how to open essay with quote

PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
EDIT Edit this Article
EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
Browse Articles
Learn Something New
Quizzes Hot
This Or That Game New
Train Your Brain
Explore More
Support wikiHow
About wikiHow
Log in / Sign up
Education and Communications
College University and Postgraduate
Academic Writing

How to Start an Essay With a Quote

Last Updated: September 7, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jake Adams . Jake Adams is an academic tutor and the owner of Simplifi EDU, a Santa Monica, California based online tutoring business offering learning resources and online tutors for academic subjects K-College, SAT & ACT prep, and college admissions applications. With over 14 years of professional tutoring experience, Jake is dedicated to providing his clients the very best online tutoring experience and access to a network of excellent undergraduate and graduate-level tutors from top colleges all over the nation. Jake holds a BS in International Business and Marketing from Pepperdine University. There are 8 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 447,069 times.

Writing an effective introduction can be one of the most intimidating aspects of writing an essay. While there are many different approaches to writing introductory paragraphs, you may want to consider beginning your essay with a quotation. Finding the right quotation and using it well within the framework of your own words can ensure that your essay is off to a great start.

Finding the Perfect Quotation

Step 1 Avoid clichés and overused quotations.

Quote a person saying something that someone would not expect them to say.
Quote someone who is not universally famous.
Use a well-known quote but contradict it.

Determine whether the audience will be familiar with the person who you are quoting. If it is someone obscure or you think they will not be familiar, consider providing additional (brief) details.
Do not use a quote that could be offensive to the audience unless you plan to contradict the quotation.
Strike a balance between assuming your audience knows everything and assuming they know nothing. You should be clear and informative but not insulting to the intelligence of your reader.

Quoting Correctly

Step 1 Introduce the quotation appropriately.

Use the quote as a sentence predicate. The subject of the sentence will be the person who said the quote, and the verb will most likely be a synonym of “said.” For example, "Jane Smith said, 'blah blah blah.'"
Preview the content of the quote. Use your own (grammatically correct) sentence to preview or paraphrase what the quote will say, then insert a colon or comma, then the (grammatically correct) sentence-length quotation. For example: "Once Jane Smith said something completely awesome: 'the awesome thing she said.'"
Begin with the quote. If you begin with the quote, be sure to place a comma after the quote and then provide a verb and attribute the quotation to the source. For example: "'Blah blah blah,' said Jane Smith."

Step 2 Punctuate the quote appropriately.

The quote only needs to be capitalized if it begins the sentence or if the first word of the quote is a proper noun, like the name of a person or a place.
In American usage, end punctuation should be placed inside the quotation marks. For example, “this is the quote.”
Paraphrased material (someone else’s idea put into your own words) need not have quotation marks around it, but should be attributed to the original speaker.
If you introduce the quote with the speaker’s name and a verb, provide a comma before the beginning of the quotation. For example: "Jane Smith said, 'blah blah blah.'"

Be particularly aware of quotations found on social media such as Pinterest, or on quote aggregators such as Brainyquote. These sources are notorious for mis-attributing and even making up famous quotes.

Step 4 Be true to the meaning and context of the quote.

You may also need to substitute a word (like a name rather than a pronoun) for clarity. If you need to substitute a word, place square brackets around the word to indicate that you made a change. For example: "Jane Smith said, 'blah [blady] blah.'"
Be sure to keep the original intent of the quotation when making changes. Changes should be made only to preserve clarity or to change length, not to manipulate the content of the quotation.

Incorporating the Quotation into Your Introduction

In your introduction, you need to be clear about what you're going to talk about and how you're going to talk about it.

Step 3 Connect the quotation to your thesis.

Be sure that the quotation you use supports your thesis.
Be sure that using the quotation enhances, rather than distracting from, your argument. [12] X Research source

Community Q&A

Find a quote that is meaningful to you, not just one you found in a list on the internet. If the context and wording of the quote speak to you, you’re more likely to connect it to your essay effectively. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0

Some college professors never want to see a quotation begin an essay. Because the method is often overused, there is some bias against it. You can overcome this by doing it very well. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 1

↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/cliches/
↑ https://www.esu.edu/writing-studio/guides/hook.cfm
↑ https://www.ccis.edu/student-life/advising-tutoring/writing-math-tutoring/introduce-quotations
↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/punctuation/quotation_marks/index.html
↑ https://www.ursinus.edu/live/files/1160-integrating-quotespdf
↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/quotations/
↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/quotations/
↑ http://www.otago.ac.nz/classics/otago055219.pdf

About This Article

To start an essay with a quote, introduce the quote by including the name of the author, such as, “John Keats once said…” When you include the quote, put quotation marks around it and make sure to put any punctuation inside the quotation marks. If the quote is long, you can use only part of it or remove sections as long as you insert an ellipses. Once you’ve introduced the quote and the author, provide some context for the quotation and how it ties into the thesis of your essay. For tips from our English reviewer on how to find the perfect quotation to start your essay, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Grachelle Bongato

Jun 24, 2017

Did this article help you?

Stephanie Paul

Apr 8, 2017

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Do Not Sell or Share My Info
Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

How to Use Quotations and Citations in an Essay

Table of contents

1.1 Direct Introduction
1.2 Signal Phrases
1.3 Contextualization
1.4 Setting the Scene
1.5 Contrasting Views
1.6 Interjecting Commentary
1.7 Question or Challenge
2 Maintain the Flow of Your Writing While Using Quotations
3 Proper Use of Punctuation with Quotations
4 Impact of Formatting Quotations
5.3 Chicago
6.1 Start a Quote With an Active Verb
6.2 Use a Descriptive Verb
6.3 Select Proper Quotations
6.4 Don’t Overuse Quotes
6.5 Try to Paraphrase Long Quotes
7.1 Using a Quote as a Hook: When and Why?
8 Fine-Tuning Your Quotation Skills

Obviously, when we write an academic essay, we can’t create new information or take it from the air. In most cases, or always, there are sources for our thoughts. Therefore, we need to reference them. However, we may also want to quote this source directly in our work. And that’s when the need for correct quotation comes in.

Quotations play a pivotal role in essays, serving as a key technique for integrating information from external sources.

This article will guide you through several aspects of using quotations effectively:

understanding quotation significance,
mastering the art of accurate quoting,
how to identify the original source from which the quotation was derived
correct punctuation in quotes, and discerning the variations among different citation styles.

7 Strategies for a Smooth Transition into Quotations

Quotations are extremely vital in the academic environment. The quote in the essay is like a unique ingredient in your favorite meal. However, simply putting them in is insufficient. You must do things in such a manner that everything flows smoothly. There are a few ways to start a quote. Let’s have a look at some of them:

Direct Introduction

When you put quotes in an essay , simply state the source and introduce it directly. For example, you could say, “Eckhart Tolle, in ‘The Power of Now,’ said: ‘You create a good future by creating a good present.'”

Signal Phrases

Use signal phrases to attribute the quote to its source: “According to,” “As [author] argues,” or “In the words of.” For instance: “According to Shakespeare, ‘All the world’s a stage.'”

Contextualization

Give a little background before you embed a quote. “In the context of environmental sustainability, Jane Goodall states, ‘What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.'”

Setting the Scene

Sometimes, you want to create a picture before dropping the embedded quotation. Set the stage for the quote by describing the situation or background. For instance: “As the sun dipped below the horizon, reflecting hues of orange and pink, she whispered, ‘It’s moments like these that stay with us forever.'”

Contrasting Views

This is like presenting a contrasting viewpoint or argument. You could say, “While some argue for the benefits of technology in education, Neil Postman contends, ‘Education is suffering from… the intrusion of industrialism.'”

Interjecting Commentary

Provide a remark or analysis before or after it. For instance: “In the face of adversity, Winston Churchill’s famous words resonate: ‘Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue those counts.'”

Question or Challenge

Ask a question before dropping the quote to create curiosity or stimulate thought: “What role does technology play in shaping our society? Marshall McLuhan sheds light on this with his statement, ‘The medium is the message.'”

Thus, using quotes isn’t just about putting them in. It’s about introducing them in a way that fits smoothly into your writing. By using the correct ways to embed quotes, they will not interrupt the flow of your writing. If you need more information on the subject, we have an idea. PapersOwl’s essay assistance is an excellent option to go deeper into the subject without losing your academic mind.

Maintain the Flow of Your Writing While Using Quotations

Incorporating quotes into your work should feel easy.

Introduce the one you quote, and use signal phrases for smooth transitions.
Mix your comments with the cited content.
Use strategic punctuation (colons, semicolons, or ellipses) and insert quotes in an essay.
Establish the reliability of the source.

This guarantees that your thoughts blend effortlessly with the quoted insights. Indeed, quotes should not make your life harder. It’s vice versa ─ they must help you upgrade your work.

Proper Use of Punctuation with Quotations

Punctuation with quotations is a crucial aspect. We use quotation marks to integrate quotes into an essay, which look like these “”. If you use punctuation incorrectly, it may cause some grammatical trouble. However, these rules are easy to remember.

Period outside of quotes is a common mistake you can see. However, in American English, commas and periods typically go inside quotation marks. Colons and semicolons go outside.
Question marks and exclamation points vary based on context. Use a question mark or an exclamation point within the closing quotation marks if the punctuation is related to the citation itself. If the punctuation applies to the entire sentence, place it outside the closing quotation marks to end a quote in an essay.

✏️ Example of a quote in an essay:

She said, “Hello.”
He said, “I may forget your name, but I never forget a face.”
Marco asked, “Do you need this pen?”.

There are also single quotation marks, which can be confusing. In American English, they are exclusively used for adding a quote within a quote:

✏️ “One of my students always said, ‘Quotations are confusing,’” our professor said.

Impact of Formatting Quotations

Formatting quotations can enhance the overall visual appeal of your essay. One creative technique involves using block quotations for longer passages. This distinguishes the quoted material. Additionally, it provides a visual break, drawing attention to the content’s significance. It’s a great way to end a paragraph with a quote.

Consider employing formatting elements such as italics or bold text for emphasis. Additionally, experiment with indentation and spacing to get a neat and organized appearance.

Let’s compare two quotes in essays. The examples will aid in understanding the impact of formatting.

In J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Dumbledore imparts wisdom, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.”
In “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” Dumbledore says, “It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends”.

The first quote looks more appealing and draws the reader’s attention to itself. Meanwhile, the second one has punctuation mistakes and may be lost in the text.

An effective tool for presenting information is to set up a quote in an essay. Besides, it can visually engage your readers.

Mastering Various Citation Styles with Finesse

In PapersOwl, we have already covered the citation rules topic. However, we would like to talk about it here since it can assist us in explaining a quote in an essay usage.

It is essential to mention the same author’s sources wherever possible. References serve as direct indicators for whatever information you are employing. Citing sources shows readers that a piece of information in your work is not your own.

The most popular citation styles are APA, MLA, and Chicago.

In APA format for the paper , we cite the author’s last name and the publication year in parentheses.

According to recent studies, sleep patterns significantly impact cognitive function (Johnson, 2020).

For citing while writing an essay in MLA style , we indicate the author’s name and page number, e.g., (Jones 45).

The novel explores themes of identity and self-discovery (Doe 72).

In Chicago style, citations can be either footnotes or endnotes. A full citation is added to the bibliography.

The economic implications of globalization are vast and multifaceted.¹

¹Smith, John. Globalization and Its Effects. Chicago: University Press, 2018.

Citation can sometimes be confusing. Not in the modern world, though. Now, you can check your references and citations in the citation generator online. It will help you write an outstanding essay with flawless quotes and citations.

Tips on Embedding Quotations in an Essay

You should also understand how to incorporate a quote into an essay naturally. You can not just put a paragraph from the book you’d read. Here are some tips:

Start a Quote With an Active Verb

To use quotes in an essay seamlessly, begin with an active verb. Use them to enhance subtlety and successfully communicate the speaker’s tone.

Use a Descriptive Verb

Incorporate descriptive verbs to increase the impact of your quotations. These verbs provide depth to your quotations and fill your story with context.

