How to Cite Paragraphs in Essays

A quote strategically placed in a well-organized essay has the potential to move the intended audience in a profound way. But quotes must be properly cited to avoid plagiarism and to maintain the integrity of the essay. Long quotes -- those with four or more lines -- are often called "block quotations" and must be cited in their own unique format according to the style type. Most essays are written using MLA style, while APA and Chicago styles are used for research papers and reports.

Instructions

  1. Citing Paragraphs in MLA Style

    • 1

      Follow the paragraph with a parenthetical citation that includes the author's last name and the page number the text was taken from. Separate the name and the page with a comma.

      Example: (Johnson, 70)

    • 2

      Arrange the citation, taking into account that in MLA block quotations are formatted differently than normal text and the entire quote is indented half an inch. Therefore, unlike the citation for shorter quotes, block citation immediately follows the period found after the last sentence of the quotation.

      Example: ... will always produce the same result. (Johnson, 70)

    • 3

      Delete the author's name from the citation and use only the page number if the author's name is mentioned in the lead-in sentence or in the quotation itself.

      Example: Johnson guarantees it will always produce the same result. (70)

    • 4

      Use the same format for APA style with the exception that the year must be included in parentheses and "p." must be used to indicate the page.

      Example: ... will always produce the same result. (Jones, 2010, p. 70)

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