Quotations

In academic writing, direct quotations are often used as supporting sentences. In fact, you must use quotation marks if you use someone else’s words in a paper. If you do not put quotation marks around the borrowed sentences, you are guilty of plagiarism. Notice how quotations are used to support ideas.

            Main point: Telecommuting is a popular new choice for workers.

Quotation:  Suzanne Carreiro says, “I am much more productive when I work at home because there are no interruptions. I also don’t have to spend three hours traveling to and from the office every day. I save myself time, and I save my company money by telecommuting.”

            Main point: Telecommuters feels isolated

Quotation: “I feel out of touch with what is really happening in my company, and I miss the social interaction with my co-workers,” she says.

Rules for Using and Punctuating Quotations

RULES	EXAMPLES
1.       Use a “reporting phrase” such as she says, she said, he stated, he added, he continued, or they reported. The reporting phrase may come before, after, or in the middle of the quotation, and the verb may be in any tense that is appropriate. Put commas between the quotation and the reporting phrase. Capitalize the first word in the quotation.	“I love you,” he said. “I love you,” he continued, “but I hate your dog.” He asked, “Will you marry me?”
2.       Another useful reporting phrase is according to followed by the name of a person, newspaper, magazine, or book.	According to graduate student Melanie Wortiska, “Especially useful are news shows such as 20/20 that deal with important issues.” According to an article in the Santa Cruz Country Sentinel, “About two-thirds agreed that children their age are influenced by things they see on TV.”
3.       Give the person’s title or occupation if he or she is not well known. In other words, give enough information about the person so that the reader will know that he or she is qualified to speak about the topic. The easiest way to do this is to put the information in an appositive.	Suzanne Carreiro, a financial manager for a large company in downtown Manhattan, complains, “_____________________________________.” Charles Buckley, a bank spokesperson, states, “_____________________________________.” Housewife Jessica Wang said, “____________.”
4.       Use quotation marks [“ ”] before and after the exact words of the quotation, Notice that both quotation marks go above the words, not below them or on the same line. If you omit words from a quotation, put three dots [. . .] in their place. If you add words, put bracket [] around the added words.
5.       Put periods inside the quotation marks at the end of the sentence. The period changes to a comma if the quotation comes before the reporting phrase.	She replied, “I don’t love you.” “In fact, I don’t even like you,” she continued.
6.       Put question marks and exclamation points belonging to the quotation inside the quotation marks no matter where the reporting phrase comes.	He asked, “Why not?” “Because you hate my dog!” she shouted.

Bibliography

Oshima, Alice and Hogue, Ann. 1997. Introduction to Academic Writing. Second Edition. White Plains, N.Y: Addison Wesley Longman.