A direct quote is the exact words of a source, copied word for word and placed inside quotation marks with a citation. It is the opposite of a paraphrase, which restates a source’s idea in your own words. Use a direct quote when the original wording matters, the phrasing is distinctive, the precise meaning is at stake, or you are analyzing the language itself.
Here is the definition in full, with examples and the rules for punctuating and citing a direct quote.
What is a direct quote?
A direct quote reproduces a source’s exact words. Three things mark it: the words match the original exactly, they sit inside quotation marks (or in a block format for long quotes), and they carry a citation pointing to where they came from. Drop any one of those and it is no longer a proper direct quote, missing quotation marks around copied words, for instance, is plagiarism even if the source is listed.
The contrast is with an indirect quote, or paraphrase, where you put the source’s idea into your own words and sentence structure. A paraphrase still needs a citation, but no quotation marks. For the difference in full, see how do you paraphrase a quote.
Direct quote examples
A short direct quote runs into your sentence:
According to Carr, “the Net seizes our attention only to scatter it” (Carr 118).
The quoted words are exact, inside quotation marks, with a citation. A direct quote can also be a full sentence introduced by a signal phrase:
Tannen argues directly: “We all need to understand how to use language flexibly” (Tannen 42).
A long direct quote, generally four lines or more in MLA, or 40 words or more in APA, is set as a block: indented, no quotation marks, with the citation after the final punctuation. For that format, see how to block quote.
How to write a direct quote
Three steps make a direct quote correct.
1. Copy the words exactly
Match spelling, punctuation, and wording. If you change anything, signal it: square brackets for an added or altered word, an ellipsis (…) for words you cut, and “[sic]” to show an error was in the original, not yours.
2. Introduce it, don’t drop it in
A quote dropped into a paragraph with no lead-in is hard to read. Use a signal phrase, “As Smith notes,” “The report states”, so the reader knows whose words these are before they read them. The full method is in how to introduce a quote.
3. Cite it
Every direct quote needs a citation with, in most styles, a page or paragraph number, because the reader should be able to find the exact words. APA and MLA both require the location for direct quotes specifically. See how to cite a quote for both styles.
When to use a direct quote instead of a paraphrase
Quote directly when the wording itself matters: a memorable or distinctive phrase, a precise legal or technical definition, language you are about to analyze, or a statement so authoritative that rewording it would weaken it. Paraphrase in most other cases, because too many direct quotes make a paper read as a stitched-together collection of other people’s sentences rather than your own argument. A common guideline is to keep direct quotes to a small fraction of a paper and paraphrase the rest.
FAQ
What is a direct quote?
The exact words of a source, reproduced word for word inside quotation marks with a citation. It differs from a paraphrase, which restates the idea in your own words.
What is an example of a direct quote?
According to Carr, “the Net seizes our attention only to scatter it” (Carr 118). The words are exact, quoted, and cited.
Do direct quotes need a page number?
In APA and MLA, yes, a direct quote should include a page or paragraph number so the reader can locate the exact words. A paraphrase needs a citation but not always a page number.
How many direct quotes should I use?
Few. Quote directly only when the exact wording matters and paraphrase the rest, so the paper reads as your argument rather than a chain of other people’s sentences.
Leave a Reply