Tips for Using Quotations In an MLA Style Essay
Never Drop Quotes
When you use a quote, make sure to always "frame" it in your own words. A quotation cannot stand in a sentence by itself.
-Incorrect: Critics have never doubted Emily Dickinson's poetic skill. "Emily Dickinson was a powerful poet" (Rogers 5).
-Correct: Critics have never doubted that "Emily Dickinson was a powerful poet" (Rogers 5).
Know when to use block quotes
A block quote should be used when you are quoting four or more lines of poetry or text. When using a block quote, the entire passage should usually be indented one inch, and the quotation marks are omitted. After the end of your quote, give only the page or line numbers from which the quote came, in parentheses, after the period.
Avoid using too many block quotes
A block quote should only be used when it is absolutely necessary. Professors can usually tell when a block quote has been used to bolster the length of your essay.
Make sure they support your argument
Finding quotes can be difficult, but you need to resist the temptation to throw in random quotes. As you read your resources, copy down applicable statements into a notebook with the citation so that when you are typing your paper you have all the necessary information in front of you.
Know the format for in-text citations
In an MLA style paper, the intext citation contians only the author's last name and the page number where the quote was found, like this: (Johnson 117). More information can be found on our Resources page.
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