Writing

Quoting a source

Watch the video, read the short explanation, then practice fixing quotes.

Quoting a source

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In short

A quote is the author’s exact words, but it is part of your sentence. Quote when:

One changed word would alter a legal, clinical, or technical meaning, as in a definition.
The wording is your evidence, because you are analyzing how the author said it.
The author said it memorably or succinctly, and it would lose its impact if reworded.

Use quotes sparingly. Before you quote, ask: Can I say this just as clearly myself? If yes, paraphrase it. If no, keep a short quote, then explain why it matters right after it.

Never leave a quote hanging. Lead in with a signal phrase that says who is speaking, quote only the words you need and cite them, then explain what the quote shows in your own words.

Four ways to join a quote to your sentence

Read it aloud. It should sound like one sentence.

Signal phrase + comma (complete sentence): According to Lopez (2022), “Structured study habits improve retention and performance” (p. 18).
Your own sentence + colon (complete sentence): Study routines matter for learning: “Structured study habits improve retention and performance” (Lopez, 2022, p. 18).
Signal phrase + that (fragment): Lopez (2022) explained that “structured study habits” help students learn and remember more (p. 18).
Signal phrase + fragment: According to Lopez (2022), structured study habits improve “retention and performance” (p. 18).

Fragments (3 and 4) are preferred. They keep more of the writing yours.

Review: Fix the quote

Read each example and decide what to fix. Then click to check. The sources are made up.

Example 1: The quote shows up from nowhere

Needs a fix Children benefit from routines at the start of the school day. “They are more settled and ready to learn” (Navarro, 2021, p. 9). Teachers should plan a morning routine.

Click to reveal the fix

Better version Children benefit from routines at the start of the school day. Navarro (2021) explained that with a morning routine, children are “more settled and ready to learn” (p. 9), which suggests that a predictable start gives them time to focus before lessons begin.

What changed: A signal phrase says who is speaking (Navarro (2021) explained that). The quote is shorter and blended into the sentence. The last part explains why the quote matters.

Example 2: Punctuation problem

Needs a fix Reyes (2022) explained that, “children who can name a feeling are more likely to ask a classmate for help” (p. 12).

Click to reveal the fix

Better version Reyes (2022) explained that children who can name a feeling “are more likely to ask a classmate for help” (p. 12).

What changed: After that, there is no comma. The quote finishes the sentence, so it starts in lowercase and only the words you need are in quotation marks. This is way 3, signal phrase + that.

Example 3: Should this be a quote at all?

Needs a fix Many families have a hard time attending school events. Okafor (2020) wrote, “Some families cannot come to school events because their work hours are not flexible” (p. 31).

Click to reveal the fix

Better version Many families have a hard time attending school events, often because their work schedules do not allow it (Okafor, 2020).

What changed: The wording is ordinary, and you can say it just as clearly yourself. So it should be a paraphrase, not a quote. Paraphrase citations need the author and year only, with no page number.