Select Proper Quotations

Add quotes in an essay that are relevant to your topic and give useful information. Moreover, make sure your quotes are brief and clearly support your views. Make relevance, trustworthiness, and clarity your top priorities.

Don’t Overuse Quotes

When you overuse quotes, it is a sign to your teacher that you don’t know how to paraphrase well. How many quotes per paragraph you should use depends on your work length. We recommend using one quote for every five paragraphs. The perfect approximate amount looks like this:

2 quotes for a 1500-word paper;
3 quotes for a 2000-word paper;
4 quotes for a 3000-word paper.

Try to Paraphrase Long Quotes

When dealing with lengthy quotes, try paraphrasing them for more concise integration. This ensures that you understand how to write quotes in an essay and explain them in your own words. At the same time, be careful not to change the meaning of the quote!

How to Start an Essay with a Quote

To start a paper with a quote, you must choose one that brings up the proper tone of your paper. The quotation source must be credible and fit your essay context. Finally, each phrase you pick must support your assertion while demonstrating your case proficiency. All of that’s important because the purpose of quotes is to make a good hook for essay and grab the attention of your target audience, which happens via knowledge and trust.

Using a Quote as a Hook: When and Why?

When crafting any type of paper, it’s crucial to use quotes that are not only attention-grabbing but also relevant to your topic. Many great essay examples written by PapersOwl specialists are proof of that. These experts know how to make quotes a powerful tool to engage readers. Taking into consideration their experience, we provide you with examples of when you could use one:

When introducing a new topic or a newly found case: A good quotation will show relevance in such situations. It will gain people’s attention while showcasing new topics and establishing their importance.
If you are in the writing process of a historical essay: In such situations, any quotation from any case-related historical figure may provide context and spark interest in readers.
Personal experience: For such essays, quotations not only can grab one’s audience but serve as proof of your experience with this case. They show your perspective and give a deeper nuance when writing arguments, which affects those reading your paper.
To support written arguments’ main point: It’s an outstanding way to start by hooking all readers up while backing up your claims.
When challenging their beliefs: This is perfect for argumentative essays where you have to challenge their commonly held view. Such quotations engage with people and make them think and be eager to read more.

Using a quote relevant to your case is necessary, so always ensure you use a proper one that creates parallels between all sections. If you don’t see a proper connection, you can seek help from experts who edit essay theses. Many professional editors at PapersOwl can easily edit your text flow and create an effective introductory paragraph by providing reworded statements or better quotations. Additionally, they may help check all relevant sources for credibility, see if they deeply relate to your topic, and if they support your claims or bring controversy.

Fine-Tuning Your Quotation Skills

In summary, quotations are an important addition to your accurate academic essay . Using quotes in essays can improve your work. They also help you understand more about the subject of your paper. Thanks to this guide, it will be easy to embed a quote of any type into your academic work.

Readers also enjoyed

WHY WAIT? PLACE AN ORDER RIGHT NOW!

Just fill out the form, press the button, and have no worries!

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.

Offer of the decade FLAT 20% off + sign up bonus of $20 Order Now

[email protected]
+14159918581

Files Missing!

Please upload all relevant files for quick & complete assistance.

Put a Quote in an Essay

Home / Blog / How To Put A Quote In An Essay (with Examples)

Introduction

When writing an essay , it is essential to incorporate quotes from reputable sources to support your arguments and ideas. However, knowing how to use quotes effectively is crucial in maintaining the flow and clarity of your essay. This blog will discuss the proper ways to put a quote in an essay with examples.

Why Use Quotes in an Essay?

Quotes are used in an essay to support or reinforce the writer's arguments and ideas. They provide evidence for your claims and demonstrate that your argument is backed up by research and authority. Incorporating quotes also helps to provide context and depth to your writing and can add a unique perspective to your essay.

Types of Quotes

There are two types of quotes you can use in your essay: direct quotes and indirect quotes.

Direct Quotes: Direct quotes are the exact words used by the source that you are quoting. When using direct quotes, you need to use quotation marks and indicate the source.

Example: According to John Smith, "The Earth is round."

Indirect Quotes: Indirect quotes are a paraphrase of the original source. When using indirect quotes, you do not need to use quotation marks.

Example: John Smith claims that the Earth is round.

How to Put a Quote in an Essay

When using quotes in an essay, there are several rules that you need to follow to ensure that your writing is clear, accurate, and appropriate. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Choose a Relevant Quote

Before you start writing your essay, identify the quotes that you want to use to support your arguments. Ensure that the quotes you select are relevant, reliable, and add value to your essay.

Step 2: Introduce the Quote

Introduce the quote by providing context and indicating who the source is. This will help the reader understand the significance of the quote and its relevance to your argument.

Example: According to Jane Doe, a renowned climate scientist, "Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity."

Step 3: Use Quotation Marks

When using a direct quote, use quotation marks to indicate that you are using the exact words of the source.

Example: According to Jane Doe, "Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity."

Step 4: Provide the Source

Provide the source of the quote, including the author's name, the title of the book or article, and the page number. This will help the reader find the source if they want to read it.

Example: According to Jane Doe, a renowned climate scientist, "Climate change is the biggest threat facing humanity." (Doe, The State of the Climate, p. 25)

Step 5: Punctuate Correctly

Punctuate the quote correctly by placing the comma or period inside the quotation marks, depending on whether it is a part of the quote or your sentence.

Step 6: Explain the Quote

Explain the significance of the quote in your own words. This will help the reader understand how the quote supports your argument.

Example: Jane Doe's quote highlights the urgency of addressing climate change as it poses a significant threat to human survival.

Step 7: Cite Your Sources

Ensure that you cite your sources correctly using the citation style specified by your instructor or the style guide for your discipline.

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Using Quotes in an Essay

Using quotes in an essay can be tricky, and many students make mistakes that can impact the quality of their writing. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using quotes in an essay:

Failing to provide context: It is essentialto provide context when using a quote in an essay. Failure to do so can confuse the reader and make the quote appear out of place. Always introduce the quote and provide some background information about the source and why you are using the quote.

Overusing quotes: While quotes can add value to your essay, it is essential not to overuse them. Use quotes sparingly and only when necessary. Overusing quotes can make your writing appear lazy, and it may give the impression that you are not confident in your own ideas.

Incorrectly citing sources: Always cite your sources correctly using the citation style specified by your instructor or the style guide for your discipline. Failure to do so can lead to accusations of plagiarism , which can have serious consequences.

Misquoting or altering a quote: When using a direct quote, it is essential to use the exact words of the source. Do not alter the quote or misquote the source as this can distort the meaning and accuracy of the quote.

Failing to explain the quote: When using a quote, it is important to explain its significance and how it supports your argument. Failure to do so can make the quote appear irrelevant and disconnected from your essay.

Examples of Quotes in an Essay

Here are some examples of how to use quotes in an essay:

Example 1: Argumentative Essay

Topic: Should students be required to wear school uniforms?

Quote: "School uniforms promote a sense of unity and equality among students, and they help to reduce instances of bullying based on clothing." (Johnson, School Uniforms, p. 10)

Explanation: The quote supports the argument that school uniforms can have a positive impact on student behavior and reduce instances of bullying. It is introduced with the source and provides context for the argument.

Example 2: Persuasive Essay

Topic: The importance of recycling

Quote: "Every ton of paper that is recycled saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, and 463 gallons of oil." (Environmental Protection Agency)

Explanation: The quote provides a powerful statistic that supports the importance of recycling. It is introduced with the source, and its significance is explained in the following sentences.

Example 3: Expository Essay

Topic: The history of the American Civil War

Quote: "Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal." (Lincoln, Gettysburg Address)

Explanation: The quote is an iconic line from Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which is a significant event in American history. It is introduced with the source, and its significance is explained in the following sentences.

Incorporating quotes in an essay can add depth, context, and authority to your writing. However, it is important to use quotes effectively and appropriately. Always choose relevant and reliable quotes, introduce them with context, use the correct punctuation, explain their significance, and cite your sources correctly. By following these guidelines, you can effectively use quotes in your essay and improve the quality of your writing.

Do you want to share?

Discursive Essay Topics for Students

How to Write an Essay Introduction?

How to Write a Law Essay: Writing Guide with Examples

How to Choose Ideal Argumentative Essay Topics to Work On

PEEL Paragraph a Guide to Write a Perfect Essay

100 Effective Persuasive Essay Topics

How to Write a Descriptive Essay?- Guide with Examples

Who Am I Essay : How to Write it?

Subscribe Newsletter

You can place your order for free now. Simply submit your order and see what our writers can Subscribe to get regular update!

Thank you for commenting.

Thank you for subscribed newsletter.

Thank You For Commenting.

Get acquainted with the top essay helpers in the country and glide smoothly towards your academic goals with the necessary essay writing help online from US’s top professionals.

Want quick $20? Share your details with us.

Thank you for subscribing our newsletter

Have any Query? Contact with us

How to Start Your College Essay with a Quote: Unleashing the Power of Words

In every endeavor, there comes a moment that holds immense significance. We’re not talking about the moment of inspiration or the final stroke of genius that garners applause. No, we’re referring to that pivotal instant when you take action and do the thing you’ve been contemplating. It’s the Moment When You Do The Darn Thing (DTDT for short).

Whether it’s putting pencil to paper, fingers to keyboard, or embarking on any other creative endeavor, this moment marks the beginning of something remarkable. However, for many, the hardest part is getting started.

This is particularly true when it comes to crafting a college essay that captures attention and stands out among a sea of applications. One powerful technique to begin your college essay is incorporating a quote that resonates with your topic and captures the essence of your writing.

The Power of a Captivating Opening

Crafting an engaging and authentic opener for your college essay can be a daunting task. Your opening sets the tone for the entire piece and determines whether the reader will be captivated or become lost in the deluge of applications.

A well-chosen quote, carefully integrated into your introduction, can serve as a powerful hook that grabs the reader’s attention and compels them to continue reading. In this article, we will explore the art of starting your college essay with a quote, providing you with techniques and insights to make your DTDT moment a little smoother and a lot less stressful.

can i start my college essay with a quote?

Yes, you can start your college essay with a quote. It is important to select a quote that resonates with your topic and captures the essence of your writing.

A well-chosen quote can be used as a powerful hook to grab the reader’s attention and compel them to continue reading. In addition, it helps to set the tone for the entire piece and will give the reader insight into what will follow.

When selecting a quote for your college essay, make sure to choose one that is relevant and meaningful to you and your writing so that it has maximum impact.

Understanding the Role of a Quote in Your College Essa

Before we delve into the strategies of incorporating a quote into your college essay, it’s important to understand the purpose and potential impact of using one. A quote can act as a window into your thoughts, beliefs, and experiences.

It can provide a unique perspective, lend credibility to your ideas, or evoke an emotional response from the reader. When used effectively, a quote can set the stage for a compelling narrative that showcases your personality, intellect, and passion.

However, it is crucial to approach the use of quotes with care and precision, ensuring they enhance rather than overshadow your voice and message.

Choosing the Perfect Quote

Selecting the right quote for your college essay is a task that requires careful consideration. The quote you choose should align with your essay’s theme, reflect your personal values, and resonate with your intended audience. Here are a few strategies to help you find the perfect quote:

1. Reflect on Your Essay’s Theme and Message

Start by identifying the core theme and message of your essay. Consider the key ideas, emotions, or experiences you wish to convey. This reflection will provide a solid foundation for selecting a quote that complements your essay’s central focus.

2. Research Prominent Figures and Authors

Delve into the works of prominent figures and authors who have explored similar themes or topics. Look for quotes that capture the essence of your essay or offer a unique perspective. Remember to credit the original source and ensure the quote aligns with your personal beliefs and values.

3. Seek Inspiration from Literature and Poetry

Literature and poetry are treasure troves of profound and thought-provoking quotes. Dive into the works of renowned writers, poets, and philosophers to find passages that resonate with your essay’s subject matter. These quotes can add depth and sophistication to your writing.

