People who write an essay can use other people’s ideas to make their point stronger and more convincing. Many students, on the other hand, make mistakes when they use other people’s words in their papers. Using a quote in the wrong way could be plagiarism, which is a very bad thing to do in school. As a result, the write an essay for me writers offer helpful tips on how to properly use quotes in essays.
Let’s start by distinguishing between direct and indirect quotations. A direct quote is when you take the exact words from a source and use them in your essay without changing them. To distinguish between the student’s words and those taken from the source, direct quotations should always be placed in quotation marks.
An indirect quote, on the other hand, is a paraphrase of a source’s idea in the writer’s own words. It is critical to ensure that indirect quotes accurately reflect the main idea when using them. Students frequently make the error of assuming that because they used their words to express other people’s ideas, they do not need to cite them. Academic conventions, on the other hand, demand that all information derived from outside sources, rather than the student’s imagination, be cited.
In the text, direct and indirect quotes should be cited and listed on the reference/works cited page. This allows readers to locate the original sources and, if necessary, double-check them for additional information.
Citations vs. Quotes
It’s crucial to understand the difference between quotations and citations. A quote is a text that contains information from a source (for example, a section of someone’s speech). The name of the source, the date of publication, and the page number make up a citation. While the citation requirements of different referencing styles such as APA, MLA, Harvard, and others differ, quotations are usually written in a similar manner. Here are some examples of how to incorporate quotes, as well as different referencing styles for citations:
Example 1: “Expecting favorable outcomes without putting forth any effort is irresponsible,” according to Smith (2011). (p. 1).
Example 2: Pierce (26) concludes his article with the following optimistic statement: “There is no better way to overcome social illnesses than to let the most disadvantaged people speak, and it appears that the government is finally realizing this simple truth.”
Example 3: A local newspaper recently reported on a “cruel and unnatural murder” (The Star Post, 2021).
Example 4: The meeting outcomes left the participant completely dissatisfied, describing them as useless and time-consuming (Branson, 2019, p. 18).
Students can use direct quotes or paraphrase someone else’s words, as shown in the examples. Block quotations are recommended when longer quotes are used. These are free-standing blocks, usually without quotation marks, that aid in visually distinguishing between the words of different authors. Block quotes are indented and cited using the referencing style chosen.
When Using Quotes, Keep These Things in Mind
Adding quotes to a paper does not automatically make it stronger. It’s critical to strike a balance between your own words and the words of others. The student’s original ideas and interpretations of the evidence should make up the majority of the essay. Quotes may be used more frequently in some essays (for example, literary analysis), but there is one universal rule that must be followed: all quotes must be interpreted and explained. It’s not enough to just throw in a few quotes and let them dangle. Each concept should be explained in the context of the paper so that the reader understands why it is important and how it relates to the thesis statement.
Another thing to keep in mind is that direct quotes are preferred over indirect quotes only if paraphrasing will alter the meaning or emotional effect desired by the audience. Direct quotes should be meaningful, memorable, and powerful, as well as deserving of further examination. In literary analyses, direct quotes are also preferred to preserve the literary value of the original text.
The key to successfully incorporating quotes is diversity. When introducing direct and indirect quotes, try to use as many different words and phrases as possible. The verbs states, remarks, notes, observes, concludes, reports, maintains, adds, and so on may be useful.
If the quote is too long and you only need a portion of it, an ellipsis can be used to indicate the sections that have been removed. This rule is illustrated in the following example:
“Some cities make it practically impossible to maintain health… and force citizens to engage in harmful habits,” Jack Russel wrote in an essay on social determinants of health (78).
You can always consult the referencing guide if you have any other concerns or questions about the use of quotes. Remember that quotes should help you make your point, not take over it. Use them wisely and sparingly, and don’t overuse them.