Proper In-Text Citation For A Direct Quote
When writing academic papers or articles, it is crucial to give credit to the sources of information used. Direct quotes are a common way of incorporating information from other sources into your work, but it is essential to cite them properly to avoid plagiarism. In this article, we will discuss the proper in-text citation for a direct quote.
What Is A Direct Quote?
A direct quote is when you use someone else's exact words in your writing. Direct quotes can add credibility to your work and provide evidence to support your arguments. However, using someone else's words without proper citation is considered plagiarism and can lead to serious consequences.
Direct quotes can be short or long. Short direct quotes are usually less than three lines, and long direct quotes are more than three lines. The way you cite a direct quote depends on its length and the citation style used.
Citation Styles
There are many citation styles used in academic writing, but the most common are APA (American Psychological Association), MLA (Modern Language Association), and Chicago. Each citation style has specific rules for in-text citation, including how to cite direct quotes.
APA style requires you to include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example: (Smith, 2019, p. 12).
MLA style requires you to include the author's last name and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example: (Smith 12).
Chicago style requires you to include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example: (Smith 2019, 12).
Short Direct Quotes
Short direct quotes are usually less than three lines. To cite a short direct quote, you should enclose the quote in quotation marks and include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example:
"The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog" (Smith, 2019, p. 12).
Long Direct Quotes
Long direct quotes are more than three lines. To cite a long direct quote, you should indent the quote and include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quote. For example:
Smith (2019) argues that:
The quick brown fox jumps
over the lazy dog.
This sentence shows that
foxes can be quick and
dogs can be lazy (p. 12).
Conclusion
In conclusion, proper in-text citation for a direct quote is crucial in academic writing. It is essential to follow the citation style guidelines and include the author's last name, year of publication, and page number in parentheses after the quote. By doing so, you give credit to the source of information and avoid plagiarism.