sentence, format your citation with the author's name followed by a comma, followed by a shortened title of the work, and, when appropriate, the page number(s):

Citing multivolume works

If you cite from different volumes of a multivolume work, always include the volume number followed by a colon. Put a space after the colon, then provide the page number(s). (If you only cite from one volume, provide only the page number in parentheses.)

Citing the Bible

In your first parenthetical citation, you want to make clear which Bible you're using (and underline or italicize the title), as each version varies in its translation, followed by book (do not italicize or underline), chapter, and verse. For example:

If future references employ the same edition of the Bible you’re using, list only the book, chapter, and verse in the parenthetical citation:

John of Patmos echoes this passage when describing his vision (Rev. 4.6-8).

Citing indirect sources

Sometimes you may have to use an indirect source. An indirect source is a source cited within another source. For such indirect quotations, use "qtd. in" to indicate the source you actually consulted. For example:

Note that, in most cases, a responsible researcher will attempt to find the original source, rather than citing an indirect source.

Citing transcripts, plays, or screenplays

Sources that take the form of a dialogue involving two or more participants have special guidelines for their quotation and citation. Each line of dialogue should begin with the speaker's name written in all capitals and indented half an inch. A period follows the name (e.g., JAMES.) . After the period, write the dialogue. Each successive line after the first should receive an additional indentation. When another person begins speaking, start a new line with that person's name indented only half an inch. Repeat this pattern each time the speaker changes. You can include stage directions in the quote if they appear in the original source.

Conclude with a parenthetical that explains where to find the excerpt in the source. Usually, the author and title of the source can be given in a signal phrase before quoting the excerpt, so the concluding parenthetical will often just contain location information like page numbers or act/scene indicators.

Here is an example from O'Neill's  The Iceman Cometh.

WILLIE. (Pleadingly) Give me a drink, Rocky. Harry said it was all right. God, I need a drink.

ROCKY. Den grab it. It's right under your nose.

WILLIE. (Avidly) Thanks. (He takes the bottle with both twitching hands and tilts it to his lips and gulps down the whiskey in big swallows.) (1.1)

Citing non-print or sources from the Internet

With more and more scholarly work published on the Internet, you may have to cite sources you found in digital environments. While many sources on the Internet should not be used for scholarly work (reference the OWL's  Evaluating Sources of Information  resource), some Web sources are perfectly acceptable for research. When creating in-text citations for electronic, film, or Internet sources, remember that your citation must reference the source on your Works Cited page.

Sometimes writers are confused with how to craft parenthetical citations for electronic sources because of the absence of page numbers. However, these sorts of entries often do not require a page number in the parenthetical citation. For electronic and Internet sources, follow the following guidelines:

• Include in the text the first item that appears in the Work Cited entry that corresponds to the citation (e.g. author name, article name, website name, film name).
• Do not provide paragraph numbers or page numbers based on your Web browser’s print preview function.
• Unless you must list the Web site name in the signal phrase in order to get the reader to the appropriate entry, do not include URLs in-text. Only provide partial URLs such as when the name of the site includes, for example, a domain name, like  CNN.com  or  Forbes.com,  as opposed to writing out http://www.cnn.com or http://www.forbes.com.

Miscellaneous non-print sources

Two types of non-print sources you may encounter are films and lectures/presentations:

In the two examples above “Herzog” (a film’s director) and “Yates” (a presentor) lead the reader to the first item in each citation’s respective entry on the Works Cited page:

Herzog, Werner, dir. Fitzcarraldo . Perf. Klaus Kinski. Filmverlag der Autoren, 1982.

Yates, Jane. "Invention in Rhetoric and Composition." Gaps Addressed: Future Work in Rhetoric and Composition, CCCC, Palmer House Hilton, 2002. Address.

Electronic sources

Electronic sources may include web pages and online news or magazine articles:

In the first example (an online magazine article), the writer has chosen not to include the author name in-text; however, two entries from the same author appear in the Works Cited. Thus, the writer includes both the author’s last name and the article title in the parenthetical citation in order to lead the reader to the appropriate entry on the Works Cited page (see below).

In the second example (a web page), a parenthetical citation is not necessary because the page does not list an author, and the title of the article, “MLA Formatting and Style Guide,” is used as a signal phrase within the sentence. If the title of the article was not named in the sentence, an abbreviated version would appear in a parenthetical citation at the end of the sentence. Both corresponding Works Cited entries are as follows:

Taylor, Rumsey. "Fitzcarraldo." Slant , 13 Jun. 2003, www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/fitzcarraldo/. Accessed 29 Sep. 2009. 

"MLA Formatting and Style Guide." The Purdue OWL , 2 Aug. 2016, owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/. Accessed 2 April 2018.

Multiple citations

To cite multiple sources in the same parenthetical reference, separate the citations by a semi-colon:

Time-based media sources

When creating in-text citations for media that has a runtime, such as a movie or podcast, include the range of hours, minutes and seconds you plan to reference. For example: (00:02:15-00:02:35).

When a citation is not needed

Common sense and ethics should determine your need for documenting sources. You do not need to give sources for familiar proverbs, well-known quotations, or common knowledge (For example, it is expected that U.S. citizens know that George Washington was the first President.). Remember that citing sources is a rhetorical task, and, as such, can vary based on your audience. If you’re writing for an expert audience of a scholarly journal, for example, you may need to deal with expectations of what constitutes “common knowledge” that differ from common norms.

Other Sources

The MLA Handbook describes how to cite many different kinds of authors and content creators. However, you may occasionally encounter a source or author category that the handbook does not describe, making the best way to proceed can be unclear.

