An embedded quote is a quotation woven into your own sentence so it reads as one continuous thought, instead of being dropped in as a separate sentence. You embed a quote by attaching it to your own words with a signal phrase and comma, a grammatical lead-in with no comma, or an introductory sentence and a colon. The goal is that the reader cannot tell where your words stop and the source’s begin.
Here is what counts as an embedded quote, the three ways to do it, and the mistakes that make a quote stick out instead of blend in.
What is an embedded quote?
An embedded quote is a quotation integrated into the grammar of your own sentence. Most academic styles require this: a direct quotation should not stand alone as its own sentence. Instead of writing a sentence made entirely of quoted words, you fold the quoted words into a sentence you have built, so the paragraph flows and the quote serves your point.
The opposite is a dropped quote (sometimes called a floating quote): a quotation set down with no lead-in. Dropped quotes break the flow and force the reader to work out who is speaking and why. Embedding fixes that.
How do you embed a quote in a sentence?
There are three standard methods, chosen by how the quote fits your sentence’s grammar.
1. Signal phrase with a comma. Name the source and use a signal verb, then a comma, then the quote: As Smith notes, “the data did not support the hypothesis” (42). Use this when the lead-in is not a complete sentence on its own.
2. Grammatical lead-in with no comma. Make the quote complete your own sentence: Smith found that the results “did not support the hypothesis” (42). The word “that” connects your words to the quote with no break, which is the smoothest way to embed a short phrase.
3. Full sentence and a colon. When your introduction is a complete sentence, use a colon: The study reached a blunt conclusion: “the data did not support the hypothesis” (42). This suits longer or more formal quotes.
For more detail on each, see how to introduce a quote.
How do you quote only part of a sentence?
Embedding works best when you quote a phrase rather than a whole sentence. Take the exact words you need and build your sentence around them: The policy was called “an overdue correction” by its supporters. Keep the quoted words verbatim, including spelling and capitalization, and use an ellipsis (…) if you cut material from the middle of a passage.
How long should an embedded quote be?
Short. Embedded quotes are usually a phrase or part of a sentence, ideally under two lines of text. Once a quotation runs past about four lines (MLA) or 40 words (APA), it stops being embedded and becomes a block quote, which is set off and indented instead. For that format, see block quote MLA.
What should you do after an embedded quote?
Explain it. A quote is evidence, not an argument. After the quoted words, say what they show and tie them back to your point. A reliable pattern is to introduce, quote, then explain, sometimes called sandwiching the quote: your setup, the source’s words, and your analysis. The cited source then needs a correct citation; see how to cite a quote.
FAQ
What does it mean to embed a quote?
It means integrating a quotation into your own sentence so the two read as one, rather than placing the quote as a standalone sentence. The quoted words become part of a sentence you wrote.
Can a quote be its own sentence?
In most academic writing, no. A sentence made entirely of a quotation is treated as a dropped quote. Embed the words into your own sentence, or set a long passage as a block quote with an introduction.
Do you put a comma before an embedded quote?
Only when the lead-in is a signal phrase that is not a complete sentence. If the quote completes your sentence grammatically, use no comma; if the lead-in is a full sentence, use a colon.
How do you embed a quote without changing its meaning?
Quote the words exactly, use square brackets to add a clarifying word, and use an ellipsis to mark anything you remove. None of these edits should change what the source meant.
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