How long of a quote is too long?

How long of a quote is too long?

There are no official limits to quotation length, though any quotations that are more than four lines should be formatted as a separate block quote. However, it is generally better to paraphrase the sources you cite rather than use direct quotations.

How do you start a long quote in an essay?

Summing Up on How to Start an Essay With a Quote

1. avoid using clichés for quotations;
2. use unique and credible quotes;
3. provide the context for the quote;
4. ensure that a quote relates to a thesis statement;

How do you quote more than 40 words MLA?

No quotation marks are used. You have to use a block quote when quoting more than around 40 words from a source. In APA and MLA styles, you indent block quotes 0.5 inches from the left, and add an in-text citation after the period.

When should a quote be a block quote?

The block quote is used for direct quotations that are longer than four lines of prose, or longer than three lines of poetry. A block quote is always used when quoting dialogue between characters, as in a play. The block format is a freestanding quote that does not include quotation marks.

How do you list words in a quote?

In the text, words such as “greenbacks,” “ironclads,” and “blockade” were used. Elsewhere, quotations usually follow a logical rule instead, putting commas and periods outside the quotation marks unless they’re part of the quotation: In the text, words such as “greenbacks”, “ironclads”, and “blockade” were used.

How do you split a long quote?

Whenever you want to leave out material from within a quotation, you need to use an ellipsis, which is a series of three periods, each of which should be preceded and followed by a space. So, an ellipsis in this sentence would look like . . .

What goes first quotation or period?

In the United States, the rule of thumb is that commas and periods always go inside the quotation marks, and colons and semicolons (dashes as well) go outside: “There was a storm last night,” Paul said. Peter, however, didn’t believe him.

How do you use parentheses in a sentence?

Use parentheses to enclose information that clarifies or is used as an aside. Example: He finally answered (after taking five minutes to think) that he did not understand the question. If material in parentheses ends a sentence, the period goes after the parentheses. Example: He gave me a nice bonus ($500).