4. Leverage Personal Experiences and Conversations

Draw inspiration from your own experiences and conversations. Reflect on moments that have left a lasting impact on you or conversations that have challenged your perspective. Extract quotes from these encounters to infuse your essay with authenticity and personal connection.

Once you have identified a pool of potential quotes, carefully evaluate each one to ensure it aligns with your essay’s tone and message. Consider the following factors:

Relevance: Does the quote directly relate to your essay’s theme or topic?
Originality: Is the quote unique and not overused in college essays?
Clarity: Is the meaning of the quote clear and easily understandable?
Credibility: Is the quote attributed to a respected authority or source?
Impact: Does the quote evoke emotion, provoke thought, or spark curiosity?

Integrating the Quote into Your Introduction

Now that you have selected the perfect quote, the next step is to seamlessly integrate it into your essay’s introduction. The goal is to create a smooth transition that sets the stage for your essay while captivating the reader’s attention. Here are some effective techniques to achieve this:

1. Provide Context

Before presenting the quote, provide a brief context that explains its relevance to your essay’s theme. This context can be a concise summary of your topic or a thought-provoking question that sets the stage for the quote’s introduction.

2. Introduce the Speaker or Author

When introducing the quote, consider providing some background information about the speaker or author. This can help establish their credibility and expertise, lending weight to the words that follow.

3. Explain the Significance

After presenting the quote, take a moment to explain its significance and how it relates to your essay. Highlight the key ideas or emotions the quote evokes and explain how they connect to your personal experiences or beliefs.

4. Transition to Your Thesis Statement

Following the quote, smoothly transition into your thesis statement. This should provide a clear overview of the main points you will discuss in your essay. The transition should feel natural, allowing the quote to serve as a bridge between your introduction and thesis statement.

Examples of Effective Quote Integration

To provide a practical understanding of how to seamlessly integrate quotes into your college essay, let’s explore a few examples:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

In the context of an essay discussing the importance of education, this quote by Nelson Mandela can be introduced as follows:

“Nelson Mandela once stated, ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’ This profound insight encapsulates the transformative power of education and serves as the guiding principle of my own educational journey. As I embark on my college experience, I am driven by the belief that education holds the key to unlocking not only personal success but also the power to make a positive impact on society.”

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

In an essay exploring the importance of pursuing one’s dreams, this quote by Eleanor Roosevelt can be integrated as follows:

“Eleanor Roosevelt once proclaimed, ‘The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.’ These words resonate deep within me as I embark on my college journey, fueled by the unwavering belief that my dreams hold the power to shape not only my future but also the world around me. Through the pursuit of my passions and the unwavering determination to turn my dreams into reality, I am prepared to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Starting your college essay with a quote can be a powerful technique to captivate your reader and set the stage for a compelling narrative. By carefully selecting a quote that aligns with your essay’s theme and integrating it seamlessly into your introduction, you can leave a lasting impression on the admissions committee.

Remember, however, to maintain a balance between your own voice and the words of others. The quote should enhance and complement your essay, allowing your unique perspective to shine through. So, embrace the power of words and embark on your college essay with a quote that encapsulates your passion and purpose. Your DTDT moment awaits.

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

How to Cite
Language & Lit
Rhyme & Rhythm
The Rewrite
Search Glass

How to Start a College Essay With a Quote

Just as a good movie, novel or advertisement with a catchy start makes you want to continue watching or reading, good essays grab the audience's attention at the beginning. The best essays often open with a hook, an idea that draws the reader in and generates interest about the topic. An appropriate quotation, properly connected to your topic and cited, makes a strong hook for a college essay.

Choose a Quote That Fits Your Purpose

Any quotation must clearly relate to your topic, including a quote used as an introductory hook. A quote seemingly unrelated to your point distracts your readers rather than drawing them in. Choose a quote that fits the tone and focus of the essay.

For instance, a humorous quote does not set up a paper on slavery well. Similarly, a quote about how attitudes about gender have changed through history likely creates too broad of an introduction for a paper about one specific feminist author's life. Select something interesting rather than quoting a dictionary definition, for instance.

Consider Your Audience

Choose a quote your readers can understand and relate to. If you choose a quote readers have never heard, the hook will likely have less impact.

For a general audience, a quote from a pop culture celebrity or popular program makes a good choice. For more specific audiences, select a source fitting the reader.

For example, a paper written for gamers could use a quote from a game designer like Steve Jackson while one aimed at artists might quote from a painter like Paul Gauguin.

Connect to Your Point

Avoid tacking a quote on at the start of your paper just so you can say you have one. Instead, explain the relationship of the quote to your paper's topic, giving relevance and value to the quote.

For a paper explaining how to train a dog, a quote from a famous dog trainer like Cesar Millan should be followed up with a comment about how this quote emphasizes that no dog's behavioral problems mean obedience is beyond reach, connecting the quote to the paper's point.

Acknowledge the Source

All quotes need proper acknowledgment to explain where you got your information and maintain your credibility. If the speaker is important, give that person's name in a signal phrase.

Add information about the source if needed for context, such as, "As Ancient Greek historian Herodotus said ... "

Then follow proper documentation format so your reader can find the source. For papers that use Modern Language Association (MLA) format, give the author along with a page number for print sources. An online MLA quote looks like this:

Mark Twain once wrote, "Human nature is all alike."

For American Psychological Association (APA) style papers, include the date and either a page or paragraph number for direct quotes, like this example:

Mark Twain (1940) once wrote, "Human nature is all alike" (p. 265).

California State University Northridge: Attention Grabbers: Opening and Closing Gambits for Writing
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Quotations
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Introductions
Purdue University: MLA Formatting Quotations
Twain Quotes: Human Nature
Purdue University: In-Text Citations: The Basics

Kristie Sweet has been writing professionally since 1982, most recently publishing for various websites on topics like health and wellness, and education. She holds a Master of Arts in English from the University of Northern Colorado.

Can I Start My College Essay with a Quote? Tips and Insights

The blank canvas of a college essay can be simultaneously exhilarating and intimidating, offering a platform to showcase your unique voice and perspective. As you embark on this intellectual journey, you may find yourself contemplating the age-old question: Can I start my college essay with a quote?

The notion of opening your essay with a carefully selected quote is undeniably alluring, like an inviting doorway that beckons readers to step into your world of ideas.

In this exploration, we will traverse the intricacies of using quotes as introductory elements in college essays, while shedding light on their potential impact and pitfalls.

Just as the title of a book serves as a gateway to its narrative, a well-chosen quote has the power to set the stage for the intellectual journey that your essay will embark upon. Delving into the insightful guide on “ How Do You Write a Book Title in an Essay ?” available on WritersShore, you can uncover the art of incorporating literary elements to enhance the richness of your essay.

Much like the careful consideration that goes into including a book title in your analysis, beginning with a quote requires thoughtful alignment with your essay’s theme, ensuring a seamless fusion of ideas.

The allure of starting with a quote lies not only in its capacity to intrigue but also in its potential to encapsulate the essence of your essay’s exploration. Consider the discourse on the contentious topic “ Why Should Abortion Be Illegal? ” from WritersShore, where navigating sensitive subjects is dissected with precision.

Similarly, a well-chosen quote can act as a lighthouse, guiding readers through the stormy seas of complex issues, while simultaneously revealing your stance and inviting them to join you in contemplation.

However, just as a cover page lends an air of professionalism to a term paper, the integration of a quote demands meticulous attention to detail. The article “ How to Write a Cover Page for a Term Paper ” on WritersShore illustrates the importance of presentation and formatting, emphasizing the first impression your work makes.

In the realm of writing, every choice carries significance, and the decision to start with a quote is no exception. As we journey deeper into this exploration, we will traverse the terrain of advantages and potential challenges, equipping you with the insights needed to make an informed choice.

So, can you start your college essay with a quote? Simply Yes and No. The answer lies within the delicate interplay of context, relevance, and resonance.

As we continue our expedition, we will navigate the delicate balance, embracing the potential of a captivating quote while ensuring it harmonizes seamlessly with your essay’s purpose, creating an opening that not only captures attention but also fuels the reader’s desire to venture further into the realms of your thoughts and ideas.

Can I Start My College Essay with a Quote?

Absolutely! Starting your college essay with a quote can be a dynamic way to engage your reader from the very beginning. However, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind to ensure that the quote enhances your essay rather than overshadowing it.

1. Choosing the Right Quote

Select a quote that resonates with your essay’s theme, message, or the story you aim to tell. The quote should serve as a bridge between your personal experiences and the broader topic.

2. Citing the Source

It’s crucial to attribute the quote to its original source. Use proper citation styles, such as MLA or APA, to give credit to the author and avoid plagiarism.

3. Blending Seamlessly

Integrate the quote smoothly into your essay’s narrative. Provide context and explain how the quote connects to your perspective or story.

4. Keeping it Concise

Avoid lengthy quotes that might overshadow your voice. Opt for a concise and impactful quote that adds value to your essay.

Crafting a Captivating Introduction

Your college essay’s introduction sets the stage for the entire piece. Here’s how you can create an introduction that leaves a lasting impression:

5. The Power of Anecdotes

Share a personal anecdote that relates to your essay’s central theme. An engaging story can draw the reader in and make your essay memorable.

6. Posing a Thought-Provoking Question

Consider starting with a rhetorical question that sparks curiosity. It invites readers to contemplate the topic and encourages them to read further.

7. Descriptive Imagery

Paint a vivid picture with your words, using sensory details to create an immersive experience for the reader.

Incorporating Quotes Effectively

Using quotes strategically can elevate your college essay and add depth to your narrative. Here’s how to make the most of quotes:

8. Supporting Your Argument

Integrate quotes that reinforce your argument or perspective. Analyze how the quote aligns with your ideas and enhances your message.

9. Expressing Contrasting Views

Quotes can be used to introduce opposing viewpoints, allowing you to engage in a thoughtful discussion within your essay.

10. Showcasing Academic Depth

Including quotes from renowned scholars or experts in the field can showcase your intellectual engagement and research.

FAQs about Using Quotes in College Essays

Q: can i use a quote as the first sentence of my essay.

Yes, starting with a quote can be an impactful way to begin your essay. Just ensure the quote is relevant and sets the tone.

Q: How many quotes should I include in my essay?

While there’s no set rule, aim for a balanced approach. Too many quotes can overwhelm your own voice.

Q: Do I need to explain every quote I use?

Absolutely. Each quote should be followed by an explanation of its relevance to your essay’s message.

Q: Can I use quotes from fictional characters or movies?

Yes, as long as they tie into your essay’s theme and contribute meaningfully to your narrative.

Q: What if I can’t find a suitable quote?

If you’re struggling to find a fitting quote, consider starting with a different captivating hook and revisit the idea of using a quote later.

Q: How do I format quotes within my essay?

Follow the citation style (MLA, APA, etc.) required by your institution. Proper formatting shows your attention to detail.

Final thoughts

Starting your college essay with a quote can be a compelling way to engage your reader and set the stage for your narrative.

By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can effectively incorporate quotes while maintaining your unique voice. Remember, a well-chosen quote can be the perfect opening to a memorable essay.

👋 Hi! I’m your smart assistant Amy!

Don’t know where to start? Type your requirements and I’ll connect you to an academic expert within 3 minutes.

How it works
Pay for essays
Do my homework
Term Paper Writing Service
Do my assignment
Coursework help
Our Writers

How to start essay with quote: effective methods and techniques to use

How to start essay with quote: recommendations and tips that will help to succeed

Academic writing is undeniably one of the most common assignments college students have to deal with. Precision, attention to detail, determination, and writing competence are the key skills learners should have in order to thrive with the undertaking. At this point, it is indispensable to mention that flawless structure and excellent formatting may predetermine the quality of the presented content. Additionally, the way you start the essay is related to the reader’s interest and desire to continue exploring the topic.

Can you start an essay with a quote? Talking about the paper introduction, it is possible to single out a few effective methods to get the reader’s attention and keep the audience excited about the theme. Starting an essay with a quote is one of the ways to succeed with the undertaking. However, the awareness of little details and tips may contribute to the efficiency of the writing trick.

