1. Direct Quotations:
- Direct quotations are word-for-word transcriptions of the original text and must be enclosed within quotation marks (" ").
- If a direct quote is longer than four lines or over 40 words, it should be indented as a block quote with no quotation marks.
- When omitting words from a quotation, use three spaced ellipses (...). If the omitted words are at the beginning or end of a sentence, use four ellipses (...).
- Use single quotation marks (' ') within double quotation marks (" ") for quotes within quotes.
2. Indirect Quotations:
- Indirect quotes paraphrase or summarize ideas without directly copying the original wording. They should not use quotation marks.
3. Quotation Marks Placement:
- Place quotation marks before and after the quoted material, including punctuation that belongs to the quote (e.g., commas, periods).
- If a quote ends with a question mark or exclamation mark that is part of the quoted text, place it inside the closing quotation mark.
- If the quote is a complete sentence, end it with a period inside the closing quotation mark.
4. Changes and Omissions:
- If a change is made within a quotation (e.g., changing the tense of a verb), use square brackets [ ].
- If a word or phrase is intentionally omitted, use three spaced ellipses (...).
5. Citations and Attribution:
- Always include the source of the quotation, whether it's an author, book title, website, etc., in a citation or footnote.
- Check citation style guidelines (e.g., MLA, APA) for the correct format of citations.
6. Quoted Dialogue:
- Dialogue in literary works or transcripts should be enclosed within quotation marks. Each character's dialogue should start a new paragraph.
- Quotation marks should be used again if an interrupted quote continues.
7. Titles of Creative Works:
- Titles of books, movies, albums, etc., are italicized when mentioned in a paper or review.
- Short works, such as articles, poems, or song titles, are enclosed within quotation marks.
8. Quoting Poetry:
- When quoting poetry, maintain the line breaks and stanza structure. Use a slash (/) to separate lines.
- Place quotation marks at the beginning and end of the entire quote, not each individual line.
Remember that quotation rules may vary slightly based on the specific writing style or citation guide you are following (e.g., APA, MLA). Always refer to the appropriate style guide for more detailed and precise quotation rules.