Eleanor Finch
The number of lines that constitute a block quote varies depending on the citation style. In APA and MLA styles, a block quote is used for passages longer than 40 words or four lines of prose, or three lines of verse. In Chicago style, a block quote is used for five or more lines of prose, two or more lines of poetry, and two or more lines of dialogue. It's important to interpret and analyse the relevance of the quote and ensure it serves a purpose in your argument or analysis. While block quotes are useful for highlighting lengthier direct quotes, they should be used sparingly as they take up extra space.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum length | 40 words (APA and MLA styles) or 4 lines (MLA style) |
| Minimum length (Chicago style) | 5 or more lines of prose, 2 or more lines of poetry, 2 or more lines of dialogue |
| Indentation | 0.5 inches from the left |
| Quotation marks | No |
| In-text citation | After the ending punctuation of the quotation |
| Double spacing | Yes |
| Colon usage | Before the block quote if the preceding text is a complete sentence |
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What You'll Learn
Block quotes are used for long quotations
When using block quotes, it is important to introduce the quote with a signal phrase and provide context and a lead-in. Block quotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary, as they take up extra space. They should also be double-spaced, with the first line of the second paragraph indented an extra 1/4 inch to denote a new paragraph.
> Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense. Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills. He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache.
This example demonstrates the use of a block quote to introduce the Dursley family in the first paragraphs of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The indentation and length of the quote highlight its separation from the surrounding text, indicating that it is a direct and lengthy quotation.
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They are set on a new line
Block quotes are used for long quotations and are set on a new line, indented to create a separate block of text. They are usually used when quoting more than 40 words from a source or when the quotation is more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse.
The specific formatting of block quotes may vary depending on the citation style being used. For example, in APA and MLA styles, block quotes are typically indented by 0.5 inches from the left margin, with no quotation marks used. In Chicago style, block quotes are generally used for quotations of five or more lines of prose, two or more lines of poetry, or two or more lines of dialogue.
When using block quotes, it is important to introduce the quote with a signal phrase and provide context and a lead-in. Block quotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary to highlight a particularly relevant or important section of text.
> Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense. Mr. Dursley was the director of a firm called Grunnings, which made drills. He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache.
This example demonstrates the use of a block quote to introduce the Dursley family in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." The block quote format helps to set off this excerpt as a distinct section of text, emphasizing its importance in establishing the characters and tone of the series.
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They are indented to create a separate block
When a quote is indented, it is set apart from the rest of the text, creating a separate block. This formatting style is used for long quotations, typically those exceeding 40 words or four lines of prose, or three lines of verse. The specific requirements vary depending on the citation style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago Manual of Style.
In APA and MLA styles, block quotes are indented by 0.5 inches from the left margin, and no quotation marks are used. For example, in Microsoft Word, you can format a block quote by pressing Enter at the beginning and end of the quote, highlighting it, selecting the Layout menu, and changing the left indent to 0.5 inches in the Indent tab. If you are quoting more than one paragraph, indent the first line of the new paragraph as you would in the main text.
The Chicago Manual of Style has slightly different guidelines. When quoting prose, a block quote is used for five or more lines of text. For poetry, a block quote is used for two or more lines. The entire block is indented by 0.5 inches, and no double spacing is required.
It is important to note that block quotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary. They should be introduced with a signal phrase and interpreted or analysed in relation to your argument or analysis.
Overall, block quotes are a useful formatting tool to highlight lengthy direct quotes, but they should be used judiciously and integrated seamlessly into your text with proper context and citations.
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Rules vary among citation styles
The number of lines that constitute a block quote varies depending on the citation style being used. For example, in APA and MLA styles, a block quote is typically used for passages of text that are longer than 40 words or more than four lines of prose, respectively. In the Chicago Manual of Style, a block quote is used for five or more lines of prose, two or more lines of poetry, and two or more lines of dialogue.
It is important to note that the rules for block quotes are not universal and can vary among different citation styles. For instance, while APA and MLA styles recommend using block quotes for passages longer than 40 words, other styles may have different thresholds for word count or the number of lines. Therefore, it is always advisable to consult the specific guidelines for the citation style being used to ensure accurate formatting.
When using block quotes, it is essential to introduce the quote with your own words to provide context and show how it fits into your argument or analysis. Block quotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary, as they take up extra space in the text. They are typically indented without the use of quotation marks to distinguish them from the surrounding text.
In Microsoft Word, formatting a block quote can be done by hitting Enter at the beginning and end of the quote, highlighting the text, and adjusting the left indent to 0.5 inches. If quoting multiple paragraphs, each new paragraph within the block quote should be indented as well.
While the specific rules may vary, the purpose of block quotes remains consistent across citation styles. They are used to highlight lengthy or significant portions of quoted text, providing emphasis and drawing attention to the quoted material within the larger context of the writer's work. By following the appropriate guidelines for block quotes, writers can effectively integrate and present direct quotations in their academic or professional writing.
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In APA and MLA styles, indent by 0.5 inches
When using the APA and MLA styles for block quotations, the text should be indented by 0.5 inches from the left margin. This is equivalent to 1/2 an inch or 0.5".
Block quotes are used for longer quotations and are set on a new line, indented as a separate block with no quotation marks. The number of lines or words that constitutes a block quote varies between citation styles. In APA style, a block quote is used for quotations of more than 40 words, whereas in MLA style, a block quote is used for quotations of more than four lines of prose or three lines of verse.
When citing multiple paragraphs, use block quotation format even if the passage is less than four lines. If citing more than one paragraph, the first line of the second paragraph should be indented by an extra 1/4 inch to indicate a new paragraph.
It is important to note that block quotes should be used sparingly and only when necessary. They are not intended for shorter essays as they take up extra space. When using a block quote, consider whether you need the entire section or if you can choose the most important part and integrate it into your text instead.
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Frequently asked questions
A block quote in APA style is used for text longer than 40 words or longer than four lines.
A block quote in MLA style is used for text longer than 40 words or longer than four lines of prose, or three lines of verse.
A block quote in Chicago style is used for five or more lines of prose, two or more lines of poetry, and two or more lines of dialogue.
Turabian block quotes follow the same guidelines as Chicago block quotes.