Before you start analyzing how to start essay with quote, you need to learn that quotations are phrases borrowed from other authors. They may come in different types and forms, fulfilling various needs. Starting an essay with a quote, you should make sure the phrase is relevant and reasonable. Keep in mind that a properly selected quote may serve as a great hook, advancing the quality of the introductory passage.

Writing tip: Surfing the online market, you will notice a lot of effective tips and powerful instruments that will contribute to the quality and relevance of the introductory passage of your academic work. However, none of them are universal, so you should make sure the selected option suits your writing style and paper type.

Are you excited about effective techniques on how to start an essay with a quote format? Keep reading for more information about the option and its advantages. Additionally, focus on the idea of starting paper with a quote from an influential author.

How to start a paper with a quote: effective tips to consider

Starting an essay with a quote is not easy, especially if you do not have sufficient writing experience. Therefore, a little practice and some work are indispensable for the achievement of the desired results. Additionally, there is always a chance to look through effective tips and guidelines on how to start a paper with a quote. Focus on the most appealing solutions to thrive with the first experience.

Opt for the quote that fits the topic of your paper. Starting paper with a quote, you should make sure it fits your purpose. Do you want to use the element to encourage action, prove a certain point of view, inspire, or deal with other goals? Choose the phrases correspondingly so that the quotation works towards the overall message.
Mind the audience. The type of the paper you are working on and the target audience are the key aspects to consider while choosing a quotation to start the essay with. When working on a scholarly project, you should not include jokes, funny stories, and cliches that will affect the quality of the text.
Find the source. The accuracy of the information and attention to detail are the key requirements for quotations in academic papers. Besides, proper formatting of the quote is a must.

Writing tip: Although starting an essay with a quote seems to be an effective writing solution, it is indispensable to be aware of the effective tips that will make the item add to the quality and relevance of your paper. Keep in mind that if you fail to insert a quote correctly, it can cause the opposite effect.

How to start an essay with a quote format: how to succeed with the undertaking

Starting an essay with a quote you need to be ready to face certain challenges. First of all, inserting the quotation, you will have to explain it using relevant words and phrases. At this point, it is critical to realize that writing experience, knowledge, and skills are inevitable for students who want to know how to start an essay with a quote format.

As it has already been mentioned, the relevance and accuracy of the quotation are indispensable. However, it is critical to mention that the proper formatting is also a must. Take your time to browse the web and detect a starting an introduction with a quote example that will help you understand how it works. The quotation should be formatted in compliance with the overall formatting style of the text, specified by the professor, or used by the writer.

Essay with quotes example: professional help needed

Working on the introductory part of the paper is complicated and may take a lot of time. Fortunately, students who have little skills or knowledge inevitable for the achievement of the desired success, can always get qualified help. Writepaperfor.me is one of the services that has rich experience on the market and can help students cope with the most daunting and time-consuming projects.

No matter if you have a hard time choosing the research topics in education or you cannot decide between the most relevant marketing research topics , the team of professionals will help you thrive. Do you want the authors to help you advance your writing skills, or are you ready to just pay for essay and get it done?

Take your time to surf the web and read the detailed information about the available services of the market. Using the quotes in the introductory page, coping with the complicated research paper, or accomplishing other undertakings is easy with qualified assistance. Use effective communication channels to stay in touch with the support representatives, discussing the peculiarities of your project, and getting the desired help. Leave your “ write my paper at reasonable cost” request and thrive with the undertaking.

Writing tip: If you have decided to take advantage of the essay writing service, make sure you choose a reputable and effective one. Beware of fake and scam services that take money but deliver low-quality papers. Order projects from time-tested services with high rating.

How to start a paragraph with a quote: advantages and downsides of the experience

Starting an essay with a quote is always a great way to start a conversation with the audience and keep the readers excited about the content. In the overwhelming majority of instances, the advantages of the option are hard to deny. Nonetheless, there are cases when starting an essay with a quote may not be the best idea.

How is it possible to understand when is the best time to use a quote? If you look through an essay with quotes example, chances are you will be able to single out a few important aspects that will help you make a reasonable final decision. Check out a few advantages and downsides of the quotes used in academic papers, and make sure you take the maximum advantage of the writing tool.

Quotes help to start an essay and set the right mood. Although they do not contain a lot of information, they can reveal the writer’s attitude towards the question.
They help to grasp the reader’s attention. Effective and meaningful quotations are exactly what is needed for writers who strive to make the audience anticipate the main content.
They contribute to the relevance of the paper. If you mention the saying of a reputable person who supports your point of view, chances are your text will be more influential and meaningful.
Students cannot avoid cliches. These are the elements that affect the quality of the paper and eliminate the advantages of the quotes.
Finding a relevant quote takes a lot of time. It may be a daunting and demanding assignment for inexperienced students who have little to no research skills.

Starting an introduction with a quote example

Can you start an essay with a quote after reading detailed information about the writing tip? Unfortunately, a considerable number of students are unable to succeed with the undertaking even by following the guidelines. Is there a way out?

Well, reading multiple examples and analyzing them may be a great way to expand the vision and get the peculiarities of starting paper with a quote. With the development of technology, a considerable number of companies provide their customers with extensive databases of essay examples, which means you can access some papers for free. Take your time to read the introductory part and single out the quote used in it. Focus on the writing tools and other methods that are used to explain the quote and enhance its relevance in the text. Just check out one of the examples:

“Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing”. Different people can define success differently, but it is the way the famous football player Pele views it. There is hardly a person who can deny that success is impossible without much effort, but extra elements of the undertaking may vary.

How To Write a Recommendation in Research Papers | Tips and Examples

Nursing topics: a comprehensive list of the influential topics to consider

How to Write a DBQ Like a Pro | Top DBQ Tips

What are you waiting for?

You are a couple of clicks away from tranquility at an affordable price!

Admission Essay
Statement of Purpose Editing
Personal Statement Editing
Recommendation Letter
Motivation Letter
Cover Letter
Supplemental Essay
Letter of Continued Interest
Scholarship Essay
Role Model Essay
Our Editors
College Admission Essay Examples
College Cover Letter Examples
College Personal Statement Examples
Graduate Personal Statement Examples
Graduate Statement of Purpose Examples
MBA Essay Examples
MBA Personal Statement Examples
MBA Resume Examples
MBA Recommendation Letter Examples
Medical School Personal Statement Examples
Medical School Recommendation Letter Examples
Pricing Plans
Public Health
Dissertation
Research Paper
Thesis Editing
Academic Editing
Motivation letter
Letter of Recommendation
Personal Statement
Statement of Purpose

How To Write a Quote In an Essay? Opening And Ending Quotes

EssayEdge > Blog > How To Write a Quote In an Essay? Opening And Ending Quotes

Embedding direct quotations in your essay is a great literary tool to reinforce your arguments and nurturing ground for developing the main ideas and further contemplation of the topic. However, using quotations also hides lots of pitfalls.

The statements of a brilliant thinker within your field are considered a way to make your essay stand out from the piles of other writings. No wonder a major number of students fall for that and aspire to use quotations from eminent persons. Nonetheless, over the course of time, using aphorisms within writing became the synonym for “triteness”. So, we collected some tips which will help to use quotations properly, make your statements more haunting, and not evoke sights in your essay readers.

However, if you don’t want to puzzle over all these rules but still want to stay on the safe side and not become accused of plagiarism, you can always reach out to the help of our essay proofreading service.

Table of Contents:

How to Start an Essay with a Quote?

It seems pretty compelling and pathetic for almost every student to cite someone at the very start of their paper. So, you probably also think that you can start an essay with a quote and be on a roll. However, in reality, there is no more worn-out way to start an essay. Firstly, the words said by another person don’t make you appear an egghead or well-read. In the age of the internet, it is worth nothing for everyone to open the first website that comes across and copy some quotes.

Moreover, starting an essay with a quote may make you appear passive and show that you don’t really understand what you are writing about. Putting quotations in such places often makes an impression that you try to replace analysis rather than support it by using quotes. Try to understand that the teacher or professor wants to see your thoughts and understanding of the topic. In order to distance yourself from the cited words and maintain your active voice in the essay, stick to the following phrases:

According to [Name] …
[Name] argues that “…”
[Name] highlighted that “…”
The argument of … is that “…”
[Name] provides a compelling insight into the issue …

Although creating the introduction is probably the most arduous part of writing an essay, integrating citations into the main part of the text also has some specialties. Below you will find more advice that can help to nail your writing.

Don’t use too long quotations

Embedding long quotations will make your writing swamped with the statements of other people and show a lack of your own word count. If you find a quote that perfectly matches your paper, don’t just “copy-paste” it. It’s much better to select the most striking part of the quote than to paraphrase and analyze the rest. Such an approach will show both that you have read some literature on the topic and that you have your own thoughts and understanding.

Always support your quotes with argumentation and examples

Don’t give quotes a role that isn’t assigned to them in your text: quotes shouldn’t speak for you. They can’t stand as an explanation for your argument as such. On the contrary, the quotations must be surrounded by personal reflections. The citation must serve as a ground for further analysis. You can choose the quote that supports your major arguments and develop it into further ideas. Or choose the one that contradicts your previously made statements and try to prove this quotation wrong.

Need help? Check out EssayEdge editing services:

To recap, it’s crucial that citations in the text must be accompanied by your personal thoughts, arguments, and examples.

Stop citing Shakespeare

It’s essential to pick up the most appropriate quote that will fit well into the general text canvas and complement your ideas instead of interrupting them and confusing the reader. Don’t go for the quotation just because it’s famous. While searching through dozens of quotes, keep in mind that citations must be the glue used to tie the statements and arguments in your paper. This way, you definitely won’t suck up on choosing the right one.

Another piece of advice, or rather prayer – don’t use inspirational quotes from your Facebook account. It had become a platitude a long time ago. Also, steer clear of hackneyed and ubiquitous citations from well-known writers or philosophers. Today, you won’t surprise anybody with it, especially considering the fact that you don’t even have to read the full text to provide these quotes.

Cite Properly

Although using citations is quite a common practice, only a handful of people really know how to write a quote in an essay correctly. It’s always worth following some rules whenever you are using words that are in fact not yours. The neglection of indicating the original source can lead to accusing you of committing plagiarism. The most common referencing formats are APA, MLA, and Harvard. They usually include the second name of the author, the year of work publishing, and the page from where you took the quote. It’s quite a broad topic to cover these styles’ peculiarities in this article. So, if you are interested in the proper citation, use additional sources to find out more.

To Conclude

As you can see, citing only seems to be easy. In reality, it’s pretty tricky and takes a lot of details into consideration. Below you can find some popular questions that also bother those who are in the process of writing their paper.

What size of citation is desirable?

As was already mentioned, it’s better to avoid using long quotes. It’s actually preferable that your citation doesn’t exceed one line. This way, you will have enough space for your own thoughts.

How many quotes can I use?

Overusing quotes is a terrible idea, because it will make an impression that you can’t paraphrase well. Generally, one quote in every 750 words is a maximum that you should reach.

Can I quote my grandmother?

If it fits in the overall picture of your essay and doesn’t sound too cliché, then yes. However, it is still desirable to avoid such things as it was already done a thousand times before.

Can I use quotes inside quotes?

If you can replace it somehow, do it. Because it’s a pretty tempting thing which is accompanied by specific rules. Usually, the chance to write a poor example of such a quote is significantly higher than to do it properly and well-sounding.

How to Use a Quote in an Essay

Table of Contents

MLA in-text citation how-to

You can take a quote from different sources of information, such as books, magazines, websites or printed journals. Using quotes in an essay serves three goals:

Present additional evidence to support your point of view or oppose a claim or idea;
Help a reader better understand a topic under analysis;
Strengthen your argumentation on a topic using another writer’s eloquence.

Since quotes are mostly used in Humanities, you’ll have to follow MLA citation referencing guidelines. The Modern Language Association citation manual implies two types of quotes – short and long.