In these cases, it's typically acceptable to apply the general principles of MLA citation to the new kind of source in a way that's consistent and sensible. A good way to do this is to simply use the standard MLA directions for a type of source that resembles the source you want to cite.

You may also want to investigate whether a third-party organization has provided directions for how to cite this kind of source. For example, Norquest College provides guidelines for citing Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Keepers⁠ —an author category that does not appear in the MLA Handbook . In cases like this, however, it's a good idea to ask your instructor or supervisor whether using third-party citation guidelines might present problems.

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New York Takes Crucial Step Toward Making Congestion Pricing a Reality

The board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voted to approve a new $15 toll to drive into Manhattan. The plan still faces challenges from six lawsuits before it can begin in June.

By Winnie Hu and Ana Ley

New York City completed a crucial final step on Wednesday in a decades-long effort to become the first American city to roll out a comprehensive congestion pricing program, one that aims to push motorists out of their cars and onto mass transit by charging new tolls to drive into Midtown and Lower Manhattan.

The program could start as early as mid-June after the board of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the state agency that will install and manage the program, voted 11-to-1 to approve the final tolling rates, which will charge most passenger cars $15 a day to enter at 60th Street and below in Manhattan. The program is expected to reduce traffic and raise $1 billion annually for public transit improvements.

It was a historic moment for New York’s leaders and transportation advocates after decades of failed attempts to advance congestion pricing even as other gridlocked cities around the world, including London, Stockholm and Singapore, proved that similar programs could reduce traffic and pollution.

While other American cities have introduced related concepts by establishing toll roads or closing streets to traffic, the plan in New York is unmatched in ambition and scale.

Congestion pricing is expected to reduce the number of vehicles that enter Lower Manhattan by about 17 percent, according to a November study by an advisory committee reporting to the M.T.A. The report also said that the total number of miles driven in 28 counties across the region would be reduced.

“This was the right thing to do,” Janno Lieber, the authority’s chairman and chief executive, said after the vote. “New York has more traffic than any place in the United States, and now we’re doing something about it.”

Congestion pricing has long been a hard sell in New York, where many people commute by car from the boroughs outside of Manhattan and the suburbs, in part because some of them do not have access to public transit.

New York State legislators finally approved congestion pricing in 2019 after Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo helped push it through. A series of recent breakdowns in the city’s subway system had underscored the need for billions of dollars to update its aging infrastructure.

It has taken another five years to reach the starting line. Before the tolling program can begin, it must be reviewed by the Federal Highway Administration, which is expected to approve it.

Congestion pricing also faces legal challenges from six lawsuits that have been brought by elected officials and residents from across the New York region. Opponents have increasingly mobilized against the program in recent months, citing the cost of the tolls and the potential environmental effects from shifting traffic and pollution to other areas as drivers avoid the tolls.

A court hearing is scheduled for April 3 and 4 on a lawsuit brought by the State of New Jersey, which is seen as the most serious legal challenge. The mayor of Fort Lee, N.J., Mark J. Sokolich, has filed a related lawsuit.

Four more lawsuits have been brought in New York: by Ed Day, the Rockland County executive; by Vito Fossella, the Staten Island borough president, and the United Federation of Teachers; and by two separate groups of city residents.

Amid the litigation, M.T.A. officials have suspended some capital construction projects that were to be paid for by the program, and they said at a committee meeting on Monday that crucial work to modernize subway signals on the A and C lines had been delayed.

Nearly all the toll readers have been installed, and will automatically charge drivers for entering the designated congestion zone at 60th Street or below. There is no toll for leaving the zone or driving around in it. Through traffic on Franklin D. Roosevelt Drive and the West Side Highway will not be tolled.

Under the final tolling structure, which was based on recommendations by the advisory panel, most passenger vehicles will be charged $15 a day from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends. The toll will be $24 for small trucks and charter buses, and will rise to $36 for large trucks and tour buses. It will be $7.50 for motorcycles.

Those tolls will be discounted by 75 percent at night, dropping the cost for a passenger vehicle to $3.75.

Fares will go up by $1.25 for taxis and black car services, and by $2.50 for Uber and Lyft. Passengers will be responsible for paying the new fees, and they will be added to every ride that begins, ends or occurs within the congestion zone. There will be no nighttime discounts. (The new fees come on top of an existing congestion surcharge that was imposed on for-hire vehicles in 2019.)

The tolls will mostly be collected using the E-ZPass system. Electronic detection points have been placed at entrances and exits to the tolling zone. Drivers who do not use an E-ZPass will pay significantly higher fees — for instance, $22.50 instead of $15 during peak hours for passenger vehicles.

Emergency vehicles like fire trucks, ambulances and police cars, as well as vehicles carrying people with disabilities, were exempted from the new tolls under the state’s congestion pricing legislation .

As for discounts, low-income drivers who make less than $50,000 annually can apply to receive half off the daytime toll after their first 10 trips in a calendar month. In addition, low-income residents of the congestion zone who make less than $60,000 a year can apply for a state tax credit.

All drivers entering the zone directly from four tolled tunnels — the Lincoln, Holland, Hugh L. Carey and Queens-Midtown — will receive a “crossing credit” that will be applied against the daytime toll. The credit will be $5 round-trip for passenger vehicles, $12 for small trucks and intercity and charter buses, $20 for large trucks and tour buses, and $2.50 for motorcycles. No credits will be offered at night.

Grace Ashford contributed reporting.

Winnie Hu is a Times reporter covering the people and neighborhoods of New York City. More about Winnie Hu

Ana Ley is a Times reporter covering New York City’s mass transit system and the millions of passengers who use it. More about Ana Ley