This article will explain what is a block quote and the types of citation styles that can be used when writing block quotes.
1. What Is A Block Quote?
A block quotation, often referred to as a long quotation or an extract, is a passage of text used in a written work and is visually differentiated from the body of the work by indentation, a change in typeface, or lower font size.
2. Do You Need to Use Quotation Marks to Write a Block Quotation?
NO. No quotation marks are not required to write a block quotation.
Most people write block quotations inside quotation marks. Most of the writers use quotation marks to emphasize certain words.
3. How To Write A Block Quote?
Different types of citation styles could be followed when writing a block quote. The minimum length of the block quote varies based on the citation style used.
4. What Are Different Citation Styles Used to Write Block Quotations?
4.1 Harvard Citation Style:
As per the Harvard Citation style, the minimum length of a block quote is 25 words.
The block quote should be started as a new paragraph on a new line.
Indent the block quote from the left margin with a distance of 1cm.
The block quotations should start after a colon ends the main text.
NOTE: No quotation marks should be used.
4.2 APA Style:
As per the APA citation style guide, the block quote could be of a length of more than 40 words.
Indent the block quote with a half-inch space or 5 – 7 spaces or using a single space.
Page number, author’s last name, and publication date should be included immediately after the block quote ends (After the period.).
4.3 ACS Style Guide:
As per the ACS style guide, a block is more than 50 words long.
The block quotes should be started on a new line.
The block quotations should be indented with a space of one inch from both sides of the margin, i.e., from the left and right margins.
If you are using Microsoft word, this could be done easily. Follow the steps below to indent the block quotation in word.
- Highlight the text
- Right-click and select Paragraph
- Under indent, change the left and right to “1.”
4.4 Chicago Style Guide:
The block quotations should be of at least five lines or at least two or more paragraphs as per the Chicago style guide.
The block quotation should be indented with a 0.5 inch space.
A blank line should be inserted before the beginning and after the block quotation.
4.5 MLA Style Guide
The block quotations should be longer than four lines of prose or longer than 3 lines of poetry per the MLA style guide.
The block quote could be started after a colon. This could be changed if the quotation’s context requires other punctuation.
The page number, author’s name, and publication date should be included at the end of the block quotations i.e., after the period.
4.6 IEEE Style Guide
The length of the block quote is more than 40 words per the style guide of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
Indent the block quote with 1/2 inch (or five spaces) from both the left margin and right margin
The source should be cited at the end of the block quote, i.e., immediately after the punctuation marks.
NOTE: No quotations are used
4.7 AMA Style Guide:
According to the AMA (American Medical Association), the length of the material or the content that is quoted text or speeches should be of length more than four lines of text.
Except in cases when it is clear that the quoted content starts a paragraph, paragraph indents are usually not used.
Empty lines should be added before and after the block quotations are used.
Block quote generally starts after the colon.
4.8 AAA Style Guide:
The length of the block quotations should be greater than five or more lines per the AAA style guide.
The block format should be indented with five spaces from the left margin.
The end punctuation should be placed at the end of the quotation and just before the beginning of the in-text citation.
No quotation marks shall be used.
The phrase “emphasis added” should be added if any italics style is used in the block quotes.
No parenthesis is used around the citation.
The brackets should be used around the citation instead of parenthesis as per the guidelines of AAA.
5. Tell Me the Best Way to Use Block Quotes in Writing?
Block quotes should be used if you are writing any article, academic writing, research paper, or any other documentation.
If you are extracting the information from other sites, books, or external sources, then you shall use the block quotes.
The original text you extract from the original source should be written as a block quote.
For example, let us consider you are writing an article or any research papers. You must extract some information from external websites, papers or books along with your voice. In such cases, block quotes shall be used.
The length of the block quotes and what should be noted when writing a block quote will depend on the style guide you are following to write the quote.
We have already discussed different style guides like the Harvard style guide, APA style guide, AMA and AAA style guides, and a few more. Scroll to the top of the article if you have not gone through those style guides.
6. Mistakes Most People Do While Writing Block Quotations
6.1 Mistake – 1:
Most people don’t use a separate block when writing a block quotation.
Solution:
The block quote should be started after the ending of the colon. The blank line should be used before the beginning and after the ending block quote, as per many style guides.
6.2 Mistake – 2
indentation is only given to the first line.
Solution:
Many only indent the first line and write the remaining block quote as usual. But along with that, the remaining body of the block quote should also be indented with the first line.
6.3 Using Parenthetical Citation When Following the AAA Style Guide:
Most style guides will use parenthesis for the citation, except the AAA style guide. For this reason, most people make mistakes when they follow the AAA style guide in which brackets are used.
7. Points To Remember
- Double-check what style guide you are using and write block quotes keeping them in mind.
- Make sure that the page number you have cited is correct.
- Check the number of paragraphs. Most style guides restrict us from using quotes only in a single paragraph.
- Check the length of the spaces you need to indent the quote, i.e., one inch, a half inch, or any other space.
- Every style guide has a specific format. Make sure you are up to the knowledge when using them, and format the block quotations as per the guidelines.
- Choose your style guide according to the length of the lines in the block quotes.
- Point the citations to the correct original sources.
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