Short quote – Is less than 4 lines of typed text and can be embedded directly into a sentence;
Long quote – Is more than 4 lines of typed text and requires a separate content block in an essay without quotation marks.

Writing college essays, the recommendation is to use short quotes.

Parenthetical citation

Referring to the works of other authors in-text is done using a parenthetical citation . Such a method implies the author-page style of quoting. For example:

When it comes to writing, King suggests: “Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” (5)

Given the MLA in-text citation already contains King’s last name, you shouldn’t mention it in the parenthesis. If the author’s name isn’t mentioned in-text, it has to be specified in a parenthetical citation.

When it comes to writing, there’s a quote I like the most: “Write. Rewrite. When not writing or rewriting, read. I know of no shortcuts.” (King 5)

According to MLA guidelines, at the end of the essay, there has to be the Works Cited page . It contains the full reference featuring author’s full name, the full title of the source, the volume, the issue number, the date of publishing, and the URL (if the source was found online). Here’s an example of the full referencing in the Works Cited:

King, Larry L. “The Collection of Best Works.” Oxford University Press, vol. 2, no. 3, Jan.-Feb. 2017, http://www.prowritersdigest.com/editor-blogs/inspirational-quotes/72-of-the-best-quotes-about-writing.

How to start an essay with a quote?

Starting an essay with a quote is a matter of controversy. Experts in the pro camp suggest that a quote at the beginning of an essay helps make a powerful statement right from the start. Moreover, an interesting, captivating quote grabs the reader’s attention right from the start.

Experts from the against camp suggest that when you begin an essay with a quote, you miss on the opportunity to present your own take on the subject matter. In their opinion, when writing the introduction, you have to rely only on your words. Whereas quotes are most useful in the main body, serving as an additional argumentation. In conclusion, a quote can be placed, too.

PROS & CONS OF STARTING AN ESSAY WITH A QUOTE

How to use quotes in the middle of an essay?

Main Body is the place you’re meant to state a quote or two, depending on the length of a paper. A standard 5-paragraph essay will imply you to use 2-3 quotes in the main body. More quotes aren’t necessary for such a short assignment. Two quotes in the main body will do just fine.

In the main body paragraph, a quote is placed in the middle of the passage . First, you introduce a focal sentence of a paragraph highlighting your point of view regarding a topic. After that, you provide the evidence data and argumentation, among which is a relevant quote. And finally, you smoothly transit to the next body paragraph or the conclusion. Here’re three examples of how to present a quote in one of the main body paragraphs.

Accurate integration of a citation in a text is key. Or the whole passage will sound off.

People who want to become a writer don’t really need any piece of advice. “Those (…) who know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.”

College essay quotes have to be naturally embedded in a text .

People who want to become a writer don’t really need any piece of advice: “Those (…) who know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.”

There’s also the way to write an essay with quotes in the smoothest way possible.

People who want to become a writer don’t really need any piece of advice. They simply “know that they really want to do this and are cut out for it, they know it.”

See how organically a quote is inserted in a sentence? That’s the best-case scenario of using a quote in a sentence.

How to end an essay with a quote?

Sometimes, ending an essay with a quote is better than merely restating your thesis statement. Citations can be taken from both primary and secondary sources. Good quotes to end an essay might be of your course professor’s. According to essay writing websites , quotations taken from the words of subject authorities and thought leaders will do great, too.

A quote ending an essay helps meet 5 objectives:

Provide a solid closure to your essay;
Fortify your point of view;
Give one final argument in favor of your thesis statement;
Establish your authority on a topic;
Helps your essay stand out.

Having a quotation at the end of an essay gives a good chance to score an “A”.

15 tips for using quotations in an essay

Look up quotes in academic sources in the first place;
Rely on the printed matter rather than internet sources;
Avoid citing information from Wikipedia;
Give context to every quotation you use;
Always use quotation marks to avoid plagiarism-related troubles;
Explain why the quote you’re about to use in a text is important;
Seek to integrate quotes smoothly in a sentence for the best effect;
Each quotation has to be attributed to the original source using parenthesis;
Gather 10-15 quotes relevant to your topic and then sift through 5 quotes that will serve you best;
Use the exact wording, punctuation, capitalization and sentence structure as in the original;
Watch your punctuation when using quotes in a sentence;
Avoid misquotations, as it’s a sign of a careless attitude towards the assignment;
Use an ellipsis (…) to withdraw a part of a quote you don’t actually need;
Try to use short quotes rather than long;
Avoid quoting quotes, as it’s where students make mistakes most often.

5 motivational quotes for essay writing

Inspiration is a staple in every great writer’s routine. As a student, you might find drawing inspiration a bit too difficult. Here’re a couple of inspiring essay motivation quotes to help you break through the writer’s block. Or you can buy argumentative essay if doing the task yourself isn’t an option.

“I don’t need an alarm clock. My ideas wake me.”

“It’s none of their business that you have to learn to write. Let them think you were born that way.”

“The difference between the almost right word and the right word is … the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.”

“Making people believe the unbelievable is no trick; it’s work . … Belief and reader absorption come in the details: An overturned tricycle in the gutter of an abandoned neighborhood can stand for everything.”

“To defend what you’ve written is a sign that you are alive.”

Many times life catches us off balance. Lots of written homework. Tight schedule. Sudden illness. Personal matters. Writer’s block. An instructor returned the essay for revisions. At the moments like these, it’s always a good idea to have someone to cover your back. GradeMiners can always write you a new essay, rewrite an existing draft, perform an ending an essay with a quote, or proofread your text for mistakes, typos, as well as correct the use of quotations. Let us know if you need anything, and we’ll help you out!

The Right Format of a Raisin in the Sun Essay

20 Most Prominent Technology Essay Topics And Writing Hints

100 proposal topics ideas for your assignment.

Suggested Ways to Introduce Quotations

To introduce a quote in an essay, don't forget to include author's last name and page number (MLA) or author, date, and page number (APA) in your citation. Shown below are some possible ways to introduce quotations. The examples use MLA format.

Use A Full Sentence Followed by A Colon To Introduce A Quotation

The setting emphasizes deception: "Nothing is as it appears" (Smith 1).
Piercy ends the poem on an ironic note: "To every woman a happy ending" (25).

Begin A Sentence with Your Own Words, Then Complete It with Quoted Words

Note that in the second example below, a slash with a space on either side ( / ) marks a line break in the original poem.

Hamlet's task is to avenge a "foul and most unnatural murder" (Shakespeare 925).
The speaker is mystified by her sleeping baby, whose "moth-breath / flickers among the flat pink roses" (Plath 17).

Use An Introductory Phrase Naming The Source, Followed By A Comma to Quote A Critic or Researcher

Note that the first letter after the quotation marks should be upper case. According to MLA guidelines, if you change the case of a letter from the original, you must indicate this with brackets. APA format doesn't require brackets.

According to Smith, "[W]riting is fun" (215).
In Smith's words, " . . .
In Smith's view, " . . .

Use A Descriptive Verb, Followed by A Comma To Introduce A Critic's Words

Avoid using says unless the words were originally spoken aloud, for instance, during an interview.

Smith states, "This book is terrific" (102).
Smith remarks, " . . .
Smith writes, " . . .
Smith notes, " . . .
Smith comments, " . . .
Smith observes, " . . .
Smith concludes, " . . .
Smith reports, " . . .
Smith maintains, " . . .
Smith adds, " . . .

Don't Follow It with A Comma If Your Lead into The Quotation Ends in That or As

The first letter of the quotation should be lower case.

Smith points out that "millions of students would like to burn this book" (53).
Smith emphasizes that " . . .
Smith interprets the hand washing in MacBeth as "an attempt at absolution" (106).
Smith describes the novel as "a celebration of human experience" (233).

Other Writing Resources

Enhance your academic writing skills by exploring our additional writing resources that will help you craft compelling essays, research papers, and more.

Your New Chapter Starts Wherever You Are

The support you need and education you deserve, no matter where life leads.

because a future built by you is a future built for you.

Too many people have been made to feel that higher education isn’t a place for them— that it is someone else’s dream. But we change all that. With individualized attention and ongoing support, we help you write a new story for the future where you play the starring role.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

Knowledge Base
Working with sources
How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago

Published on April 15, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Jack Caulfield. Revised on May 31, 2023.

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

The quoted text is enclosed in quotation marks or formatted as a block quote
The original author is correctly cited
The text is identical to the original

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

How to cite a quote in apa, mla and chicago, introducing quotes, quotes within quotes, shortening or altering a quote, block quotes, when should i use quotes, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about quoting sources.

Every time you quote, you must cite the source correctly . This looks slightly different depending on the citation style you’re using. Three of the most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

Citing a quote in APA Style

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

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

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

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

Complete guide to APA

Citing a quote in mla style.

An MLA in-text citation includes only the author’s last name and a page number. As in APA, it can be parenthetical or narrative, and a period (or other punctuation mark) appears after the citation.

Evolution is a gradual process that “can act only by very short and slow steps” (Darwin 510) .
Darwin explains that evolution “can act only by very short and slow steps” (510) .

Complete guide to MLA

Citing a quote in chicago style.

Chicago style uses Chicago footnotes to cite sources. A note, indicated by a superscript number placed directly after the quote, specifies the author, title, and page number—or sometimes fuller information .

Unlike with parenthetical citations, in this style, the period or other punctuation mark should appear within the quotation marks, followed by the footnote number.

Complete guide to Chicago style

The only proofreading tool specialized in correcting academic writing - try for free!

The academic proofreading tool has been trained on 1000s of academic texts and by native English editors. Making it the most accurate and reliable proofreading tool for students.

Try for free

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

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

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

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

Introductory sentence

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

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

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

Introductory signal phrase

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

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

Integrated into your own sentence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Shortening a quote

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

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

Altering a quote

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

However, there are some situations in which quoting is more appropriate.

When focusing on language

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

When giving evidence

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

When presenting an author’s position or definition

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

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

If you want to know more about ChatGPT, AI tools , citation , and plagiarism , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

ChatGPT vs human editor
ChatGPT citations
Is ChatGPT trustworthy?
Using ChatGPT for your studies
What is ChatGPT?
Chicago style
Paraphrasing
Critical thinking

Plagiarism

Types of plagiarism
Self-plagiarism
Avoiding plagiarism
Academic integrity
Consequences of plagiarism
Common knowledge

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

In academic writing , there are three main situations where quoting is the best choice:

To analyze the author’s language (e.g., in a literary analysis essay )
To give evidence from primary sources
To accurately present a precise definition or argument

Don’t overuse quotes; your own voice should be dominant. If you just want to provide information from a source, it’s usually better to paraphrase or summarize .

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

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

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

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

The rules for when to apply block quote formatting depend on the citation style:

APA block quotes are 40 words or longer.
MLA block quotes are more than 4 lines of prose or 3 lines of poetry.
Chicago block quotes are longer than 100 words.

If you’re quoting from a text that paraphrases or summarizes other sources and cites them in parentheses , APA and Chicago both recommend retaining the citations as part of the quote. However, MLA recommends omitting citations within a quote:

APA: Smith states that “the literature on this topic (Jones, 2015; Sill, 2019; Paulson, 2020) shows no clear consensus” (Smith, 2019, p. 4).
MLA: Smith states that “the literature on this topic shows no clear consensus” (Smith, 2019, p. 4).

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

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

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

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

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

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. & Caulfield, J. (2023, May 31). How to Quote | Citing Quotes in APA, MLA & Chicago. Scribbr. Retrieved April 2, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/working-with-sources/how-to-quote/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to block quote | length, format and examples, how to paraphrase | step-by-step guide & examples, how to avoid plagiarism | tips on citing sources, unlimited academic ai-proofreading.

✔ Document error-free in 5minutes ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

How to Start an Essay With a Quote?

The introduction of your essay to a large extent determines its success. The introduction is the first thing that your readers see, and it should motivate your audience to read the whole essay. Given the importance of the introduction, there’s no surprise that many students consider this section of the essay especially difficult to write. The introduction should begin with an attention-grabbing hook. Depending on the type of essay and your objectives, you may start the introduction with an anecdote, interesting fact, a story from your life, etc.

