Simone Lawson
When writing an essay or research paper, it is essential to correctly format quotations to avoid plagiarism and give credit to the original author. The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used in humanities and language arts disciplines and provides guidelines for citing sources and formatting quotations. So, how much constitutes an MLA long quote?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of lines of prose | 4 or more |
| Number of lines of verse | 3 or more |
| Indentation | 0.5 inches or one inch |
| Quotation marks | None |
| Spacing | Double-spaced |
| Punctuation | Period at the end of the quote, not after parentheses |
| In-text citation | After the final punctuation mark |
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What You'll Learn
Quoting prose: Four or more lines
When quoting prose in MLA style, any quote longer than four typed lines must be presented in block format. This means that you should not use quotation marks; instead, indent the entire quote from the left margin to form a "block" of text. The MLA style guide (8th edition) recommends indenting by 0.5 inches, while other sources suggest 1 inch. Double-space the quote, just like the text of the paper, and place a period before the parenthetical in-text citation, which should include the author's name and page number. For example:
> With a certain irony, it can be said that psychoanalytic theory — which assumes the transhistorical nature of the family unit — had seemed to feminist explorers so strikingly appropriate a compass for remapping Shakespearean drama precisely because the Shakespearean family seemed to resemble our own modern one so closely. Even the Christian marriage ceremony has changed but negligibly from the ritual alluded to in Shakespeare's plays. (Boose)
Block quotes should always be introduced in your own words with a complete sentence followed by a colon and analysed or commented on afterward. You should never end a paragraph with a block quote. If you need to quote two or more paragraphs, indent the first line of each additional paragraph by an additional quarter inch.
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Quoting poetry: Four or more lines
When quoting four or more lines of poetry in MLA style, you need to format the quotation as a block quote. This means that the quote should be:
- Indented as a block—indent the entire quote by 0.5 inches from the left margin to form a "block" of text. This is sometimes referred to as a "hanging indent".
- Double-spaced—the block quote should be double-spaced, just like the rest of the text in your paper.
- Without quotation marks—do not use quotation marks for block quotes.
- Followed by an in-text citation—at the end of the quote, include an MLA in-text citation in parentheses. This includes the author's name and the page number(s) from which the quote is taken.
- Preceded by an introductory sentence—start with a sentence that shows why you are including the quote and how it fits into your argument. After this sentence, add a colon, and then start the quote on a new line.
- Formatted as close to the original as possible—maintain the original line breaks, punctuation, and formatting of the poem. If there is any unusual spacing in the original, reproduce this in the block quote.
> Even now there are places where a thought might grow —
> Peruvian mines, worked out and abandoned
> To a slow clock of condensation,
> An echo trapped for ever, and a flutter
> Of wildflowers in the lift-shaft ...
> (poet's last name, line numbers)
Note that the poet's last name and line numbers are included in the in-text citation, and the line breaks and spacing are reproduced from the original poem.
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Formatting: Block quotes
When formatting block quotes in MLA style, there are a few key guidelines to follow. Firstly, any quote longer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse should be presented in block format. This means that instead of using quotation marks, you should indent the entire quote. Most sources recommend indenting the quote by 0.5 inches from the left margin, while one source suggests indenting by one inch. In any case, be sure to maintain double-spacing throughout your essay.
When citing the source of a block quote, place the author's name and page number in parentheses after the final punctuation mark of the quote. For example:
> This is an example of a block quote, which is a quote that is longer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse. It is formatted with an indent instead of quotation marks, and includes the author's name and page number at the end. (Author Surname 123)
It's important to note that you should always introduce block quotes with your own words, providing context for why the quote is relevant to your argument. Additionally, you should never end a paragraph with a block quote; instead, start and end with your own words.
While there are no official limits to quotation length in MLA style, it is generally better to paraphrase your sources rather than rely heavily on direct quotations. Excessive use of direct quotations can give the impression that you do not fully understand the material, whereas paraphrasing demonstrates your grasp of the content and makes your work more unique.
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Indentation: 0.5 inches
When using the MLA style, any quote longer than four typed lines must be presented in block format. This means that the quote should be indented by 0.5 inches from the left margin and double-spaced, with no quotation marks. The MLA in-text citation, including the author's name and page number, should be placed in parentheses after the period at the end of the block quote.
> Nelly Dean treats Heathcliff poorly and dehumanizes him throughout her narration: They entirely refused to have it in bed with them, or even in their room, and I had no more sense, so I put it on the landing of the stairs, hoping it would be gone on the morrow. By chance, or else attracted by hearing his voice, it crept to Mr. Earnshaw's door, and there he found it on quitting his chamber. Inquiries were made as to how it got there; I was obliged to confess, and in recompense for my cowardice and inhumanity was sent out of the house. (Bronte 78)
As shown in the example, the block quote is indented by 0.5 inches, double-spaced, and does not use quotation marks. The in-text citation, including the author's last name and page number, is placed in parentheses after the period at the end of the quote.
It is important to note that while MLA style provides guidelines for block quotes, there is no official limit to quotation length. However, it is generally better to paraphrase sources rather than use excessive direct quotations, as this can make your writing appear more like a unique work and demonstrate a better grasp of the material.
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In-text citations: Author and page number
The Modern Language Association (MLA) style is commonly used for writing papers and citing sources in the liberal arts and humanities. When using the MLA style, in-text citations should follow the author-page method. This means that the author's last name and the page number from which the quotation or paraphrase is taken must be included in the text. The author's name may appear within the sentence itself or in parentheses following the quotation, but the page number should always appear in the parentheses. For example:
> Gass and Varonis found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (163).
Alternatively, you can include the author's name in the sentence and then just the page number in parentheses:
> Gass and Varonis found that the most important element in comprehending non-native speech is familiarity with the topic (page 163).
If you are quoting a source with three or more authors, only the first author's name is included, followed by 'et al.' For example:
> Munro et al. found that the use of salient accents and covert attitudes played a significant role in second language teaching (70).
When citing a source with a corporate author, use the name of the corporation followed by the page number. For example:
> The American Psychological Association outlines key principles for ethical research (123).
In the case of electronic sources such as web pages, online news articles, or online magazine articles, the author's name may not always be available. In such cases, you can choose to include the author's name in the in-text citation if it is available, or simply cite the title of the source and the page number:
> One online film critic commented that "Fitzcarraldo has become notorious for its near-failure and many obstacles" (Taylor, "Fitzcarraldo").
> According to "All Things Nittany," the term Nittany Lion was coined by Joe Mason, a Penn State football player, in 1904 ("All Things Nittany").
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Frequently asked questions
A quote is considered a long quote in MLA format if it is longer than four typed lines of prose or three lines of verse.
To format a long quote in MLA style, you must format it as a block quote. This means that the quote should be:
- Set on a new line
- Indented 0.5 inches from the left margin or one inch from the left margin
- Double spaced
- Without quotation marks
- Followed by an MLA in-text citation, which includes the author and page number, placed in parentheses after the final punctuation mark
Yes, you can use a long quote as part of an introductory sentence in MLA format. However, it is generally better to paraphrase sources rather than use direct quotations, as excessive use of direct quotations can make it seem like you do not fully understand the material.