One of the most common types of hooks is a quote, as it is one of the most effective ways to grab reader's attention right away. Although quotes are overused by students as hooks in essays, a properly selected relevant quote can help you grab your readers’ attention and establish a context for the introduction. If you want to use quotes in your essay effectively, you should avoid some common mistakes and know how to weave the quote into the rest of the essay introduction . In this article, we will consider some tips that will help you start your essay with a quote.

How to Choose the Right Quote

When choosing a quote for your introduction, the main thing is not to prioritize the author’s authority over the meaning of the quote. There’s no need to include a quote from a famous person if it isn’t directly related to the content of your essay. You don’t want to feature popular quotes that could be used by thousands of other students, and you must make sure that the content of the quote perfectly resonates with the unique subject of your essay and your thesis statement.

You should also make sure that your readers will understand the quote. Start with a quote that isn't too complex. You may briefly explain its context and background so that your readers can understand what the author meant and in what circumstances these words were written or said. Choosing the right quote for your essay may take some time. The good news is that there are many books with collections of quotes categorized by topics or authors. You may also highlight passages that can be used as quotes when reading your sources.

Tips on Starting an Essay With a Quote

Avoid clichés

You may feel tempted to use a quote that you’ve read and heard many times. If a quote is very popular and overused, it may still be relevant, but the best solution is to avoid such quotes because they will just bore your readers. Clichés will make your readers think that you were just too lazy to find anything they’ve never heard before. Make sure that the chosen quote actually contributes to the meaning of your essay and look up its context so that you can be sure that it fits the context of your essay.

Introduce the quote properly

A quote won’t make your introduction better if it’s unrelated to the rest of the introduction and isn’t supported by some brief elaboration. Introduce your quote to connect it to the rest of the content. For example, you can include a preview of the quote, paraphrasing it or providing your personal opinion on it, and then provide the quote itself. You may also use a quote as a predicate, with the author being the subject of the sentence. However, if a quote is self-explanatory, you may also start the essay with the quote and then attribute it to the source.

Attribute the quote properly

First, you must make sure that the person you quote actually said the quote. Not all sources are trustworthy, and if you see a quote on the internet, you should double-check its authenticity. There are many websites, including Brainyquote and Pinterest, where you can find many quotes that are attributed to the wrong people or simply fake. Always use reliable academic sources so that your reputation and credibility won’t be damaged if someone spots a mistake.

Avoid long quotes

You may encounter long quotes that can perfectly illustrate your point while also containing some unnecessary or irrelevant information. In this case, the worst solution would be to provide the quote in its entirety and then explain what exactly you wanted to say by including it. Instead, you can use ellipses (…) and include only the necessary part. Keep in mind that you should only use such an approach if you’re 100% sure that the chosen quote is used in the right context. Don’t use ellipses to change the meaning of quotes so that they will fit your agenda.

Pay attention to punctuation

All direct quotes should be written within quotation marks. Otherwise, quotes might be considered plagiarism. When you paraphrase somebody, you shouldn’t include quotation marks but you still must attribute the content to the original source. A full stop, exclamation mark, or question mark at the end of the sentence should be placed inside the quotation marks. Capitalize a quote only if you write it at the beginning of a sentence.

Should You Begin an Essay With a Quote?

Using quotes at the beginning of your essay has certain advantages and disadvantages.

Quotes can help you set the right tone of your paper, getting an emotional response from your readers and motivating them to read more.
Quotes are great attention-grabbers. A controversial, humorous, or shocking quote from a well-known personality can help you immediately capture your audience’s attention, which is a reason why quotes are often used as hooks.
Quotes also enable you to increase your credibility by using the authority of the original source. If you show that well-known experts support your opinion, it will be difficult for readers to argue against it.
Using quotes in the introduction of your paper is one of the most common approaches so it won’t make your essay more original.
Finding a perfectly relevant quote that matches the context of your essay writing may take a lot of time.
If you decide to include a strong quote at the very beginning of your paper, you should make sure that it won’t be the most interesting and intense part of your essay.

Wrapping Up

Quotes are often used at the beginning of an essay to create a strong hook and establish the right context or tone. A good quote can be very beneficial for your introduction but you should know how to use quotes properly. We hope that our tips will help you avoid common mistakes and use quotes to your advantage.

Join the discussion Cancel reply

Name or nickname *

Save my name (nickname) and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

How to Make a Cover Page for an Essay?

How to Write a Creative Five-Paragraph Essay?

How to Start an Essay with A Quote

Photo by Tirachard Kumtanom from Pexels

Essays are the primary tools that teachers use to measure how much their students learned in the lessons. Essay writing is the opportunity for learners to express the things they picked up in past studies and share their opinions in writing. A good essay should be enticing to the readers. It should hook your readers and get their attention to make them read your article from beginning to end. Some writers start with a short story or personal anecdotes to tickle the interest of their audience. Some write their essay starting with a quote. Putting a quote is the most commonly used way to give a strong introduction. Even professional academic writing services such as essaypro and edujungles.com use this to come up with an exciting essay. You can always have them do your essay for you, or you can do and experience it yourself. If you want to start creating a good essay, here are some tips you can use on how to use a quote to start an essay:

FINDING THE PERFECT QUOTE

There are a lot of quotes you can use to create your essay. You can quote from a book, from articles, or even quote famous peoples and celebrities. But among these inspiring words, which one is the right for your essay? First, you have to know what is the main topic of your essay. You should be familiar with the issue you have at hand. Using random quotes that will not be related to the core argument of your essay will only confuse your readers. Make the quote you start the essay with a quote . It is aligned with the content of your essay. It is also helpful to find a quote that is closely related to your arguments. For example, you are doing an essay on “Injustice and Racism,” it is best to quote people who are in the movement eradicating these issues. In this example, you can quote Martin Luther King Jr., an active leader of this movement, and impact your viewers.

CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

It is vital that you know your audience for you to select a perfect quote for your essay. When your target audience is millennials, it is better to get a familiar quote. If you use older people, books or articles which are not in their age range they might not see the relatability of the passage to your writing. For example, you are writing an essay about self-confidence, you can use this quote.

“It is our choice that shows who we really are, far more than our abilities.” – Albus Dumbledore.

Using this quote from Harry Potter will surely get your readers’ attention, especially when your target audience, the millennials, are all familiar with the book and character. It will show them that their beloved fairytale is applicable way beyond just their imaginations.

USE QUOTE AS A HOOK

Beginning an essay with a quote is an excellent strategy to hook your readers. There are different types of quotes you can use in your writing. There are quotes found in literature, the ones written by famous writers or poets. There are quotes from fictional books or fairytales and quotes that famous people say. You can use any of them as long they do not sidetrack the main idea of your paper. Quotes are a way to get the attention of your readers and present academic papers not dull and boring. So, use the proper quote for your paper.

AVOID LONG QUOTES

The purpose of starting an essay with quotes is to hook the reader’s attention. Writers should confuse themselves with quotes and presenting the main idea of the essay. Writers can shorten the selections they will use in their article and use the ones only necessary to make the essay exciting. Using prolonged and excessive quotes can bore your audience. Might as well use a short story as your introduction if you intend to use a long quotation. Long sections can twist the expectations of your readers. Some quotes are not too wordy but will still give an impact and excitement to your audience. Here are few examples of non-lengthy quotes you can use in your essay

“The only good is knowledge, and the only evil is ignorance.” – Socrates

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale in the world” – Hans Christian Andersen

“Love all, trust a few and do wrong to no one.” – William Shakespeare

ACKNOWLEDGE THE SOURCE

In writing, just like all the phrases or selections, we borrow we must cite the sources. It is the same with using quotes in your essay. It would be best if you acknowledged the basis of your quotation, whether it came from a book or a person. As writers, we all know that misquoting someone can be a form of plagiarism but aside from avoiding this violation, crediting your sources also shows that you’re the quotes you used are valid and authentic. Readers can quickly judge when a selection is made up or original. You acknowledge your source; you’d be doing them and yourself a favor.

DON’T ITALICIZE THE QUOTES

There are specific rules in the italicization of words and phrases when it comes to essay writing. Words are italicized when they are names of books, movies, TV shows, websites, music albums, paintings, magazines, or other works of art. When using a quote in your paper, it is more appropriate to use quotation marks to state the passage you want to include.

For example:

I agree with J.K Rowling’s “What is life without a little risk?” …

This is a proper way of incorporating quotes in your writings.

So, before finalizing everything, be sure you’re familiar with the rules of writing. Whether getting an anecdote from a person or quoting them, make sure you know how to write and present it in your paper.

43 Inspirational Quotes About Thoughts

5 Things to Know Before Moving into a High-Rise Building

What Is the Best Style of Roof in Hawaii?

Self-Hatred Psychology Behind Negative Self-Perception

Understanding Self-Hatred: The Psychology Behind Negative Self-Perception

5 Magnificent UNESCO World Heritage Sites You Should Visit in 2024

Overstimulation Overload: Coping Strategies for Children in a Fast-Paced World

Lifting the Sky: Understanding Cranes in Urban Construction and Development

You Don’t Have to Do It All Tools to Make Your Work Life Easier

You Don’t Have to Do It All: 5 Tools to Make Your Work Life Easier

Home Comfort Seasonal HVAC Maintenance and Efficiency

Enhancing Home Comfort Through Seasonal HVAC Maintenance and Efficiency

Looking to the Future: How to Land a Job Before You Graduate

12 SEO Trends You Can’t Ignore in 2023 – An SEO Expert’s Guide to Surviving the Competition

motivational business quotes for success images

56 Motivational Business Quotes for Success

81 Inspiring Quotes about Money and Happiness

56 Positive Attitude Quotes to Keep You Motivated

10 Advanced Strategies to Increase Affiliate Sales

Know Your Worth Quotes to Boost Your Self Confidence

Habits Include Daily Routine Active Lifestyle

7 Habits to Include in Your Daily Routine for an Active Lifestyle

50 Quotes About Being Strong In Hard Times

50 Inspirational Quotes about Hope

55 Believe In Yourself Quotes to Boost Your Confidence

Health is Wealth | Top 10 Health Quotes (Images) to Inspire You to Live a Healthier Life

50 Most Powerful Quotes Ever Spoken

zig ziglar quotes on success integrity - zig ziglar top quotes

50 Best Zig Ziglar Quotes on Success

83 Motivational Chinese Proverbs, Quotes & Sayings on Life and Success

4 Fun New Hobbies To Try This Year

33 Inspirational Quotes about Strength and Courage

Top 50 Buddha Quotes to Enlighten Your Mind

37 Awesome Quotes That Will Inspire You To Take Risk

How to Start an Essay
A Guide to Starting an Essay with a Quote: The Best Ways!

A Guide to Starting an Essay with a Quote: The Best Ways!

How to Start an Essay: Easy Tips to Help You Get Started

Key things you should know when picking the right quote for your essay, need professional help to understand how to begin an essay, how to begin an essay with a quote examples.

How to start an essay with a quote ? Have no idea how to start narrative essays for high school? Are you looking for good essay samples to follow when composing your paper? Don’t know how to start an analytical essay? Writing an effective opening paragraph that will inform, motivate your reader can be challenging for schoolchildren/college students. It is an important step in the writing process everyone should take.

What strategy can help avoid mistakes? Remember that the most important purpose of your academic piece of writing is to persuade readers of your point of view based on evidence from in-depth research. Consider including the following key points in order to succeed:

At the essay’s beginning, tell the public about the main idea your paper covers. Introduce your essay’s subject in a clear manner
Focus on your paper explaining your audience the central issue of your discussion. You can do it in various ways. Pose a question, immediately suggesting answers that will be argued; state a thesis; it is possible to combine these two approaches. It’s up to you to choose the most effective way

Can you start an essay with a quote? Definitely, yes! This is one of the killer ways to hook the reader. Bear in mind that when you are thinking how to begin an essay, you should take steps to make your readers fully understand why they might want to continue reading. This is the key

You have to catch your reader’s attention with a hook - encourage him/her to read the entire paper. Your goal is to persuade the audience that your text is worth reading
You should orient your readers. You need to provide necessary information and explanations to help your audience follow your arguments. You can do it by answering basic questions of who, where, what, how, when, and why or by providing a short overview of the sources you’ll be analyzing

Do you wonder how these strategies work? Order a model paper on your topic that will be written according to your specific requirements. It will serve you as an example to help you learn how to start essay with quote and other effective ways capable of attracting the reader. You can get the helping list of the best argumentative essay topics online easily.

College essays are long projects. Sometimes, many people find them overwhelming but if you break the writing process into small parts and try to complete your draft step by step, you can expect you will feel more confident and work more productively. Let’s discuss how to start a paper with a quote, taking manageable steps.

First, choose a topic that you find intriguing. Define the purpose of your project and evaluate your options. The most successful strategy is to write about a subject that you are passionate about. Conduct research and study the available sources of information. Before you get started with your piece of writing, make a detailed outline to organize your thoughts, sort your ideas into certain categories, and determine natural links between your thoughts. Now, you are ready to write an introduction.

Follow the tips below to create an impressive introduction. There are 4 simple tips that will help you to cope with this task quickly and easily. Let’s get started!

1. How to start an essay introduction? To attract your readers’ attention, begin with the killer language means. Brainstorm ideas on an attention grabber and add a couple of sentences that lead to your thesis. Use one of the strategies that we’ve already discussed.

Beginning an essay with a quote is a good idea. Finally, use the outline or a mind map of your ideas and create a thesis statement – a sentence or a couple of sentences, the aim of which is to tell your audience about the point you will be arguing about in your paper. A thesis is the last sentence of your introduction.

You may need to return to your introduction after you’ve finished the final draft to clarify the focus, change, and rewrite the beginning of your paper several times to ensure that you are able to engage your readers and establish your authority.

2. How to start essay with quote? Do you wonder “ Can I start an essay with a quote?” Definitely, yes! It’s a rather popular way to begin an essay. You should find the right quote that fits your purpose and use it within the framework of your own words. How to begin an essay with a quote? Check the list with the most effective tips on how to put a quote in the beginning of an essay.

Avoid the frequently used quotations and clichés that are familiar to everyone because they will bore your target audience making them think that you have been lazy to search for the original quotes
Explain how the quote connects to your point
Select a quotation that your audience can understand and relate to
Make sure the quote exactly fits the tone of your academic paper
When introducing a quote , always acknowledge the source. Follow the requirements of a specific citation sty le

These tips on how to start an essay with a quote will help you pick the right quote that will impress your reader. No matter what sort of opening you choose, make sure it is related to the focus of your paper and serves a good tool for establishing the context, or plays a significant part in your thinking and analysis. Your opening should be clear, direct, and specific. Try to avoid too broad and general openings because they can make your paper look boring

3. How to start a paragraph in an essay? The next step is writing the body paragraphs. Talking about how to start a paragraph in an essay, we should say that all body paragraphs will have the similar basic structure. Write one of your main ideas in the outline as a topic sentence in a paragraph. Then, add supporting ideas. Back each supporting idea with relevant examples, statistics, and other details and make sure you provide enough information to link these smaller ideas together. You will have to write as many body paragraphs as you have main ideas in your outline.

4. How to start a conclusion for an essay? We’ve come to your paper’s final part. Let’s discuss how to start a conclusion for an essay. The length of a conclusion depends on the length of your paper and its complexity. There is no set formula for how to do this the right way.

Your task is to review the key points and provide a final perspective on your subject. Write 3 to 5 strong sentences. Make sure they reinforce your thesis statement and briefly remind your readers about the significance of your topic, and the research you have conducted. After writing your conclusion, check your paper’s organization and logical flow of ideas, paying attention to the smallest details. Fix grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.

As you see, writing high-scoring essays can be complicated and time-consuming but we hope that our simple tips on how to start a good essay will help you succeed in creating impressive beginnings for your admissions, argumentative, persuasive and other types of essays.

Some students think that it is as easy as ABC to start with a quote. However, it is a misconception as you need to learn how to do this the right way. There are certain things you should take into account when looking for the best quote. You should be patient as the search may take you more than one day. You should look through a number of sources to find a saying of a person that will be exactly what you need. Most students give preference to the sayings of famous people. It may sound surprising but this is not the best way to impress the reader.

It is better to find a quote of a person who isn’t well-known. You can use a part of a long quote not to bore your reader in the very beginning of your paper. If you have found an interesting saying, don’t rush to use it for your piece of writing. You need to conduct research on the history of the quote and create a successful methodology . Learn more about its origin to know what context it was first used in. Choose those sayings that were unexpected and creative.

Lack great ideas for a powerful introductory paragraph? Looking for the answer to the question “Can you start a paper with a quote?” Order a custom paper written by an experienced writer on our site and forget about your worries concerning academic writing. If you face a problem with completing a difficult task assigned to you by your college teacher or university professor, take advantage of the well-written professional examples that we offer to students of all academic levels, regardless of the complexity of the topic.

Do you wonder how they can be helpful? Simply using them, you will get a perfect understanding of how to start an essay on your topic, write a good introduction , organize your argument in the three body paragraphs, create an impressive conclusion, back your points with appropriate evidence and quotes from the relevant sources. We will provide you with the perfectly written model papers that can help you in creating your own pieces of writing.

Our experts are ready to help you 24/7. Don’t hesitate to contact us whether you face a need to complete your paper urgently or just want us to review your work! Our team of professionals will wait for your order for assignment writing being ready to provide a helping hand and expert advice, which you may lack.

Entrust us to write your paper and enjoy your free time, which can be spent on things that really matter to you now. You won’t regret choosing us as your reliable academic helper! Want to check if this is true? Read what our loyal customers say about our top quality services! Join them and pass your paper with flying colors!

If you do use a quote, you must introduce it correctly so that the reader understands why it is there and who said it. Don’t just shove it in and hope the reader knows why you have included it. So say something like:

Regarding survival rates for gladiators, Johnstone states: “Gladiator shows were hardly the bloodbaths we see in modern films and TV programs. If there were five fights in a day, on average only one would end in death.” This shows that the risk of death may have been low enough to entice free men to become gladiators.

You must also explain how the quote helps to answer the essay question (here the question would be: ‘Why would free men become gladiators in ancient Rome?’). Be explicit: don’t leave it up to your reader to work it out.

Karl Marx, writer of the pamphlet The Communist Manifesto, proclaims, “Communism abolishes all eternal truths…instead of constituting them on a new basis” (Marx 81). In other words, communism throws out all beliefs, not only ones that counter the ideas of communism. Marx’s insistence on “abolishment” reflects the greater implication that communism not only represents a change in a political system or a belief, but also negates all previously accepted aspects of life. This would require a radical change of heart for all people. Marx’s call for the abolishment of truths requires too much change in people’s lives; his ideas are not ideal to change society.

Understand How to Start an Essay with a Quote

Table of Contents

Preparing the introductory paragraph is one of the most challenging tasks in the essay writing process. When compared to other essential sections, the introduction plays a vital role because it is the opening part of an essay that has the responsibility to pull the readers inside the essay. Basically, there are different approaches available to begin the introductory paragraph of an essay. But if you know how to start an essay with a quote, then you can easily grab the attention of your readers. Most of the time, the unique and creative quotation added at the start of an essay will stir the curiosity of the readers and will make them read the entire essay.

Never begin your essay without a catchy hook. A catchy hook is a powerful tool that has the vibes to grab the reader’s attention and generate interest in the topic. The hook can be a quote, a fact, a statistic, etc. However, using a quote that is relevant to the topic is one of the most effective ways to begin an essay.

Are you aware of how to start an essay with a quote? If you don’t have any idea, then keep on reading this blog post. Here, in detail, we have explained how to find an ideal quote and open an essay with that

What is a Quote?

It is a brief phrase or a section that is taken from the writing or speech of another author or speaker. It is one of the useful tools that is mostly used to write essays, blog posts, and articles. Additionally, the quotations can be utilized during speech delivery.

In general, there are numerous famous quotes on a wide range of subjects, including friendship, life, knowledge, love, and so on. You can look up the most famous quotes from any celebrity, past or present, especially when preparing your written assignments or speeches based on your topic.

There are generally three types of quotes: direct quotes, summary quotes, and Paraphrase quotes. You can start an essay with any kind of quote. The most important points from the first quote are briefly explained in the summary. The paraphrase consists solely of rephrased statements that convey the same meaning as the originals. Direct quotes are the spoken or written words that are quoted.

When writing an essay, students frequently prefer direct quotes over the other two of these three types. However, you can use any of these types of quotes appropriately to preserve the original citation’s intended meaning.

Learn How to Start an Essay with a Quote

Wondering how to begin an essay with a quote? Cool! The below-mentioned tips will provide you with a clear idea of how to begin the introductory paragraph of an essay with a quote.

Give preference to your target readers

Before you begin searching for the quote for your essay, first understand the mindset of your target readers and then select a quote suitable for them. The quote that you select should be easy for your readers to relate to and understand. Never choose a quote that is insulting to your readers unless you plan to refute the quote.

In order to catch the attention of the general audience, you can pick quotes from a pop culture celebrity or renowned personality. But to engage with a specific set of audiences, find a quote from a source that matches the interest of your target readers. Remember, the quote you use at the start of your essay should be clear, informative, and shouldn’t offend the intelligence of your readers.

Avoid picking a quote that is unfamiliar to your target audience. Choosing a less popular quote will not create any impact on your readers while they read the opening paragraph of your essay. If you feel that the quote you have selected would be unfamiliar to your readers, provide more details on that quote.

Get to know the context of the quote

Don’t randomly use quotes that are appealing to you. Before you finalize a quote, identify the original context of that quote. If you have a proper understanding of that quote, then you can determine whether or not that quote would be appropriate to use at the start of your essay.

Identify a quote relevant to the purpose of your essay

The quote that you have selected to use at the beginning of your essay should be relevant to the purpose of your essay. If you use any irrelevant quote at the start of your essay, then your readers will not even read your essay completely. Note that, using a quote mismatching to your essay purpose may easily distract your audience. Say, for instance, if you explain a sensitive topic with a humorous quote, then it won’t work for the readers. So, while selecting a quote, make sure to consider the purpose and the tone of the essay.

Never use clichés and popular quotations

Your readers will quickly get bored if you use popular quotes in the same way as every other person. Also, it might make your readers think that you haven’t put any effort or haven’t taken your target audience into account. So, whenever you choose a quote, say a big no to clichés and frequently used quotations.

Link your quote and point

When selecting a quote to start an essay, give preference to the quote that satisfies your arguments or main points. Your selected quote should sync with your essay topic or thesis. Also, you should remember to explain how the quote supports your opinion or argument about a particular essay topic.

Say, for example, while writing an essay on entrepreneurship topics, suitable to your main points or arguments, you can use quotes from a successful entrepreneur.

Cite the Sources

You must acknowledge the source of all the quotes that you have used in your essay. Specifically, you should mention where you took that quote and who said that quote. Note that, citing the sources would increase the credibility level of your essay.

To present the quotes in your essay, use a proper citation format or style such as the Modern Language Association (MLA), American Psychological Association (APA) style, etc. The standard citation format or referencing style would help the readers to effortlessly identify the source of your quote.

By following all the above-mentioned tips, you can come up with the right quote to start an essay. No matter what quote you have selected for your essay, before including it at the start of your essay, check whether it is matching to the focus of your essay. Usually, the hook statement at the opening of your essay should be specific, clear, engaging, and concise. So, never choose unimpressive opening quotes that offer a boring feel to your essay.

Examples – How to Start an Essay with a Quote

You shouldn’t just use the quote at the beginning of the introduction. Use appropriate quotation marks around the quote and punctuate it when you write it. If you don’t give credit to where the quote came from, you run the risk of being accused of plagiarism.

In accordance with the standard reference or citation style, whenever you use a quote in your academic essay, you must cite the original source and the author’s name.

We have provided a few examples to demonstrate how to properly cite a quote’s source using the appropriate citation style or format.

Franklin D Roosevelt once said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”.

“I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character”.(Martin Luther King, Jr., “I have a dream” speech, August 28, 1963). This quote from the great Martin Luther King’s speech still remains as a dream. Even in this modern digital world, no change is born; someone somewhere is suffering from racism and discrimination issues and waiting for justice.

Mark Twain (1940) once wrote, “Give every day the chance to become the most beautiful of your life” (p. 235).

“The best definition of man is: a being that goes on two legs and is ungrateful” (Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Notes from Underground, 1864). It looks like human nature is a constant. Maybe Dostoyevsky would have changed his thoughts if he had a chance to live around grateful people.

Essay Introduction Quote Selection

Basically, selecting a quote for beginning an essay is a tedious process that is time-consuming. But whenever you search for a quote, make sure to refer to printed books or credible online websites. The internet is loaded with a lot of fake information and the quote you pick might not be actually a quote. So, whenever you use a quote, check for the original source and the name of the person who said that quote.

For starting an essay, there are many catchy methods available but using a quote as a hook is one of the best methods to grab the attention of the readers. Remember, you may fail to impress your readers if you use a quote mismatched with the essay topic. Therefore, in order to identify an ideal quote suitable to the main points of the essay, invest more time and effort.

Final Words

Hopefully, by now, you will have gained a better understanding of how to start an essay with a quote. In case, you don’t know what quote to use in your essay, or if you are unsure of how to start an essay with a quote, then call us immediately. On our platform, we have numerous talented academic writers to offer reliable and cheap essay writing help services online.

To get our essay help, simply book your order by sharing your requirements with us through the order form available on our website. Based on what you send us, we will provide the best assignment writing help for all the academic issues you suffer from

220 Amazing Religious Research Paper Topics and Ideas

Read and Understand How to Write a Research Proposal

100+ Controversial Research Topics and Ideas to Focus On

About author.

Jacob Smith

I am an Academic Writer and have affection to share my knowledge through posts’. I do not feel tiredness while research and analyzing the things. Sometime, I write down hundred of research topics as per the students requirements. I want to share solution oriented content to the students.

Comments are closed.

Featured Posts

140 Unique Geology Research Topics to Focus On

200+ outstanding world history topics and ideas 2023, 190 excellent ap research topics and ideas, 150+ trending group discussion topics and ideas, 170 funny speech topics to blow the minds of audience, who invented exams learn the history of examination, how to focus on reading 15 effective tips for better concentration, what is a rhetorical analysis essay and how to write it, primary school teacher in australia- eligibility, job role, career options, and salary, 4 steps to build a flawless business letter format, get help instantly.

Raise Your Grades with Assignment Help Pro

Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay

Tips for writing an effective college essay.

College admissions essays are an important part of your college application and gives you the chance to show colleges and universities your character and experiences. This guide will give you tips to write an effective college essay.

Want free help with your college essay?

UPchieve connects you with knowledgeable and friendly college advisors—online, 24/7, and completely free. Get 1:1 help brainstorming topics, outlining your essay, revising a draft, or editing grammar.

Writing a strong college admissions essay

Learn about the elements of a solid admissions essay.

Avoiding common admissions essay mistakes

Learn some of the most common mistakes made on college essays

Brainstorming tips for your college essay

Stuck on what to write your college essay about? Here are some exercises to help you get started.

How formal should the tone of your college essay be?

Learn how formal your college essay should be and get tips on how to bring out your natural voice.

Taking your college essay to the next level

Hear an admissions expert discuss the appropriate level of depth necessary in your college essay.

Student Stories

Student Story: Admissions essay about a formative experience

Get the perspective of a current college student on how he approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about personal identity

Get the perspective of a current college student on how she approached the admissions essay.

Student Story: Admissions essay about community impact

Student story: admissions essay about a past mistake, how to write a college application essay, tips for writing an effective application essay, sample college essay 1 with feedback, sample college essay 2 with feedback.

This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org.

IMAGES

How to use Quotes in an Essay in 7 Simple Steps (2024)
Begin Your Essay with a Quote
005 How To Begin An Essay With Quote Example ~ Thatsnotus
Using Quotes in an Essay: Ultimate Beginner's Guide
Academic Guide For Students: How to Put a Quote in an Essay
005 How To Begin An Essay With Quote Example ~ Thatsnotus

VIDEO

Essay Quote
The cute quote in English ‎@ImportantEssayWriting #quote
The cute quote in English ‎@ImportantEssayWriting #quote
How to quote lyrics in an essay?
How would you say 'SUCCESS' in one word..? ! #successquotes #success #trendingshorts #shorts
Quote presentation for essay "Courtesy"(10th class) #2024shorts

COMMENTS

How to Start an Essay With a Quote: 14 Steps (with Pictures)
5. Hook your reader. Think of a quotation as a "hook" that will get your reader's attention and make her want to read more of your paper. The well-executed quotation is one way to draw your reader in to your essay. [2] 6. Ensure that the quotation contributes to your essay.
How to Start an Essay With a Quote: Basic Tips&Samples
How to Begin an Essay with a Quote Example. Example 1 - an essay on the environmental "legacy" of current generations. "If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace; and this single reflection, well applied, is sufficient to awaken every man to duty." (Paine, The American Crisis, 1776).
Leading Tips on How to Start an Essay With a Quote Correctly
Start with a quote that provokes thinking: One perfect way of starting is by challenging your audience's human nature of doubt. Put a quote at the beginning of an essay and let them assume, debate, and overthink it. This provokes them to express their beliefs or opinions about some specific statement or case.
How to Put a Quote in an Essay (with Examples)
Before you start writing your essay, identify the quotes that you want to use to support your arguments. Ensure that the quotes you select are relevant, reliable, and add value to your essay. Step 2: Introduce the Quote. Introduce the quote by providing context and indicating who the source is. This will help the reader understand the ...
How To Start a College Essay: 9 Effective Techniques
Note that the meta essay can sometimes work (you'll see a couple examples below), but has a higher degree of difficulty. The Quote: While quoting famous people who have said something cool in the past may seem like an appealing way to start your essay, remember that colleges want to hear YOUR thoughts. Don't use the words of another person ...
How to Start Your College Essay with a Quote: Unleashing the Power of
The quote you choose should align with your essay's theme, reflect your personal values, and resonate with your intended audience. Here are a few strategies to help you find the perfect quote: 1. Reflect on Your Essay's Theme and Message. Start by identifying the core theme and message of your essay.
How to Start a College Essay With a Quote
Choose a Quote That Fits Your Purpose. Any quotation must clearly relate to your topic, including a quote used as an introductory hook. A quote seemingly unrelated to your point distracts your readers rather than drawing them in. Choose a quote that fits the tone and focus of the essay. For instance, a humorous quote does not set up a paper on ...
How to Start an Essay: 7 Tips for a Knockout Essay Introduction
Intriguing ways to start an essay. There are many different ways to write an essay introduction. Each has its benefits and potential drawbacks, and each is best suited for certain kinds of essays.Although these essay introductions use different rhetorical devices and prime the reader in different ways, they all achieve the same goal: hooking the reader and enticing them to keep reading.
How to Write an Essay Introduction
Table of contents. Step 1: Hook your reader. Step 2: Give background information. Step 3: Present your thesis statement. Step 4: Map your essay's structure. Step 5: Check and revise. More examples of essay introductions. Other interesting articles. Frequently asked questions about the essay introduction.
Guide: How to Start an Essay with a Quote
After reading the statements, people will have different emotions, and from the first words, your text will respond in the reader's memory. We believe that this is the most successful hook for which the reader will remember you; With a quote, you will grab attention. Strong and meaningful quotes are an excellent technique to grab the reader ...
How To Start An Essay With A Quote
First of all, you should write a topic sentence with the key argument. Then, add supporting evidence and back it with your findings. The number of body paragraphs depends on the number of arguments. A common essay is usually 5 paragraphs long (introduction, 3 main paragraphs, and conclusion).
Can I Start My College Essay with a Quote? Tips and Insights
The notion of opening your essay with a carefully selected quote is undeniably alluring, like an inviting doorway that beckons readers to step into your world of ideas. In this exploration, we will traverse the intricacies of using quotes as introductory elements in college essays, while shedding light on their potential impact and pitfalls.
How to start essay with quote: effective methods and techniques to use
Starting an essay with a quote, you should make sure the phrase is relevant and reasonable. Keep in mind that a properly selected quote may serve as a great hook, advancing the quality of the introductory passage. Writing tip: Surfing the online market, you will notice a lot of effective tips and powerful instruments that will contribute to the ...
How to Effectively Use Quotes in Your Essay: Opening and Ending
Try to understand that the teacher or professor wants to see your thoughts and understanding of the topic. In order to distance yourself from the cited words and maintain your active voice in the essay, stick to the following phrases: According to [Name] …. [Name] argues that "…". [Name] highlighted that "…". The argument of ...
Using Quotes in an Essay: Ultimate Beginner's Guide
Quotations are an instrument to prove your point of view is correct. An essay aiming for 85+ score points contains 2-4 quotes. Each citation supports the thesis statement and strengthens your argument. Quotations are mostly used in Humanities. Social Sciences rely more on paraphrasing, data analysis and statistics.
Suggested Ways to Introduce Quotations
With individualized attention and ongoing support, we help you write a new story for the future where you play the starring role. When you quote another writer's words, it's best to introduce or contextualize the quote. Don't forget to include author's last name and page number (MLA) or author, date, and page number (APA) in your citation.
How to Quote
Citing a quote in APA Style. To cite a direct quote in APA, you must include the author's last name, the year, and a page number, all separated by commas. If the quote appears on a single page, use "p."; if it spans a page range, use "pp.". An APA in-text citation can be parenthetical or narrative.
Here's How to Start an Essay With a Quote the Right Way!
Introduce your quote to connect it to the rest of the content. For example, you can include a preview of the quote, paraphrasing it or providing your personal opinion on it, and then provide the quote itself. You may also use a quote as a predicate, with the author being the subject of the sentence. However, if a quote is self-explanatory, you ...
How to Start an Essay with A Quote
The purpose of starting an essay with quotes is to hook the reader's attention. Writers should confuse themselves with quotes and presenting the main idea of the essay. Writers can shorten the selections they will use in their article and use the ones only necessary to make the essay exciting. Using prolonged and excessive quotes can bore ...
How to Start an Essay with a Quote
Beginning an essay with a quote is a good idea. Finally, use the outline or a mind map of your ideas and create a thesis statement - a sentence or a couple of sentences, the aim of which is to tell your audience about the point you will be arguing about in your paper. A thesis is the last sentence of your introduction.
Understand How to Start an Essay with a Quote
Here, in detail, we have explained how to find an ideal quote and open an essay with that. What is a Quote? It is a brief phrase or a section that is taken from the writing or speech of another author or speaker. It is one of the useful tools that is mostly used to write essays, blog posts, and articles. Additionally, the quotations can be ...
Ultimate Guide to Writing Your College Essay
Sample College Essay 2 with Feedback. This content is licensed by Khan Academy and is available for free at www.khanacademy.org. College essays are an important part of your college application and give you the chance to show colleges and universities your personality. This guide will give you tips on how to write an effective college essay.
Can you Start an Essay with a Quote? Guide How to
You can start an essay with a quote if it is within the context of the topic you are writing about or if it is necessary to reinforce the argument you are presenting in the essay. If the quote forms the thesis or the claim you are arguing in the essay. Also, a quote is an attention grabber and captures the attention of the readers' minds. In ...
How to Write an Open Letter: A Guide to Our Opinion Contest
Step 3: Decide whom you'd like to write to and what you want to say. Step 4: Write your first draft as a letter, not an essay. Step 5: Make sure the tone is appropriate to your audience and ...